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State withheld report on E. coli in Lake of Ozarks

Published: Thursday, July 16, 2009 1:33 PM CDT
OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (AP) -- A state agency has acknowledged it withheld for one month a report that showed the Lake of the Ozarks had unsafe levels of E. coli.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources said it withheld the report in May because of concern that releasing it would hurt tourism and business around the lake, The Kansas City Star reported Thursday.

But some say the DNR's decision to not immediately release the report may have endangered public health.

Donna Swall, executive director of a citizens group that sampled the lake May 26 for the DNR, said she pleaded with state officials to release the information.

"We all thought something must be wrong," Swall said.

The presence of E. coli, which is found in the intestines of animals, indicates the water may have been in contact with sewage or animal wastes. Someone with a cut or open wound can be infected by the water. If it is swallowed, a person might have flu symptoms or even die.

Heavy rains in May washed bacteria into the lake, which has since returned to safe levels. The report was not released until June 26, and it reported that lower levels had been found in June samples. But in May, the number of high samples were more than the total number over the last two years, Swall said.

DNR spokeswoman Susanne Medley said the agency delayed the release because it didn't want to the public to panic.

"We wanted to make sure we understood the problem," Medley said. "Business and tourism was a consideration."

Earl Pabst, a deputy DNR director, said this week that he didn't tell the new administration of Gov. Jay Nixon about the monitoring program, so officials panicked when they saw the samples.

"I take responsibility for this," Pabst said. "I failed to brief the new administration. They had questions, and it frankly took a little while to answer those. It took some internal education."

Ken Midkiff, a clean-water expert and author, said the report should have been released about May 28 when the danger was imminent.

"All the reasons DNR gave for not releasing the report have to do with the economy," said Midkiff. "The Department of Natural Resources is supposed to protect water quality and the environment."

The public was notified that two beaches in the Lake of the Ozarks State Park were shut down, but was not told about many other areas in the lake that tested high.

The state standard for E. coli is 126 colonies per 100 milliliters of water. More than half of the 60 samples taken May 26 exceeded that standard, state records show.

At least two samples were 19 times above the standard.

Many Missouri lakes are not monitored for E. coli. But Lake of the Ozarks has been monitored since Ameren Corp. agreed in 2007 to provide $15,000 a year for five years to monitor for E. coli as part of a state settlement over a dam failure.

The Lake of the Ozarks Watershed Alliance, a group of volunteers with oversight by DNR employees, samples the lake six times a year during the swimming season.

Swall said that on June 12, two top DNR officials told alliance members that the new DNR administration appointed by Nixon was unaware of the monitoring program. But even after they were shown the report, it wasn't released.



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Before commenting read the News Tribune Forum's policies and procedures.
Thanks.

boscoe wrote on Jul 25, 2009 6:22 PM:

" As Pink Floyd says: "Welecome to the Machine".

To all you Sheople: Thanks for helping to keep the Machine well-oiled and running. "

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gruntled wrote on Jul 22, 2009 12:56 PM:

" And all you people, one side or the other, let it happen by not paying attention to your government.

You know this will spread a bit. Gosh, I sure hope it spreads a LOT! If you don't ask your elected representative how s/he likes their bread buttered, then stfu, lay down, and take whatever you're given.

Did you know you can spoon-eat human excrement with no deleterious effects?

---Look it up. "

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misshoneybee wrote on Jul 20, 2009 5:44 PM:

" fishing01-if we are lucky, maybe Mr. Alligator will EAT one of those dastardly drunken boaters!;) "

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fishing01 wrote on Jul 20, 2009 10:34 AM:

" Between the e-coli and the drunken boaters, that gater doesn't have a chance in h-ll. "

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AMM22 wrote on Jul 20, 2009 9:59 AM:

" fishing01 wrote: " Of course its dangerous and deadly. Do not eat rare meat, uncooked fish or drink lake water. Oh by the way, there is an alligator on the loose also. "

Yea I forgot about the gator...I hope it cant survive the winter...that will make me nervous washing off my hands in the lake after catching many crappie next spring. "

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52491 wrote on Jul 20, 2009 8:55 AM:

" stop wrote on Jul 20, 2009 8:10 AM:
" Earl Pabst, a deputy DNR director, said this week that he didn't tell the new administration of Gov. Jay Nixon about the monitoring program, so officials panicked when they saw the samples."

