Abandoned boat found in Missouri’s Gasconade River raises concerns

LACLEDE COUNTY, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation is asking for the public’s help with finding the owner of an abandoned boat discovered earlier this month.

MDC agents found the boat on Oct. 8 at Hazelgreen Access on the Gasconade River in Laclede County. The boat is described as a 1994 Nitro 180RS fiberglass bass boat with a 125 Mercury Tracker Pro Series motor.

Officials say the boat and motor are inoperable, while authorities have not been able to verify its registration and ID numbers. Photos from MDC reveal that the boat’s interior is heavily soiled, suggesting it was possibly abandoned for an extended amount of time.

Based on Missouri statutes, the owner of the boat could face penalties for littering and failure to display an identification number .

Environmentalists warn that abandoning a boat in a public waterway could result in serious environmental hazards. Over time, boats may leak fuel, oil or other hazardous substances that pose a threat to aquatic life. Many boats also consist of fiberglass, metals and plastics that are not biodegradable and could contaminate waterways.

It appears some workers recently removed the boat from the river, according to photos from MDC. It’s unclear if the abandoned boat led to any significant environmental damages.

If you have any relevant information to pass along on the abandoned boat and its possible owner, contact MDC Cpl. Jarrad Jewell at 417-718-1111.

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