Post by Steve King (Admin) on Feb 18, 2006 20:17:03 GMT -6
Tributary of Jacks Fork contaminated
Testing on Shawnee Creek shows high levels of fecal coliform bacteria.
Visitors to a creekside recreation area on the Jacks Fork River near Eminence are being warned not to wade or swim in the creek because of high bacteria levels.
While an official with the Ozark National Scenic Riverways said the contamination source isn't precisely known, the head of a Missouri environmental group said he believes a trail ride involving thousands of horses is the source.
Testing early this week on Shawnee Creek showed levels of fecal coliform bacteria 10 times higher than state and federal limits, Riverways ranger Bill O'Donnell said.
Health experts say that swimming in waters with high levels of fecal coliform dramatically increases the chance of developing fever, nausea, stomach cramps and diarrhea. The bacteria can enter the body through the mouth, nose, ears or cuts in the skin.
The U.S. Park Service has posted warnings along the creek in a camping, picnicking and canoe put-in area near the river.
The warnings have not been posted on the Jacks Fork River, O'Donnell said.
Fecal coliform bacteria is present in the feces and intestinal tracts of humans and other warm-blooded animals.
Fecal coliform levels on the creek were at 2,400 colonies Monday but dropped to 720 colonies Tuesday, O'Donnell said Friday.
"It was significantly above the standards, so they thought it was prudent we put up signs," he said of the decision to post the creek Wednesday.
The riverway uses a limit of 200 colonies of fecal coliform per 100 milliliters of water for swimming.
The bacteria is a single-celled organism but forms colonies as it multiplies, according to a U.S. Geological Survey water quality Web site. These may grow large enough to be seen by a powerful microscope.
The bacteria levels are determined by growing and counting colonies of coliform bacteria from sample water, according to the site.
The source of this week's contamination hasn't been determined, O'Donnell said.
"We don't have any theories on the cause of it, or that sort of thing," he said.
Results from more samples collected Friday will be available Monday; the Park Service is also awaiting results of long-term tests by the U.S. Geological Survey.
That work involves genetic testing of water in several areas of the Jacks Fork River and could pinpoint whether contamination is from humans, horses or wildlife, O'Donnell said.
The postings on Shawnee Creek don't mean people should refrain from floating on the Jacks Fork, O'Donnell said.
"We're not telling anybody not to go canoeing," he said. "Nobody goes canoeing in Shawnee Creek, anyway."
The contamination provides yet more evidence that allowing trail rides involving large numbers of horses crossing the Jacks Fork River, the Current River and tributary streams causes problems, Ted Heisel, executive director of the Missouri Coalition for the Environment said.
Heisel said he won't be surprised if horses used in the 50th anniversary ride at Cross Country Trail Ride upstream of Shawnee Creek are contributing to high fecal coliform levels.
A worrisome situation has been made more so, he said Friday, because the Park Service allowed construction of an equestrian staging area at Shawnee Creek and because the Missouri Department of Natural Resources has not enforced water-quality rules strictly enough.
"I think it's a continuation of what we knew was a problem, but nothing is being done to solve the problem, and that is the problem," he said.
"The Park Service and DNR continue to allow these large rides that cause water quality problems."
Efforts to contact Cross Country owner Jim Smith were not successful Friday.
The trail ride, which ends today, attracted an estimated 5,000 riders. The event included concerts by George Jones and other musicians and is one of the biggest in the Eminence area.
Source: Springfield News Leader
Published: Saturday, August 13, 2005
Testing on Shawnee Creek shows high levels of fecal coliform bacteria.
Visitors to a creekside recreation area on the Jacks Fork River near Eminence are being warned not to wade or swim in the creek because of high bacteria levels.
While an official with the Ozark National Scenic Riverways said the contamination source isn't precisely known, the head of a Missouri environmental group said he believes a trail ride involving thousands of horses is the source.
Testing early this week on Shawnee Creek showed levels of fecal coliform bacteria 10 times higher than state and federal limits, Riverways ranger Bill O'Donnell said.
Health experts say that swimming in waters with high levels of fecal coliform dramatically increases the chance of developing fever, nausea, stomach cramps and diarrhea. The bacteria can enter the body through the mouth, nose, ears or cuts in the skin.
The U.S. Park Service has posted warnings along the creek in a camping, picnicking and canoe put-in area near the river.
The warnings have not been posted on the Jacks Fork River, O'Donnell said.
Fecal coliform bacteria is present in the feces and intestinal tracts of humans and other warm-blooded animals.
Fecal coliform levels on the creek were at 2,400 colonies Monday but dropped to 720 colonies Tuesday, O'Donnell said Friday.
"It was significantly above the standards, so they thought it was prudent we put up signs," he said of the decision to post the creek Wednesday.
The riverway uses a limit of 200 colonies of fecal coliform per 100 milliliters of water for swimming.
The bacteria is a single-celled organism but forms colonies as it multiplies, according to a U.S. Geological Survey water quality Web site. These may grow large enough to be seen by a powerful microscope.
The bacteria levels are determined by growing and counting colonies of coliform bacteria from sample water, according to the site.
The source of this week's contamination hasn't been determined, O'Donnell said.
"We don't have any theories on the cause of it, or that sort of thing," he said.
Results from more samples collected Friday will be available Monday; the Park Service is also awaiting results of long-term tests by the U.S. Geological Survey.
That work involves genetic testing of water in several areas of the Jacks Fork River and could pinpoint whether contamination is from humans, horses or wildlife, O'Donnell said.
The postings on Shawnee Creek don't mean people should refrain from floating on the Jacks Fork, O'Donnell said.
"We're not telling anybody not to go canoeing," he said. "Nobody goes canoeing in Shawnee Creek, anyway."
The contamination provides yet more evidence that allowing trail rides involving large numbers of horses crossing the Jacks Fork River, the Current River and tributary streams causes problems, Ted Heisel, executive director of the Missouri Coalition for the Environment said.
Heisel said he won't be surprised if horses used in the 50th anniversary ride at Cross Country Trail Ride upstream of Shawnee Creek are contributing to high fecal coliform levels.
A worrisome situation has been made more so, he said Friday, because the Park Service allowed construction of an equestrian staging area at Shawnee Creek and because the Missouri Department of Natural Resources has not enforced water-quality rules strictly enough.
"I think it's a continuation of what we knew was a problem, but nothing is being done to solve the problem, and that is the problem," he said.
"The Park Service and DNR continue to allow these large rides that cause water quality problems."
Efforts to contact Cross Country owner Jim Smith were not successful Friday.
The trail ride, which ends today, attracted an estimated 5,000 riders. The event included concerts by George Jones and other musicians and is one of the biggest in the Eminence area.
Source: Springfield News Leader
Published: Saturday, August 13, 2005
