Another New Hat to Wear!

It is hard to believe Thanksgiving is over and we are on the downhill slide to Christmas. According to the news reports, consumers must think the economy is improving with record setting sales on black Friday and cyber Monday! We will see. I am sending everyone my wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Winter on Bull Creek

I would like to ask all of you a favor. If you know someone interested in water quality you think would like to receive our newsletter just reply to this email and also copy the person who might be interested. Just tell them you are going to subscribe them to the Ozarks Water Watch newsletter as you think it would be something they will be interested in. We will make sure they are subscribed. And be sure to tell them if they decide they would rather not receive it, all they have to do is click "Unsubscribe" at the bottom of the page. I appreciate your help in increasing our exposure of the water quality issues in the Upper White River Basin! And for current water quality news stories, be sure to "LIKE" the Ozarks Water Watch Facebook page.

On November 4, 2011 I received a new hat to wear. I was elected President of the Multi-Basin Regional Water Council. The Multi-Basin Regional Water Council was established as an organizational membership, non-profit organization in 2009 with the following purpose:

To educate its members and the public on environmental issues and other such issues as water quality, water conservation, watershed management, and to increase the capacity of member organizations to cooperate and to fulfil their own mission; and to

*Foster communication among governmental entities and agencies, and political subdivisions or non-governmental organizations;

*Encourage sharing of resources among members or other groups;

*Reduce redundancy in educational efforts;

*Promote delivery of a consistent message;

*Develop common action items to address priority issues as identified by the Board;

*Help Members in securing funding for worthwhile and beneficial projects;

*Provide factual data to policy makers regarding water, wastewater, watershed issues;

*Creating and promoting favourable public attitudes and support of the goals of the Corporation and its members.

*Educate the public as to the need to protect the quality of the water resources,

*Develop and implement programs to enhance and protect the quality of the water resources,

*Advocate the principals of sustainability as the water resources are not unlimited, and

*Emphasize conservation and reuse so future generations can enjoy the benefits of clean water.

Beaver Lake

The members of the executive committee are:

David Casaletto - President - Executive Director of Ozarks Water Watch

Terry Hallauer - Vice-President

Oklahoma Dept. of Environmental Quality

Caroline Eastman - Secretary

Elk River Watershed Improvement Association

Bob Nichols - Treasurer - Tri-State Water Resource Coalition

4-State Flags

It's an honor to be elected to serve as President of Multi-Basin. As director of Ozarks Water Watch, I've been working on similar issues through bi-state collaboration with Missouri and Arkansas. Since several of our watersheds are shared with 2 or more states, it makes sense to work together for common goals.

Multi-Basin holds quarterly meetings in Rogers, AR where information is presented on timely and informative water quality topics throughout the 4-State area. The Multi-Basin meetings will also provide a face to face meeting for the group planning the 2nd annual 4-State Watershed Academy to be held in the 2nd half of 2012. The basins or watersheds that comprise the membership of Multi-Basin are located in NW Arkansas, NE Oklahoma, SE Kansas and SW Missouri. To join Multi-Basin or to request the date and location of the next meeting, contact Ronna Haxby at Ozarks Water Watch 417-739-5001.

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Quote of the Week

A brook can be a friend in a special way. It talks to you with splashy gurgles. It cools your toes and lets you sit quietly beside it when you don't feel like speaking.

- Joan Walsh Anglund

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Current News Articles

Spring River group to seek funds for projects to reduce pollution.

By Susan Redden - The Joplin Globe

CARTHAGE, Mo. - A group looking at ways to improve water quality in Spring River has agreed to take on a project that is expected to cost more, last longer and do more to address pollution in the river through the Carthage area.

The Spring River Watershed Partnership early next month will submit a revised grant application for state funding for the work, according to Tony Moehr, director of the Jasper County Health Department.

The group, which more than a year ago oversaw development of a Spring River watershed management plan, had bigger plans for an inaugural project until the May 22 tornado in the Joplin area, Moehr said.

"We didn't have the time we needed to work on an application, because it was due right after the tornado," he said. "So we ended up asking for funding for one year to do some educational projects."

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has approved funding for a project that goes beyond education, to put into place some practices that would affect the quality of Spring River, said Jim Honey, an associate Jasper County commissioner who is chairman of the partnership group.

The county must provide a 40 percent match for the state funds, "so part of what we'll have to decide is how much we can match," Honey said. "But work by groups involved can be counted, so it won't be that much of an issue."

Moehr said the state wants the watershed group to encourage some "best management practices" along the river in populated areas in and near Carthage, and on property that is more agricultural. The effort will focus on an area of Spring River from Alba east to about County Road 110. (more)

For more information and to read more, Click HERE.

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Stover Mayor Sentenced for Lying About Water Samples by Caitlin Alexander - KOMU.com

JEFFERSON CITY - A district court judge sentenced Stover mayor Scott Beckmann Thursday to two five-year probation terms and a $10,000 fine. A jury found Scott Beckmann, 41, guilty of misprision, which is failing to report knowledge of a felony, and lying to a federal agent about Stover's water samples this past spring.

The federal prosector asked the judge to take into consideration the fact that Beckmann perjured himself during his trial, backtracking on what he meant in mentioning "that chlorine trick" in a 2007 board of aldermen meeting. He also discussed how the DNR and EPA had addressed Stover's noncompliance in meeting safe water standards, but that Beckmann had ignored them, knowing that the city's superintendent submitted a water sample from a false sampling location.

Over half the courtroom was comprised of Beckmann supporters. Two pastors and other Stover residents testified to Beckmann's character as a hard worker and reliable mayor of Stover for ten years. Others came to encourage the judge to enforce a harsh sentence.

Beckmann tearfully addressed the judge before she handed down sentence. "I love the city of Stover," he said. "All I ever wanted was the best for the town." In closing, he mentioned, "If I could take it back, your honor, I sure would." (more)

For more information and to read more, Click HERE

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Ozark Riverways seeks long-term plan to protect environment

Sierra Club, Audubon Society and local groups working together.

Written by Mike Penprase, News-Leader

The Ozark National Scenic Riverways needs a long-range plan tough enough to stop unauthorized road building, the use of all-terrain vehicles in river areas and other concerns, environmental groups are telling the National Park Service.

The Sierra Club's St. Louis chapter is heading a petition drive in cooperation with other environmentally minded groups throughout Missouri, chapter president John Hickey said during a news conference Wednesday at Dynamic Earth in Springfield.

But concern isn't coming from just the big city, a woman who lives near the Jacks Fork River said.

"There are locals working and trying to help the Park Service," Mountain View resident April Kruzan said. "They still don't trust environmentalists from St. Louis."

That attitude is why the Sierra Club chapter is working with area environmental groups, Hickey said before the news conference.

"While the Sierra Club is doing some of the legwork for the event, it is a broader coalition," he said.

Ozark Greenways doesn't have a direct connection with the Jacks Fork and Current rivers, but a lot of Greenways members float them and are concerned about their welfare, Greenways project coordinator Lori Tack said.

"Our group felt it was important to add our voice to what they are doing," she said. (more)

For more information, click HERE.

Contact Info
OZARKS WATER WATCH MISSOURI OFFICE ARKANSAS OFFICE

David Casaletto, President PO Box 636, 2 Kissee Ave., Ste. C 1200 W. Walnut, Ste. 3405
(417) 739-5001 Kimberling City, MO 65686 Rogers, AR 72756

contact@ozarkswaterwatch.org