Highway 13 Butterfly Trail - Who We Are

The Highway 13 Butterfly Trail is a unique conservation and tourism initiative that aims to create a 26-mile-wide corridor along Missouri’s Highway 13, stretching from Iowa to Arkansas. This corridor will support pollinators, including butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds, by providing essential habitat resources such as food, water, shelter, and breeding grounds. By establishing this migration route, the Highway 13 Butterfly Trail will enhance habitat connectivity, support biodiversity, and drive eco-tourism across Western Missouri.

History and Project Origin

In the spring of 2017, members of the Hamilton Community Alliance proposed developing a 10-acre parcel owned by the City of Hamilton into a Butterfly Park. This concept, inspired by a similar park in Belleview, Iowa, aimed to create a haven for pollinators while stimulating local tourism. Preliminary work began in collaboration with the Missouri Department of Conservation, with the vision of expanding the project to create a larger pollinator corridor through Western Missouri. This proposal received support from the Highway 13 Corridor Coalition, leading to the initial launch of the Highway 13 Butterfly Trail project.
Unfortunately, progress was halted by a severe drought and the COVID-19 pandemic. When construction of the Little Otter Creek (LOC) Reservoir project commenced, several original members of the Butterfly Park group joined the LOC Reservoir Recreational Planning Group, seizing an opportunity to incorporate a pollinator haven into the reservoir project. This revival of the Highway 13 Butterfly Trail now seeks to establish a connected migration pathway from Iowa to Arkansas, enabling butterflies and other pollinators to thrive.

Ecological and Community Need

Every year, over 20 species of butterflies, including Monarchs and Swallowtails, migrate through Western Missouri. During this journey, butterflies and other pollinators require habitats with food, shelter, and breeding areas. Unfortunately, habitat loss and fragmentation force these species to travel longer distances in search of resources, depleting their energy reserves and reducing their chances of survival. The Highway 13 Butterfly Trail seeks to address these challenges by establishing a connected corridor of “stopover” habitats along their migratory path.
Throughout the U.S., communities are creating butterfly habitats in urban, suburban, and rural areas to support pollinators. This cooperative effort aims to link various pockets into a continuous corridor, enhancing pollinator resilience and community awareness of the critical role pollinators play in our ecosystems.

Project Synopsis

Missouri’s Highway 13 Butterfly Trail aligns with the natural migration paths of butterflies and other pollinators traveling between Central America, Mexico, and Canada. In addition to butterflies, other essential pollinators such as bees and hummingbirds will benefit from this habitat-rich corridor, which will provide essential resources for migratory and resident species alike.
The importance of pollinators to our food supply, ecosystems, and economy is well documented. Through the Highway 13 Butterfly Trail, the goal is to establish a vibrant 26-mile-wide corridor thru 12 Missouri counties, covering 292 miles along Highway 13. Communities along the route, including Eagleville, Bethany, Jameson, Gallatin, Hamilton, Kingston, Polo, Richmond, Lexington, Higginsville, Warrensburg, Clinton, Osceola, Nixa, Springfield, and Branson, will host pollinator-friendly plantings and engaging tourist attractions, ultimately driving local economic growth.

Project Phases

The Highway 13 Butterfly Trail is structured into six key phases to ensure effective implementation:
⦁ Phase One: Identify potential partners and establish roles and responsibilities for implementing and maintaining the trail. This ongoing phase is nearing completion, with new partners continually recruited.
⦁ Phase Two: Educate governmental entities, schools, businesses, and organizations about the importance of pollinators and how establishing pollinator habitats can benefit both local ecosystems and communities. Public education will remain a continuous effort throughout the project’s development.
⦁ Phase Three: Assist community partners and stakeholders in planting pollinator plots along the corridor, including educational and informational signage to inform visitors about the significance of pollinators and native plants.
⦁ Phase Four: Enhance the trail with visual elements and interpretive amenities, including signage, murals, statues, and “barn butterflies” (akin to barn quilts) to create a visually engaging and educational experience for visitors.
⦁ Phase Five: Explore the economic potential of the Butterfly Trail through tourism, scientific research, and Agri-tourism opportunities. Designate major destination stops along the route; current sites committed as destination stops include Dunn Ranch, Little Otter Creek Pollinator Haven, Powell Gardens, the Springfield Botanical Gardens, and the Butterfly Palace in Branson.
⦁ Phase Six: Establish a Pollinator Interpretive Center at the Little Otter Creek Pollinator Haven, offering a central educational resource to promote pollinator conservation and serve as a flagship attraction for visitors.
⦁ Phase Seven: Replicate the project in Minnesota, Iowa, Arkansas, Louisianna and Texas, creating a pollinator corridor from Canada to Mexico.

