E. coli levels normal at Lake of the Ozarks

Water samples drawn from Lake of the Ozarks have been found to be within acceptable levels for E. coli bacteria, according to data released Wednesday by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

None of the samples, drawn from the lake Monday, contained levels in excess of the federal standard for public swimming beaches, according to a DNR news release. The department sampled 51 sites in 13 coves along the lake's Gravois Arm and Osage Arm between Mile Marker 36 and Mile Marker 60. The tests will be repeated in August and again in October as part of the process of setting a five-year baseline for future lake health studies, the release said.

A separate set of coves was sampled earlier this month and will be sampled again in July and September.

The program is the result of a partnership between DNR, Ameren UE and the Lake of the Ozarks Watershed Alliance, and it will eventually include coves from Bagnell Dam to Truman Dam.

The safe tests come a year after controversy surrounding test results at the lake, including an admission from the state that it withheld test results that showed higher-than-acceptable levels of E. coli bacteria at the lake. That event led to a suspension of the DNR director and firing of several DNR employees, along with changes in the way E. coli levels are reported.[[In-content Ad]]