Not true. Nixon knew about it. As I previously stated, Joe Bindbeutal was at AG's Office in charge of the environmental division at the time the Monitoring Program was created. He was part of the settlement negotiations with AmerenUE to create the program. Nixon knew about the program. Earl Pabst is just the fall guy. "

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fishing01 wrote on Jul 20, 2009 8:44 AM:

" Because its politics as usual. The Lake is cleaner than it has been for the past 10 years. "

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stop wrote on Jul 20, 2009 8:10 AM:

" Earl Pabst, a deputy DNR director, said this week that he didn't tell the new administration of Gov. Jay Nixon about the monitoring program, so officials panicked when they saw the samples.
Many Missouri lakes are not monitored for E. coli. But Lake of the Ozarks has been monitored since Ameren Corp. agreed in 2007 to provide $15,000 a year for five years to monitor for E. coli as part of a state settlement over a dam failure.
Why would Earl Pabst have to make Jay aware of a program that was part of a settlement that the DNR, Attorney General Jay Nixon's office and the Missouri Department of Conservation developed. "

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fishing01 wrote on Jul 19, 2009 8:47 AM:

" Of course its dangerous and deadly. Do not eat rare meat, uncooked fish or drink lake water. Oh by the way, there is an alligator on the loose also. "

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factsnodrama wrote on Jul 19, 2009 8:39 AM:

" Anyne see the similarity bewteen this and the movie "Jaws"? "

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wow wrote on Jul 19, 2009 7:34 AM:

" Due to the safety issue, DNR should have issued warning and let the public decide whether or not they wanted to keep coming to the Lake & generating revenue.

I understand not very many people are reported to have died from E-Coli and until now I never actaully knew anyone personally who was killed by this seemingly harmless parasite. But my how fast things change. No it wasn't because of DNR's inaction or the contamination from LO, but just this past weekend my friend buried a loved one who's death was the direct result of the E-Coli germ. So the fact is this, E-Coli can and does kill people. "

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fishing01 wrote on Jul 19, 2009 7:21 AM:

" If I am not mistaken, the tests were taken AFTER a heavy rain. Of course the test is going to come out higher. Is someone wanting to sue over this or why are people so upset? You don't like it, don't go. (do me a favor). "

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fishing01 wrote on Jul 19, 2009 7:18 AM:

" I realize what type of E coli it was, I have a Biology degree. My wife and I would just as soon everyone go home anyway, the place is a cesspool of visitors going there to get drunk. By the way, us "lake" people hate it when they lower the lake. All of the visitor's junk floats back into the coves and ends up on the shore to be cleaned up. Yes, DNR should have announced it but it wouldn't have changed anything, the people still would have swam in it. We don't get in it, only to fish out of a boat. Thats what we have pools for. "

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wow wrote on Jul 18, 2009 10:03 AM:

" Fishin you're right, E-Coli is a natural part of the human digestive system; however that isn't the type DNR failed to inform the public about. Someone at DNR knew the lake was contaminated with the harmful outside the body strain of E-Coli. Since there's proof that this type of bacteria is a health risk 2humans, the public should have been notified regardless of the economic impact.

1more reason not 2take chances. This Bird Flu germ we're currently dealing with has the ability
2mask itself as other organisms/germs and could possibly do so with this harmless strain of Lake E-Coli and be easily spread by the numerous vectors who visit the Lake. The-sky-isn't-falling-but-let's-not-be-foolish-either. "

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52491 wrote on Jul 17, 2009 8:35 AM:

" What I find most disturbing is both the Governor (in the St. Louis Post he acts like he didn't know what was going on) and Joe Bindbeutel, the General Counsel of DNR and a Deputy Director, claiming they had no idea about the monitoring program. Bindbeutel was head of the environmental section of the Attorney General's Office at the time the program came into being as part of a settlement with AmernUE. Bindbeutelwas part of the settlement negotiations! Then in typical Nixon fashion he finds a fall guy, Earl Pabst in this case, to take the blame.

