Joyce L. Miller
joyce.miller@lakesunonline.com
Heavy rains, run-off and flooding are the most likely culprits for recent water testing results that indicated some coves and the public beaches in Lake of the Ozarks State Park had elevated levels of E.coli.
The cove testing is being done through a partnership with the Lake of the Ozarks Watershed Alliance, the Missouri Departments of Conservation and Natural Resources and AmerenUE.
The samples taken at the state park are handled by DNR and are done on a weekly basis.
Although sampled separately, the testing results produced some similarities when it came to E.coli levels.
According to Susanne Medley, communications director for DNR, the ongoing testing being done at Lake of the Ozarks indicates heavy rainfall events will cause a jump in the amount of E.coli found in the water.
Heavy rains were reported in the lake area throughout the late spring and early summer.
Runoff from heavy rains may transport waste found in soil from faulty septic tanks or sewer systems, wastewater treatment facilities, large concentrations of waterfowl, and animal waste and manure, she said.
DNR will conduct further investigation in coves that had the highest levels to determine what, if any, other factors may be contributing to the elevated readings and will take appropriate action, as necessary.
On July 13, the Lake of the Ozarks Watershed Alliance will hold a public meeting at 6:30 p.m. at Tan-Tar-A Resort to discuss E. coli testing for the lake.
Officials from DNR, the health department and local health officials will be on hand on answer questions.
The meeting will include an overview of the testing being done and what it means as far as the overall water quality at Lake of the Ozarks.
“We have pulled out all the stops inviting four keynote speakers to educate the public about E.coli. Anyone attending the meeting will learn all about E. coli including swimmwers tips,” according to Donna Swall of LOWA.
“LOWA believes education is the key and we are trying hard to get businesses, Tri County Lodging, Convention and Visitor Bureau, chambers and residents to come and learn.”
Swall said she took part in the most recent cove testing and the water was much clearer this time around.
The cove testing is in its third year. New monitoring locations are designated each season in an attempt to cover as much of the lake as possible in the five-year project period.
This season testing is being done on the Niangua arm, in the Linn Creek and Hurricane Deck area. Monitoring is conducted from May through October, one sampling event per month. Each sampling event will include approximately half of the designated sites.
The remaining sites will be monitored in alternating months. Each site will be monitored a total of three times during the season, once every other month.
The testing program is a partnership between MDC, LOWA, AmerenUE and DNR. When complete, the program will have included coves from Bagnell to Truman dams. AmerenUE is providing $15,000 a year for the testing.
The testing is a proactive measure to monitor the water quality. By testing various locations in coves, the resource agencies say they will be able to get an indication if there are isolated trouble spots where there may be elevated levels of E. coli bacteria.
Want to go?
WHAT Lake of the Ozarks Watershed Alliance public meeting
WHERE Tan-Tar-A Resort
WHEN July 13, 6:30 p.m.
ABOUT Officials from DNR, the health department and local health officials will discuss E. coli testing and answer questions.
Find more online
www.dnr.mo.gov/pubs/pub2239.pdf
www.dnr.mo.gov/env/esp/wqm/loz-ecoli-2009.pdf
