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Published July 14, 2007 06:34 pm - What is it about state parks and historic sites that attracts concentrated animal-feeding operations? Guest column: Hogs, chickens, state parks and historic sites By Ken Midkiff
Globe guest columnist What is it about state parks and historic sites that attracts concentrated animal-feeding operations? Right now, there are applications on file (or permits that have been granted) with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to construct CAFOs near Athens Historic Site and Roaring River and Arrow Rock state parks. The one that folks in Joplin and Southwest Missouri know most about is proposed to be built near Roaring River State Park. As has been stated several times in different ways, people come to visit Roaring River because of the trout fishing and its picturesque setting, not to smell manure. The proposal to build a massive chicken operation near Roaring River State Park, in Barry County, not too far from the Arkansas border, is now under an appeal. The MDNR, torn between interests of state parks and the poultry industry, eventually issued a building permit, claiming that the plant had met all state requirements. For those unfamiliar with this area, Roaring River State Park is located near the far upper reaches of Table Rock Lake, sprawls across the valley of Roaring River, which emanates from a boiling spring, and encompasses the surrounding heavily-wooded hill and a few open glades. Located just downstream from the spring — and dependent upon its clear, cold water — are trout hatcheries and trout-rearing ponds of the Missouri Department of Conservation. Roaring River itself is composed of a series of trout pools. The upper pools are for lures with a single hook (artificial flies, primarily) only and the lower sections are open to any and all. Most of the visitors to Roaring River State Park and the motels and tourist accommodations in Eagle Rock and surrounding areas are there for the trout fishing, but some are there for the other amenities. The area around Roaring River State Park is composed of what is known as Karst topography. Named after an area in Norway, it is similar to the area around our Rock Bridge State Park, with sinkholes, caves, and springs. Surface water quickly becomes groundwater. If the spring at Roaring River becomes contaminated with chicken manure, there goes the trout and there goes the trout-fishing area. With the demise or decline of trout fishing, and the corresponding demise or decline of anglers, the local economy will suffer. Arrow Rock State Park is located on a bluff above the Missouri River and consists of the Lyceum Theatre and a historic village, among other more typical state park attractions. The village is not only historic, but people actually live and work there. It is indeed a jewel, composed of the best parts of historic preservation and a lively theatre. No trout fishing, but visitors come to view the historic sights or to be entertained, not to smell hogs. Yet the proposal is to construct a hog CAFO within easy smelling distance of Arrow Rock State Park. The hogs would be owned by a large corporation and this corporation would dictate how the plant is to be built, the day-to-day operations of the “farmer,” and even the date when the hogs would be picked up. The contract grower, not really a farmer, would not exercise any controls. All decisions would be made by corporate headquarters and would be directed at maximum profits, not community interests. Athens Historic Site is up in the northeastern corner of Missouri — Clark County. The Battle of Athens was fought there and the state-owned site memorializes the turmoil of the Civil War era. Perched along the banks of the Des Moines River, not too far from the Mississippi, Athens enjoys a steady tourist trade from civil war buffs. Akin to Roaring River State Park — although it is about 300 miles away — the area is composed of Karst topography. The proposal there is to build a massive hog-rearing operation. The grower will be under contract with a multi-national corporation and, akin to the grower near Arrow Rock, will have little control over day-to-day operations. It is futile to continue pretending that these are “no discharge” facilities. There is runoff of hog and chicken manure from month after month, year after year “application” on adjacent fields. This has nothing to do with fertilizer — it is disposal of a waste product and in this disposal, surface and ground water become contaminated. It is equally futile to continue pretending that thousands of farm animals in confined buildings don’t stink. They do. Ask anyone who lives downwind. 
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