The connection between water and the economy is not a subtle one.  Ask any business person along the Gulf Coast today about the economic impact of the BP oil spill there.  The news has daily reports on efforts to cap the spill accompanied by stories about the economic effects of oil fouling the sea and beaches. 

Even in places where tar balls have not washed ashore, the perception of white beaches as gunky messes has kept visitors away.  Liability costs for clean up and economic impact compensation have so far cost BP well above three billion dollars with the costs rising daily.  We can only hope the well will soon be capped, but the clean up and restoration will take years with continuing detriment to the Gulf economy.

The point here is that dirty water, regardless of the pollution's source, is an economic downer.  Clean water is an asset supporting economic benefits for many.  In our region the continuing reports and concerns about bacterial contamination of reservoirs like Lake of the Ozarks have predictably prompted some visitors to visit elsewhere.   The economic implications of bad water are easily predicted.

Right now the Ozarks is enjoying it high tourist season; July is reliably one of the busiest months of the year and crucial to business success.  Right now in Branson, where our Foundation offices, the cars are often bumper to bumper along "Country 76 Boulevard" and the shows and entertainment venues are filled with visitors.  The canoe liveries on the James River where my cabin is located are busy ferrying floaters to and from put in and take out points on the river.  Their business and the tourism industry around the lakes depend on a robust July.

And business success in July and every other month of the year depends on clean water, on rivers and lakes that are perceived as clean and wholesome.  This is true even if visitors don't go near the water to fish, swim, float or otherwise use the resource.  The fact is that our lakes and streams define the region and the assumption is that the water quality is good.  So far, that is largely the case. 

Our work at the Foundation is hinged on the legacy of clean water in the Ozarks, on the aesthetic of picturesque springs and streams, on inviting lakes and a lifestyle that depends on the outdoors.  Yet there is an economic reality that accompanies this aesthetic which we readily acknowledge.  Enlightened economic self-interest demands that we take care of the precious resource in our waters.  The tragic effects of the oil spill in the Gulf show us how fragile and how far-reaching bad water can be for our economic well-being.

 Tom Sutcliffe, M.D. 

The summer's heat seems to increase our awareness of water's importance on our daily lives. The water needed to keep our bodies hydrated, to sustain our crops and livestock, and for our recreational enjoyment becomes more of a concern.