Attorney General responds to 2010 E-Coli closures
LAKE OF THE OZARKS, MO -- Missouri's Attorney General wants to make sure you don't miss a day at the beach this summer.
Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster has released 12 recommendations to improve water quality at Lake of the Ozarks.
Last summer, the Lake of the Ozarks, Mark Twain Lake and Wyaconda State Park beach were all periodically closed because of E-Coli contamination.
Most of the recommendations are specific to Lake of the Ozarks, but several could be applied to other lakes around the state.
"Microbial source testing would help decide what to do about the E-Coli problem", says Jenny Frazier, Assistant Attorney General, "and that could be used at Wyaconda State Park".
"Many of these recommendations may be implemented immediately, while others require more public input and planning", said Koster.
The report came out of an August symposium focused on fixing the 2010 E-Coli problem at Missouri's popular recreational lake resorts.
The report acknowledged that the greatest threat to clean water at the Lake of the Ozarks comes from aging and poorly maintained sewage disposal systems installed around the lake.
Currently there is no central repository for the number, condition or location of sewage systems, and many were constructed before the enactment of standards in 1995.
Koster recommends the Universtiy of Missouri-Extension system should conduct a study and publish its findings on the status of sewer systems around the lake.
Koster wants to also extend AmerenUE's current agreement to fund water quality monitoring for five more years.
The current agreement runs out in 2012.
"We've sent copies to every legislator and hope they'll take action. All of these recommendations should serve as a model to other recreational reservoirs, but every lake is different. Recommended changes to statutes will provide greater oversight authority", said Frazier.
The report also calls for real-time environmental data predictive modeling tools, new legislation for sewage disposal inspections, and increases in criminal penalties for violations of the Missouri Clean Water Law.
For the full report click here.