Flooding flushes bacteria into Jasper County streams w/ water quality testing data for Spring River in Jasper County

By Susan Redden

sredden@joplinglobe.com

CARTHAGE, Mo. — Bacteria levels in Spring River at Kellogg Lake exceeded federal standards more than tenfold after the rainstorms more than a week ago.

That’s according to data compiled by the Jasper County Health Department showing the results of weekly testing of streams throughout the county since late May.

The Environmental Protection Agency recommends against swimming in water with E. coli levels of 235 colonies per 100 milliliters of water. The sample taken June 13 at Kellogg Lake tested at 2,419.6 colonies. The eight samples taken that day from Center Creek, Spring River and Turkey Creek tested above federal levels — all but one at least seven times over the standard.

“We expected it; we all realize that high water brings with it an influx of bacteria,” said Tony Moehr, county health director.

The Kellogg Lake site and two other Spring River locations were among just a few sites where bacteria levels dropped below federal pollution levels in sampling Tuesday of this week.

Moehr reviewed test results Thursday with members of the Jasper County Commission, and he and the commissioners discussed studies aimed at addressing stream conditions.

The county department started the stream sampling program in late May, and the goal is to test 20 sites on four streams each week. Moehr said workers have not taken samples at every site every week, but the county is beginning to compile data that can be used to draw conclusions about pollution problems in the region.

“We’re just now getting the countywide picture, but we need more information, especially longer-term data at normal water levels,” he said. “But I think eventually this will lead to funding and studies to pinpoint the problems and address them.”

County officials are talking with members of the Environmental Task Force of Jasper and Newton Counties about organizing a group to develop a management plan for the Spring River watershed. Based on sampling by the Carthage Senior High School stream team, parts of the river recently were designated as impaired by the Missouri Clean Water Commission.

The county also is looking at working with another group on a study of the North Fork of Spring River, said Jim Honey, Eastern District county commissioner.

He said officials plan to attend a meeting next week to discuss a proposal for grant funding for a project to reduce sediment problems in the North Fork of Spring River.

The Jasper County Soil and Water Conservation District is proposing the study, with the help of workers with the Natural Resource Conservation Service in Carthage.

“We’ve prepared what they call a ‘pre-proposal,’” said Robert Paul, with the conservation service office. “If it’s accepted, we’ll draft a proposal.”