The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

Carthage, Jasper County

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December 6, 2008

Jasper County commissioners advance erosion-prevention project

By Susan Redden

sredden@joplinglobe.com

CARTHAGE, Mo. — Jasper County will seek federal help on a project to prevent further stream-bank erosion at County Road 40, south of Avilla.

Commissioners last week agreed to seek state approval of a project that would stabilize the stream bank at a bridge over White Oak Creek.

The county is working on four potential projects with representatives of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A report on the problem will be submitted to the state, which allocates federal funds for the work, said Derek Ball of the NRCS office in Carthage.

“There is severe erosion both upstream and downstream of the bridge where the bank is giving way because of the 100-year flood events we’ve had in the last several years,” Ball said. “Our hope is to get funding to reshape and armor the banks with riprap to stabilize them.”

The project is to cost about $111,220, with more formal estimates to come after engineering, if the work is approved for funding, he added. Federal funds will pay 75 percent of costs. The local share can be in the form of cash or work on the project.

Jim Honey, Eastern District associate commissioner, said the two landowners have agreed to allow the county to submit the project for possible funding.

The county also is looking at potential projects on County Road 118 near Morrow Mill, on Pine Road near County Road 160 and on County Road 110 south of Blackberry Road.

Ball said the work is done by county crews in some cases, or contracted out, if several projects are involved.

Honey said he expects the projects will be contracted out, though county road crews may help with some elements of the work.

The project near Morrow Mill is the largest of the four and also will involve the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Honey said he and NRCS representatives met with Corps officials at the site about two weeks ago.

“The next step is to meet with landowners to see what they want done,” said Honey. “There’s a busted dam, and the water is seriously eroding the north bank. Eventually, it could endanger a home.”



Appointments

County commissioners approved the reappointment of Randy Stanley and Tommie Avant to the Jasper County Mental Health Board, and of John Keys and Randy Evans to the Jasper County Sheltered Facilities Board.

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Carthage, Jasper County
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