Project Goals

⦁ Establish Habitat Connectivity: Develop a 26-mile-wide corridor (13 miles either side of Highway 13) that connects fragmented habitats along the 292-mile stretch of Highway 13, creating a robust migratory pathway for pollinators.
⦁ Enhance Public Awareness: Increase public understanding of pollinators’ importance through educational initiatives aimed at schools, businesses, and community groups, encouraging widespread participation in habitat conservation.
⦁ Promote Access to Native Plant Resources: Improve the availability of native plant seeds, identify sites for habitat restoration, and shift public perception to value native plants for their ecological benefits.
⦁ Expand Pollinator Habitat: Increase the acreage of pollinator-friendly plots along the Highway 13 corridor, supporting biodiversity and enhancing migratory pathways.
⦁ Stimulate Economic Growth: Promote the Highway 13 Butterfly Trail as a unique tourism attraction, drawing visitors interested in nature, conservation, and Agri-tourism, thereby boosting the local economy across Western Missouri’s 12 counties.

Measurements of Success

Measuring the success of the Highway 13 Butterfly Trail will involve assessing various ecological, biological, and community engagement metrics:
⦁ Pollinator Diversity and Abundance: Regularly monitor the types and numbers of pollinators (butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, etc.) that visit selected plots. A successful plot should attract a diverse range of pollinators. Use standardized sampling methods, like transect counts or timed observation periods, to quantify changes over time.
⦁ Plant Health and Diversity: Track the growth, health, and flowering of plants. A diverse, thriving plant population often indicates a well-balanced, sustainable environment for pollinators. Ensure that native plants are present and flowering throughout the season to support pollinator needs.
⦁ Habitat Quality: Assess soil health, plant density, and presence of invasive species. Rich soil and minimal invasive species support a more resilient and self-sustaining plot. Monitor environmental conditions and any stressors that could impact habitat quality, such as pesticide drift or urban encroachment.
⦁ Pollinator Life Cycles: Observe signs of pollinator life cycles being completed, such as butterflies laying eggs or caterpillars feeding on host plants. This indicates the plot supports not just adult pollinators but also their reproduction.
⦁ Community Engagement and Education: Measure participation in educational events, volunteer activities, or guided tours. Strong community involvement can be a powerful indicator of project sustainability. Gather feedback from visitors, and track whether the plot has spurred interest or led to the establishment of other local pollinator projects.
⦁ Biodiversity Beyond Pollinators: A successful pollinator plot can positively impact other wildlife, such as birds, small mammals, and beneficial insects. Observing these species indicates a healthy ecosystem.
⦁ Long-Term Pollinator Trends: Since pollinator health can vary yearly, observing trends over multiple seasons will provide insight into the plot's stability and success.
⦁ Economic Indicators: Tracking various economic indicators such as sales tax increases in various tourism Standard Industrial Classification related businesses, traffic counts, increases in overnight stays, motor fuel tax increases and other indicators will provide data necessary to evaluate the economic impact on Western Missouri.
Collecting and analyzing this data annually or seasonally will provide a clear, quantifiable picture of how well the pollinator plot is functioning and its impact on the local environment.

Current Project Status

Phase One of the project is nearly complete, with significant partnerships in place. The University of Missouri Extension (MU Extension) is actively engaged, and the project’s website and Facebook page, featuring an interactive map of pollinator plots, are nearing completion. Little Otter Creek Pollinator Haven and Hamilton Butterfly Park have expanded their collaboration. Organizations agreeing to actively participate to date include:
⦁ MU Extension Service,
⦁ Missouri Department of Economic Development,
⦁ Missouri Conservation Department,
⦁ Bee and Butterfly Habitat Fund,
⦁ Allstate Consulting,
⦁ Missouri Prairie Foundation ,
⦁ National Park Service,
⦁ Missouri Community Betterment,
⦁ US Fish & Wildlife Service
⦁ Missouri Department of Transportation,
⦁ USDA,
⦁ Smithsonian Institute
⦁ Union Sportsman’s Association

There will be five destination stops along the trail including:
⦁ Dunn Ranch (Harrison County),
⦁ Little Otter Creek/Hamilton Pollinator Haven, (Caldwell County)
⦁ Powell Gardens (Lafayette County),
⦁ The Springfield Botanical Gardens (Greene County)’ and
⦁ The Branson Butterfly Palace (Taney County).
Collectively, these venues attract over 500,000 visitors annually.
In addition, The Missouri Prairie Foundation has also established five native prairie grass sites along the trail:
⦁ Thoh-dah Prairie
⦁ LaPetite Prairie
⦁ Polk County Prairie
⦁ Schwartz Prairie, and
⦁ Schuette Prairie
Grants from the TC Energy Foundation and the Bee and Butterfly Habitat Fund have been received, supporting infrastructure such as signage at the LOC Pollinator Haven. The USDA has also joined the effort, promoting expanded Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) pollinator habitats along the corridor.

Conclusion

The Highway 13 Butterfly Trail represents a visionary project that merges conservation with community development, tourism and scientific research. By establishing a migration-friendly corridor through Western Missouri, this initiative will support the ecological health of pollinators while fostering economic growth through tourism and public engagement. With foundational partnerships in place and growing momentum, the Highway 13 Butterfly Trail is poised to become a landmark initiative, highlighting Missouri’s commitment to ecological sustainability and community resilience.
Highway 13 Butterfly Trail
P.O. Box 352
Hamilton, MO 64644
303-345-4380