The Missouri Department of Natural Resources recently held a recent meeting in Springfield to discuss the department’s recommendations for swimming use designations and water quality criteria on area streams and rivers.
Two Texas County streams, including Indian Creek south of Houston, were on the list.
Department representatives met with approximately 20 residents (two attended from Texas County), many of whom lived in Barry County and expressed an interest in protecting the water quality of Little Flat Creek in Barry County for swimming and other recreational uses. The department is investigating whether area streams have depth sufficient to support swimming and other recreational activities. Residents presented information about where they swim and recreate in area streams. The department will use this information in its evaluation of recreational uses for these streams.
The department also informed residents about federal and state requirements and how facilities located on a stream that is not designated for whole body contact recreation must continue to meet the requirements of the federal Clean Water Act and Missouri Clean Water Law. This includes federal and state wastewater discharge requirements that protect other applicable designated uses such as secondary contact recreation, aquatic life protection, livestock and wildlife watering or drinking water supply. Discharge of raw sewage is a violation of state and federal statute and will not be allowed.
To review the Use Attainability Analysis information available online and submit comments via the stream use survey, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/env/wpp/wqstandards/uaa/uaa_county.htm or by mail to UAA Coordinator, Department of Natural Resources, Water Protection Program, P.O. Box 176, Jefferson City, Mo. 65102-0176.