By Wally Kennedy
wkennedy@joplinglobe.com
The Newton County Health Department posted advisories Tuesday at public access points to Shoal Creek, telling people to take precautions when swimming in area creeks and streams.
“The creek might look nice and clear, but it might not be quite as clean as people think it is when they go for a swim,” said Bob Kulp, director of the Newton County Health Department. “It’s the same thing we found last year. At some points on the creek, we have found low numbers for E. coli, but at others points, it’s over 1,000 colonies.”
Elevated E. coli levels typically are found after heavy rains. High levels of the bacteria indicate the presence of pathogenic microorganisms that increase the risk for illness.
Kulp noted that the department has issued an advisory, not a public health emergency. The public should not necessarily avoid the creeks but should use good hygiene, such as hand washing, after contact with the water. Swimmers should avoid ingestion of the water.
“We thought before the Memorial Day weekend it would be a good idea to let the public know there may be some problems out there, and that it varies from one creek to the next and from one week to the next,” he said. “Any of these creeks can have high bacteria loads, especially after heavy rains.
“They need to understand there are times when the creeks might not be safe. It is not like a swimming pool.”
The Newton County and Lawrence County health departments use the standard of 235 E. coli colonies per 100 milliliters of fresh water for full-body contact. The standard was established in 1986 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The state of Missouri, after reviewing the EPA’s criteria for risk, chose a standard of 126 colonies per 100 milliliters. John Hoke, with the water protection program of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, said the state chose 126 colonies as the standard because it is more protective of human health.
Kulp said samples taken last week from Shoal Creek showed elevated levels of E. coli near Walleye Bridge at the Barry County line. The colony count there was 1,413. The count dropped to 173 at the old Route E bridge in Granby. It increased to 980 colonies at Lime Kiln Bridge, then dropped to 238 at Allen Bridge.
Samples also showed 168 colonies at the Undercliff campground, 184 at the Tipton Ford Conservation Area, 139 at Redings Mill and 20 at Schermerhorn Park, south of Galena, Kan.
Hickory, Capps, Indian and Lost creeks recently were listed by the state as impaired because of elevated E. coli levels.
Water samples taken in April by the Lawrence County Health Department showed 2,419 colonies in Honey Creek at Marionville City Park and in Williams Creek at Mount Vernon City Park. Spring River had levels ranging from 5 to 387 colonies at four sites.
The Jasper County Health Department has ordered about $5,500 in lab equipment to do stream sampling, which should begin in two weeks, said Tony Moehr, director of the department.
“We want to go outside of the area where the Carthage stream team has worked,” he said. “That would include other areas of Spring River, Center Creek and Turkey Creek.
“We have identified 20 sites countywide, including where Spring River enters the county and where it exits the county. We also want to sample where the North Fork runs into Spring River.”
A section of Spring River through Carthage also has been added to the state’s list of impaired streams because of elevated bacteria levels.
Moehr said the department wants to get “a better handle on what is going on within the watersheds in the county.” He noted that a Spring River watershed group could be forming, and that the group will need baseline information.
“We hope people are assuming that most natural waters have the potential to have high levels of bacterial contamination,” he said.
Shoal Creek meeting
A meeting of the Shoal Creek Watershed Partnership is set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 23, at the Lampo Building, 500 E. Spring St., in Neosho.
The group will talk about a strategic management plan for the watershed and watershed restoration, according to Jerry Carter, chairman of the group’s executive committee.
Local News
<img src="http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/images/zope/extra.gif" border=0>Newton County posts advisories because of stream contamination <font color="#ff0000"> w/ Public health advisory</font>
- Local News
-
-
City wants to buy weather radios for those without
Phil Jones had been working on a construction project outside his house all day on May 22 and was unaware that a tornado watch had been issued. Once he was inside, though, his weather radio went off, and he learned that a warning had been issued.
-
Architects present preliminary JHS plans at community meeting
Reaction appeared mostly supportive Thursday night among the roughly 50 people who attended a community meeting at which architects presented their preliminary site plans for the future combined Joplin High School and Franklin Technology Center.
-
Confessed shooter testifies against co-defendants in Pittsburg murder case
Rickey Smith testified Thursday that as he came in the back door of Ryan Bailey’s home in Pittsburg with a 9 mm pistol in his hand, Bailey looked up from the couch in his living room.
-
School district’s proposed street-closing plan questioned
Plans to close some streets near the proposed Joplin High School drew questions, including a challenge from a former Joplin mayor, during a public hearing this week.
-
Neosho council approves new golf cart contract
The purchase of golf carts was back on the agenda this week for the Neosho City Council. City Attorney Steve Hays said there were errors in the financing terms that were part of a bid approved last month for the purchase of 55 gas-powered carts from E-Z-Go for $144,195, so the purchase of a new fleet was rebid.
-
Mike Pound: Spirit of competition evident during double-overtime game
When I played basketball in high school, I played in several very close games.
Now, some people who may have known me in high school are probably laughing right now and saying, “What Mike meant to say is that when he was in high school, he came very close to playing in some games.” -
Mo. optometrist filed $40 million refund claim
A southwest Missouri optometrist who filed a tax return claiming a $40 million refund has been sentenced to four years and three months in federal prison.
-
Okla. receives waiver from No Child Left Behind
Oklahoma’s top education official reacted with glee Thursday with the announcement that the state is one of 10 states being granted a waiver from the federal No Child Left Behind law that requires students be proficient in reading and math by 2014 — but focused on getting students to “just pass the tests.”
-
Kan. House approves bipartisan redistricting bill
Power in the Kansas House is likely to shift next year from rural parts of the state to the Kansas City area after members overwhelmingly approved a bipartisan bill Thursday for redrawing their districts.
-
Fugitive in 1993 British heist arrested in Ozark
A man suspected of stealing about $1.5 million from a security van in England in 1993 has been arrested in southwest Missouri.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
