Sat, Nov 21 2009
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Bacteria levels in area creeks, streams remain ambiguous The Joplin GlobeThe Missouri Department of Natural Resources, while it leaves bacteria monitoring to the counties, does have a four-year-old list of "impaired" streams and rivers that includes parts or all of Shoal Creek, Indian Creek, Little Sugar, Big Sugar, Elk River, Turkey Creek, Center Creek and even Table Rock Lake. Some are on the list because of high nitrates and phosphates, but others are on there because of elevated levels of fecal coliform (Upper Shoal Creek in Barry County) or heavy metals (Turkey and Center creeks.)
It's not just physical contact with streams that may be dangerous, either. There's a nationwide advisory on eating largemouth bass caught in streams, ponds and lakes because of mercury contamination. Kansas officials also warn residents in Cherokee County not to eat shellfish (mussels, clams, crayfish) from parts of Shoal Creek and Spring River because of lead and cadmium levels. 'I'd like to know' On a recent summer day, with temperatures in the 90s, more than two dozen people gravitated to the Stone's Corner access along Center Creek, north of Joplin. Music was blaring. Children and adults splashed with inner tubes. Daniel Crum, 33, of Carthage, rested in the shade of a tree. "I'd like to know," he said, since he has six children, "exactly what is in the water." "We do this at least twice a week," he said, pointing to the swimming hole. Although he lives less than a mile from Spring River and used to go there, he said he gave up on that several years ago. His children often had earaches and stomachaches that he attributed to the water. And while he hasn't given up swimming in other creeks, he said he has passed up keeping the fish he catches there. "I won't let my family eat it," he said. Charlie Clark, 19, and Nikki Doody, 20, both of Webb City, cooled off in the creek while Johnny Cash "walked the line" through a car stereo. "I'd like to know if it is safe for her," Doody said, referring to her 3-month-old baby. "I'd like to know. "Sometimes there is more than this here," she added, pointing to the crowd at the boat ramp. 'Unbelievable' Long before Renewable Environmental Solutions was accused of fouling the air in Carthage, long before the company was sued by the city, pursued by the attorney general, and temporarily shut down by the governor, Stream Team 2416 in Carthage was warning people to get out of Spring River. Bacteria monitoring at five sites upstream and downstream of Carthage has regularly picked up E. coli and enterococci at levels that exceed standards defined as safe by the Environmental Protection Agency, said Frank Martinez, a member of the team. 
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