Hopefully the media will follow up on this story and not let it die. "

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fishing01 wrote on Jul 17, 2009 7:12 AM:

" Some of your streams (like Jack's Fork) used to have horse back riding allowed along them. Sure hope you didn't go canoeing and panic over that too. "

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fishing01 wrote on Jul 17, 2009 7:10 AM:

" "dies". "

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fishing01 wrote on Jul 17, 2009 7:09 AM:

" Oh get real. E coli is a natural substance in your body. Its a rarity that anyone does from e coli. Most smart people cook their fish and don't drink lake water. Jigger is right, its a lake. You want clean (and thats not a given) go swim in a pee filled pool. I won't even go into one of those anymore after seeing what uses them. "

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wow wrote on Jul 17, 2009 6:44 AM:

" Isn't somebody going to be charged with Wreckless Endangerment? Mr. Koster/Kostner whatever your name is. I'm not saying splatter the News Waves with who's the Gov fires because of this...but because this action endangered the public, this rises to the level of "Criminal Conduct", which has to be properly dealt with....so again I ask. Isn't somebody going to be criminally prosecuted for this? It's a State Agency...so Mr. Attorney General what gives? I would not wait until somebody got sick or dies because they didn't get the warning and got in the water or ate something that came out of the water....

Please keep us informed. "

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Jigger wrote on Jul 17, 2009 6:39 AM:

" Not sure I understand what the big deal is?!? Its a LAKE !! Its not a swimming pool at the Y. Lets have our lakes at the farm tested or our rivers tested. Of course our white underwear will turn green......Its a LAKE! Swim at your own risk! "

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fishing01 wrote on Jul 17, 2009 2:38 AM:

" scuse me, "lake getaways". Granted, I would rather go sit on a beach at Hilton Head, but the judges seemed to pick Lake of the Ozarks and gave rave reviews. Jealousy is a horrible thing. "

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fishing01 wrote on Jul 17, 2009 2:28 AM:

" By the way, for anyone that cares....the Lake of the Ozarks made it into a top ten list of healthy waterways. It was ranked 4th, outdoing Hilton Head as one of the 10 top healthiest beaches and lake waterways in the US by CNN. That was on July 7th. Maybe someone could print that up. These posts smack of jealousy, like da'lake said. "

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fishing01 wrote on Jul 17, 2009 2:21 AM:

" Unlike JC, the property values at the lake have stayed up. And sales of home have stayed on the upswing. And I hate to inform you but the "fatcats" don't care about the water, they have pools they swim in. A lake is a lake is a lake. They are not some pristine chlorinated pool. I worked for heath and can tell you this is overkill. Even tested E-coli. It disipates in the water. No excuse for Natural Resources holding back info. though. All waterways have e-coli. Cows back themselves up to the rivers and "go" into them all of the time. Yes, even in the Osage. "

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RES wrote on Jul 17, 2009 2:14 AM:

" I still live in JC unfortunately & I remember going to the lake 18 years ago to swim at an uncles cabin, forgot the swim trunks one time wore white underwear & shorts instead. Those tighty whities never ended up white again.

The place is a cesspool, hope the fatcats from StL & KC like what is happening to their property values. "

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Bus Driver wrote on Jul 16, 2009 11:58 PM:

" Money vs Health and Safety Money wins politicans richer poor are poorer Tourist are endangerd but as long as coffers full who cares right "

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Travelin_Rose wrote on Jul 16, 2009 4:47 PM:

" Of course Ecoli was kept quiet. It's the busy season at the Lake of the Ozarks. "

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misshoneybee wrote on Jul 16, 2009 3:40 PM:

" Thank you NT--They didn't look like they were running out of the water in terror--they just looked COLD:) "

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online_editor wrote on Jul 16, 2009 3:21 PM:

" mhb... Yes, that's what the caption points out. I'm putting other ones depicting Lake activities there. Nothing more than illustrative of activities in general really. --Rick Brown, online editor, News Tribune "

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misshoneybee wrote on Jul 16, 2009 2:49 PM:

" NT--the picture with the people running out of the water...Isn't that picture of people participating in the Polar Bear Plunge?? Huummm..... "

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misshoneybee wrote on Jul 16, 2009 2:28 PM:

" By the by--take a big swig of one of those water samples that DNR had taken and then decide if the economy is more important than your health. Maybe you will wish DNR hadn't 'withheld information' about E.Coli when you hear your death rattle! The economy can bounce back but dead is DEAD! "

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misshoneybee wrote on Jul 16, 2009 2:07 PM:

" I don't generally RAG on the state government--I used to work for the state. I just think that DNR could have handled the situation better. "

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misshoneybee wrote on Jul 16, 2009 2:04 PM:

" I'm sorry, perhaps I was wrong to say that the DNR 'LIED' but withholding the truth isn't any better. If the water was tested and found to have an amount of E.Coli, why could DNR not notify the public and allow people to decide for themselves if they wanted to take a dip in the water or not? DNR may not have 'LIED', but I don't have much respect or a high regard for anything they have to say now. "

