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Nixon orders 'zero-tolerance' clean-up plan for water quality at Lake of the Ozarks

By Ceil Abbott
ceila@thelaketoday.com

Published: Thursday, September 24, 2009 3:04 PM CDT

OSAGE BEACH, Mo. -- Gov. Jay Nixon said Wednesday Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks will be a cleaner place in the future.

At a lakeside news conference, Nixon said that "present water quality at the Lake of the Ozarks is unacceptable. That's why I am ordering action that will gather data on precisely what is in the Lake, find the sources of those contaminants and stop more of those pollutants from entering the water."

He said his plan was prompted by the "necessity to close both public beaches (in Lake of the Ozarks State Park) earlier this summer" because of high E.coli levels.

But some Lake area officials, who said they learned of the governor's news conference at the last minute, complained his plan may be an over-reaction.

Nixon acknowledged this summer's beach closing wasn't the first time E.coli levels had forced a Missouri lake's beach to be closed.

Many at the lake believe E.coli levels jump briefly after heavy rains and because of droppings left by flocks of geese in the area.

But, Nixon told reporters, "E.coli isn't the only pollutant we're concerned with."

Although he didn't identify other pollutants, the governor's plan requires the state Natural Resources department to make a "massive inspection sweep" of about 400 area facilities near the Lake or its major tributaries, that have current wastewater permits.

Nixon and DNR Director Mark Templeton announced a "zero-tolerance standard for permit violations," with either administrative action by the department or a request for Attorney General Chris Koster to take enforcement actions.

"No violation which leads to deterioration of water quality at the Lake of the Ozarks will be treated as too minor for action," Nixon said in a news release.

When asked if there have been sewage spillage problems, Nixon said that "is what the inspections will tell us."

The governor also told DNR to complete a comprehensive baseline survey of water quality at the Lake, testing for all contaminants, at locations across the entire Lake. The survey results are to be submitted to Nixon by Dec. 31, and are expected to help determine where future enforcement efforts should be focused.

Jim Divincen, the Tri-County Lodging Association's executive director, asked the governor if he would be willing to do the same testing on all Missouri lakes, and publish the results so the public would be aware that the Lake of the Ozarks water quality is better than most others. "That's sounds fair," Nixon said, without announcing any plans for other tests.

The governor declined to comment when Osage Beach Mayor Penny Lyons asked if there's a contradiction between Nixon's plan to "clean up the Lake" while the attorney general's office s representing DNR in a request to reinstate a rock quarry's permit to operate next to the Osage Beach/Lake Ozark Joint Sewer Treatment Plant.

Engineers believe constant blasting at the quarry eventually would damage the sewer mains and cause a catastrophic sewage spill into the Lake and the Osage River.

The cities won a circuit court order against the quarry's 100-year permit request and that ruling is being appealed.

"Since the situation is in litigation, I will not comment," Nixon told Lyons.

The governor's new plan requires DNR to apply a strict scrutiny standard when reviewing requests for permits that would allow wastewater discharges or land disturbances that might affect water quality in the Lake of the Ozarks or its watershed.

"We will clean up and prevent contamination in the Lake of the Ozarks," Nixon said. "And though this strict approach to water protection may be controversial, nothing should be off the table when it comes to protecting our waters and the public health."


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Thanks.

ts20 wrote on Nov 17, 2009 5:04 PM:

" is this really news ???? its been like a lagoon for yrs...i haven't fished there for yrs.............gess why ............. "

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boscoe wrote on Sep 27, 2009 4:08 PM:

" Does "Zero Tolerance" mean that the governor will announce the water test results now as soon as his staff is alerted? "

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waitingontheend wrote on Sep 25, 2009 9:52 AM:

" Maybe it is the dead bodies floating around that is polluting the lake. :) "

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boxergal wrote on Sep 25, 2009 9:27 AM:

" whocares - you are twisted. However, I do believe that look is one of pure fear but I could be wrong. Goose poop, right. "

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Travelin_Rose wrote on Sep 25, 2009 8:09 AM:

" Sounds like all those septic systems at the Lake will be a thing of the past. Sure glad I sold my Lake place 5 years ago. "

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whocares wrote on Sep 25, 2009 7:10 AM:

" Is it just my twisted thinking or did that woman in the photo look like Rodney Dangerfield or what? "

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Bsnoltth wrote on Sep 24, 2009 12:38 PM:

" What I mean by coincidental is that Gov. Nixon probably wouldn't care if this DNR thing didn't go public.

Politics as usual I suppose. "

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Bsnoltth wrote on Sep 24, 2009 12:35 PM:

" I'm not saying the lake doesn't need to be cleaned, but this seems more than a little coincidental due to the DNR fiasco.
Also Unknown, I'm just as not happy about the raises, but that falls on Congress rather than the govna. Congress who... yes, gave themselves a raise.

Why don't WE vote on whether or not Congress gets a raise? "

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boxergal wrote on Sep 24, 2009 9:25 AM:

" Yea!!! Now limit boat size and you will get it back to the way it was supposed to be. "

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Nixon orders 'zero-tolerance' clean-up plan for water quality at Lake of the Ozarks

By Ceil Abbottceila@thelaketoday.com

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By Ceil Abbott
ceila@thelaketoday.com