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Table Rock LakeSmart Project
David Casaletto, Executive Director, Ozarks Water Watch
Table Rock Lake Water Quality (TRLWQ) is a watershed organization working to keep the waters of Table Rock Lake and its watershed clear and clean. TRLWQ just received a 319 Water Protection Program grant from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Gopala Borchelt, Executive Director for TRLWQ supplied me the information contained in this newsletter.
What is the Table Rock LakeSmart Project?
LakeSmart is a project to bring funding and information to the Table Rock Lake area for demonstration of better storm water run-off management solutions, particularly those using vegetation and soil. These solutions are intended to help slow down rain water run-off from developed areas and remove pollution from run-off water as it enters the lake (or streams).
Why is this project needed? When it rains, oil, antifreeze, detergents, pesticides, pet wastes, soil erosion and many other pollutants containing chemicals like nitrogen and phosphorus, solvents, heavy metals and other toxins get washed from driveways, backyards, parking lots, and streets directly into streams or Table Rock Lake. Increasing population and expansion of developments around Table Rock Lake have caused alteration of the natural landscape and allowed more rapid rainwater run-off from this development into the waterways. Coves and distinct regions of the lake are visibly clouded by soil erosion when there is nearby construction in which vegetation is removed. Some soil erosion and nutrient run-off (which also occurs in natural settings) will not harm the water quality, but the volume of this storm water pollution caused by human development negatively affects water quality unless measures are taken to prevent the negative impacts.
Table Rock Lake is currently placed on the Environmental Protection Agency's list as impaired from excessive nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) contamination which causes over growth of algae (can cause fish kills and destruction of aquatic diversity). The geology of the Table Rock Lake area, which has very shallow soil-to-bedrock, increases its risk of both surface and ground water contamination.
 | | LakeSmart Project Area |
Project Goals: We feel that the best approach to addressing storm water problems in the Table Rock Lake area is to first distribute information and also install and show successful, working storm water detention areas. The two main goals of this project are: 1. Encourage and inform area residents and businesses about adopting feasible, beautiful and low-maintenance options for storm water retention and filtration. We will hold public workshops and training for people to learn how to choose a location on their own properties and install a rain garden, buffer area or detention basin to capture and filter storm water from their own properties.  | | Beaver Water District Office, Lowell, AR |
2. Prevent storm water pollution from entering Table Rock Lake and its streams through use of constructed retention and vegetation. We intend to install 26 of these areas as demonstration sites around Table Rock Lake. These projects would show how plants and vegetation can be used to help filter pollutants out of storm water run-off using structures such as vegetated detention basins, rain gardens and riparian (stream or lakeside) buffer zones. These features hold storm water temporarily and allow it to soak into the ground a release slowly. This is a good flash flood remedy and also create excellent habitat for wildlife. Funding & partnerships: This project is funded partially by the 319 Water Protection Program through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Additional funding will be through community donations of time and materials and through project partnerships.  | | Rain Garden |
We are looking for businesses and property owners in the lake area (see map above) to partner with us on this project. Potential partners in our storm water project include local business owners, local residents and communities including towns, planning and zoning, counties, villages, homeowner's associations, subdivisions, resorts and campgrounds where development is occurring or has occurred. These partners would contribute advice, knowledge, the locations and/or labor (planting of plants and trees). For more information on the Table Rock LakeSmart Project contact: Table Rock Lake Water Quality Inc. PO Box 606 Kimberling City, MO 65686 417-739- 4100 contact@trlwq.org | 