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boxergal wrote on Jul 16, 2009 1:34 PM:

" Has anyone been on the KC side?? And I do not mean Porta Cima. We took a drive there the other day and I am with da'Lake. You all need your heads examined if you think some of those places are for the rich. That was some of the poorist area I have ever laid my eyes on. Quaint but poor. "

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gofish wrote on Jul 16, 2009 1:24 PM:

" I have 2 objective questions that would better assess the veracity of this vague news article:

1) what are the exact numbers? On a scale of normal being 1-10 and the water is 10.1, that's above safe levels, but obviously no need for panic. If it is 15, then that's another story. How much above "safe" was the water?

2) how many people reported being sick due to the water? did anyone show up at the er complaining of e-coli symptoms and was diagnosed as such. If not, all this yammering is for naught.

Either way, DNR can best handle this situation by laying out the truth in clear discernable layman terms. "

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wonderfulworld wrote on Jul 16, 2009 1:23 PM:

" amen mommyof2 - @da'lake, you've obviously never ventured to rural parts where the osage runs, where people work the land for a living, where one flood can bankrupt a family. .. it never fails that when the river is flooded ALREADY - bagnall will no doubt let loose more water, flooding everyone and then some. you can't tell me it isn't to keep revenue at the lake. "

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mommyof2 wrote on Jul 16, 2009 1:16 PM:

" Hey Mac, where the heck ya been man! "

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mommyof2 wrote on Jul 16, 2009 1:15 PM:

" yeah atdlake, let's hold the water back because of "buisness", then when it comes a gully washer, and everyone else DOWN stream is struggling to keep crops in, let's open the flood gates because the who-ha's at the lake think the "water's too high". Screw the small famer down the river, as long as you have your pretty little poop filled water to swim in. And for what it's worth in my opinion, the Lake looks at "vacation revenue" first, electricity second. "

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Mac1974 wrote on Jul 16, 2009 1:09 PM:

" splatmouse said, " Since when is not saying something a lie? DNR didn't lie, they did in their mind the best thing for the economy."


There's a scary comment. What a sad state America is in when folks are willing to sacrifice the health of their children, friends, and neighbors in pursuit of a better economy. "

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@da'lake wrote on Jul 16, 2009 1:03 PM:

" BTW, I have friends that have places along the Osage that I visit, so please, spare me the lecture of how "hard" your life is living along the Osage. At least with Bagnell Dam there is a controlled release. Do you think all that water would not end up in the Osage anyway, if there was no Bagnell Dam or Lake of the Ozarks? Blaming a dam or people that live & play at the lake for natural events is just goofy.

Obviously some of you have never actually been to the lake if you think it's all "richies". Rolling my eyes......LOL! "

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@da'lake wrote on Jul 16, 2009 12:57 PM:

" So now it's the lakes fault that it rains and the dam has to release water! LOL!! Boy this place is ripe with jealousy isn't it.......I'm done because it's apparent some folks can't see past their own petty desires and lives. "

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splatmouse wrote on Jul 16, 2009 12:53 PM:

" Since when is not saying something a lie? DNR didn't lie, they did in their mind the best thing for the economy. I saw notices around the lake warning of potentialy high levels of bacteria. So quit ragging on state government. So maybe people would have still shown up, but they RISKED the fact they would get ribbed on for not saying anything to make sure the local economy made money. Which is really hard to come by right about now if you hadn't noticed. Don't you think that if it was as bad as this artcle makes it out to be that somebody in the department would have said something? "

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misshoneybee wrote on Jul 16, 2009 12:47 PM:

" E.Coli--YUCK! DNR claiming that it 'didn't want to panic the public'? Yeah, right! Evidently, DNR can blatantly lie to the public, which makes me wonder if and when they lied to us before. I used to admire DNR, but they have lost some credibility with me. "

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wonderfulworld wrote on Jul 16, 2009 12:39 PM:

" @da'lake - oh yeah, and it's probably food that you eat as well... "

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wonderfulworld wrote on Jul 16, 2009 12:38 PM:

" @da'lake - why don't you slum it and come down where i live and watch how my family and i have to drive thru people's fields in order to get to our homes due to flooding all in the name of keeping the water level "perfect" for the richies at the lake......watch people's livelihoods ie. crops go under water with your "junk", yes, your junk infesting it. truth hurts. "

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@da'lake wrote on Jul 16, 2009 12:35 PM:

" Boomer....much of the bacteria actually comes from the watershed and the run off from farms, CAFO's, even folks septic tanks that don't live on/along the lake. Much of what comes into the lake comes in from the tributaries....this "junk" is not created soley by the people in and around Lake of the Ozarks.

