New study focuses on Ozarks, state waterways

Water is clearly one of the Ozarks region's most important recreation resources, leading tourists and locals alike to spend time fishing, boating, swimming, and otherwise enjoying its waterways.

With such high recreational use, water quality becomes more critical than ever. With that in mind, the James River Basin Partnership has instituted a new study designed to produce a clearer picture of local waterways.

Local effects

Southwest Missouri State University and Drury University joined forces this month to study the region's water quality problems, an effort coordinated by the not-for-profit partnership. The project will gather water samples from Bull Creek and Swan Creek, both of which originate in Christian County. Bull Creek empties into Lake Taneycomo; Swan Creek into Bull Shoals Lake.

According to Diana Sheridan, the partnership's executive director, Bass Pro Shops, the Wonders of Wildlife Museum and the Missouri Department of Conservation all contributed to sponsor the study. She said that participants will take 30 random water samples from the creeks between June and September this year.

Performing the sampling will be Steve Jones, PhD, Drury biologist; Bill Cheek, PhD, SMSU associate dean of the College of Natural and Applied Science; Dan Beckman, SMSU fisheries biologist; and student volunteers. The study also will gather information on fish populations, land use and habitat.

"Fish travel up- and downstream, and swim to all the spots in a creek, both good and bad. Because they live a long time, a decline in a particular fish population means something's been going on for a long time and is bad enough to kill fish," Sheridan said. "Insect life spans are much shorter, and a change in their population means a short-term problem exists."

She added that the state Department of Conservation is performing these same tests at 100 sites across Missouri, and the local project, to be carried out at 30 test sites here, will add substantially to the data.

The big picture

Sheridan said there is now no baseline data for water quality, and the study will fill that need by providing comparison data for future studies. "We hope to do this same study in the next two summers, this time on the Finley and the James River, and on Flat and Beaver creeks. This will give us a bigger picture."

One factor spurring the study, according to Sheridan, is that Ozarks streams are not what they used to be. "We've got more algae, fewer fish, less pristine water. We want to see what's going on with the ecological health of the streams."

Another issue, one not addressed by this particular study, is the risk to human health from bacterial pollution. Sheridan said that the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the County Health Department collect that information and "it is in their realm to study that." She added that her organization is discussing looking for ways to determine sources of bacteria in streams. The current study will assess the health of our water, but not find specific pollutants.

When the study is completed, the results will be announced at a public meeting, and the organization will provide a reader-friendly brochure explaining the findings, Sheridan said.

Sheridan said she believes the study also will set the stage for additional collaboration between community-based groups, businesses, academic institutions and state agencies. She said that state agencies have not worked with a grassroots, not-for-profit organization on a science project before, and she hopes this is the start of a new trend. She added that she believes the state agencies do not have enough money themselves to do "everything we need to have done."

Effects on business, tourism

Water quality can be a touchy subject for businesses involved in tourism, Sheridan said, but, nonetheless, some businesses have stepped forward to help fund the study project, as well as other work the partnership has done. Johnny Morris Conservation Creel a partnership between the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Johnny Morris Foundation and Bass Pro Shops contributed $50,000 for the study. Other aid, either in dollars or in assistance, have come from the Doe Run Company, Drury University, SMSU, the James River Basin Partnership, the Missouri Department of Conservation, and the Wonders of Wildlife Museum.

Sheridan said that "if water quality isn't good, then tourism isn't good, and then a lot of businesses suffer. This business-economic link is underlying the partnership's activities."

Her hope is that businesses will see the value of the studies and will contribute to the partnership's ongoing efforts to restore Ozark streams and lakes to their once-pristine condition.