In what may be the single most important issue to face Lake of the Ozarks in the last decade, a unified group of community leaders have stepped forward to send the message to out-state Missouri and beyond that Lake of the Ozarks is healthy and vibrant - a wonderful place to visit and live.
Over the last several weeks the Citizens for the Preservation of Lake of the Ozarks has started to take shape. The catalyst is the ongoing discussion about water quality at Lake of the Ozarks.
The consensus of the local community is that the fallout from the water quality issues has damaged the reputation of Lake of the Ozarks.
“This more than any other issue has the greatest opportunity for all areas of the lake to unite as one group,” Tri-County Lodging Association President Bill Johnson said. “This issue is bringing local business owners, tourism organizations and chamber groups together to learn more about the science involved in water testing and to present to the public what we feel is a very positive report issued by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to the governor.”
The report Johnson refers to was issued in December after several months of testing and inspections at Lake of the Ozarks. The report was mandated by Gov. Jay Nixon following a controversy over the release of water testing results in May 2009.
In conjunction with the release of the report, Nixon announced his plans to introduce legislation that could label the lake as distressed. Some feel that could potentially harm the lake.
Not many at Lake of the Ozarks agree with Nixon’s assessment and many found good news in the report. The report failed to show an ongoing and persistent problem with elevated E.coli levels.
“I consider the results of the MoDNR Lake of the Ozarks Water Quality Initiative Report commissioned by the Governor as good news. The preponderance of the findings clearly evidences a healthy lake,” according to Joe Roeger, a member of the committee. “What is apparent in stepping back and analyzing the prior testing and reporting process is that testing, designed for one purpose, was wholly inappropriate for the public reporting that ensued.”
The current local initiative, developed by the Citizens for the Preservation of the Lake of the Ozarks, is to design proper testing techniques that meet Environmental Protection Agency and DNR standards and that will result in the ability to report useful information to the public that is scientifically supported by the testing regimen.
“The public can be confident in the healthy water quality of the lake if timely reporting can be developed based on a testing program that is relevant and scientifically valid,” Roeger said.
Right now, there is no data showing what caused the few samples that showed elevated levels of E. coli. It could be a number of sources from humans, livestock or other sources.
One of the goals of the committee is to talk with various experts and look at testing that will pinpoint the source, Tri-County Lodging Association Director Jim Divincen said.
“From what we have learned about the science of testing and after reviewing results from the last several years done through the Lake of the Ozarks Watershed Alliance with DNR, Missouri Department of Conservation and AmerenUE, this is one of the cleanest lakes in the state,” he said, “and we will continue to do everything we can to protect the water quality of this resource and provide a safe and healthy lake for our residents and visitors.”
The committee will be meeting with DNR to discuss the testing options and will also hear from several recognized experts in the coming weeks.
Contact this reporter at joyce.miller@lakesunonline.com
What others are saying
“The Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MoDNR) December 2009 Water Quality Report indicates that the overall water quality of the Lake is generally good and fairly typical of most Midwestern reservoirs. Monitoring performed by MoDNR and others previous to this particular sampling event also demonstrates that overall quality of the Lake of the Ozarks is typically good. In 2009, relatively elevated levels of bacteria were observed during isolated events that were apparently affected by wet weather, a condition that is typical of runoff influenced water quality conditions throughout the state.”
Randy Crawford
Senior Water Quality Scientist
Geosyntec Consultants
Columbia, Missouri
“Lake Regional Health System did not report any infections that may have been caused by waterborne E. coli to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services in 2008 or 2009. One case was reported in 2007, but the source never was determined.”
Dan Sabourin, R.N., MBA
Director of Occupational Health and Safety
Lake Regional Health System
Osage Beach, Missouri
Highlights of the water quality report issued in December
The report indicated that of the 78 tests done at various locations from Bagnell to Truman dam and where major tributaries empty into the lake, elevated levels of bacteria were found in only two locations, or less than 3 percent of the total sites.
A significant number of facilities, 154, were cited for wastewater violations. The report stated the most common problems were related to disinfection and proper operation and maintenance of the systems.
Of those 154 facilities, 75 took prompt corrective action, while 37 others signed agreements to return to compliance by specific dates. That left just 42 facilities, or about 10 percent, on which the department initiated enforcement.