Do any of you that are so critical of the lake actually know what a watershed area is??? Probably not, it's just easier to bash Lake of the Ozarks and the people that live and play there. "

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@da'lake wrote on Jul 16, 2009 12:32 PM:

" Uh wonderfulword....it is not "our" junk. It is everyone's junk that lives, farms, drives, works and exists within the watershed for the entire Truman Lake and Lake of the Ozarks region. BTW, where do you think all of YOUR junk goes....that's right to the "common folk" down river from you all. If it wasn't for Bagnell Dam, you would not have people living along the Osage. Bagnell Dam generates electricity (that you are probably using) and controls the floods so you can have your cozy little river spot. "

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@da'lake wrote on Jul 16, 2009 12:19 PM:

" I have swam, skiied, fished (and eaten the fish) out of Lake O for over 30 years and never once have I gotten sick from being in the water. While I do not doubt the presence of bacteria (after all it is just a giant fish bowl with all sorts of other run off), I think this thing is being blown way out of proportion.

People that enjoy going to the lake will still go to the lake. Those that might be scared of this report and decided not to go (which I think is probably a VERY small number) will stay home, eat at a fast food joint and probably end up with food poisoning or other foreign objects in theirfood. "

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boxergal wrote on Jul 16, 2009 11:33 AM:

" "Horror show"....funny. Couldn't we get MORE publicity like this so I could have a nice quiet rest of the summer??? Trust me, this won't scare them off. "

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Boomer wrote on Jul 16, 2009 11:10 AM:

" Mo State Parks was absorbed by DNR. So what hurts them hurts DNR.

What I don't understand is why Mo Conservation didn't host a huge Goose Fry at the park to get rid of those stupid geese before they poisoned the lake even more. A "Deer Sausage", and steak fry would also benefit the motoring public too.

It was a poor decision and the water and the geese aren't the only things FOUL about it... "

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wonderfulworld wrote on Jul 16, 2009 11:09 AM:

" great - now they will open the flood gates and let all of their junk run down river to all of us "common folk" who live along the Osage. what is this world coming to? money talks..... "

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Boomer wrote on Jul 16, 2009 11:01 AM:

" Wasn't DNR after Osage Beach or Lake Ozark this spring, or last winter for releasing raw sewage into the lake? Just another big headline you never read another word about after the initial story. Yeah, goose grease, right,....... heavy rain,...... But failure to protect?
Using that as a guide line cops wouldn't release info about crimes or child molesters because it might hurt a neighborhood? What next.. WX3
Sounds like someone needs a different vocation. Something other than making important decisions that involve public health and safety. "

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Bsnoltth wrote on Jul 16, 2009 10:57 AM:

" Isn't this just... weird? Ok, you withhold the report because of tourism. But then it comes out that you withheld the report, guess what, more than likely that will hurt tourism even more when the tourists hear that Missouri does this kind of stuff. This wasn't thought of beforehand?

Look at the people in that picture, running away from the E. Coli, screaming. Obviously our tourists don't want to have to do the same thing. Looks like something from a horror movie. "

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sprintcarcrazy wrote on Jul 16, 2009 10:44 AM:

" This agency is now tightly controlled by the Gov office. You can bet that decision came from there ! "

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boscoe wrote on Jul 16, 2009 10:39 AM:

" What if thousands of vacationers to Missouri got sick and died from E-coli and other infections? Would that be bad for the tourism business too?

New sign at the rest stops:

"Welcome to Missouri. Hope you don't get sick and die" "

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544321 wrote on Jul 16, 2009 10:09 AM:

" Whever made this decision should be fired before the end of the day, and made to take a long swim in the big lagoon of the ozarks. "

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sillyrabbit wrote on Jul 16, 2009 9:44 AM:

" It's like JAWS all over again. "

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AMM22 wrote on Jul 16, 2009 9:16 AM:

" Well that doesnt sound good for DNR....what if a private company did not report a violation to DNR for 2 months because they thought it would be bad for business?? I'm sure DNR would understand. Hypocrites! "

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