Our Projects
A Partnership for Water Conservation
Drury University, City Utilities of Springfield, and the Watershed Committee of the Ozarks have teamed up for a multi-step water conservation initiative on the Drury Campus. Through grant funding, the Wateshed Committee purchased a large quantity of water conserving devices like sink aerators, low flow showerheads, leak detecting tablets and shower timers. Over the summer, many of these devices were installed in buildings on Drury campus. Drury also sponsored the Watershed Committee to host a booth at the new student involvement fair on August 24, 2009. Later this fall, the Watershed Committee plans to work with students and faculty to create a water conservation competition. To help tell this story and see how effective the programs are, Drury and City Utilities of Springfield will be working to record how much water is saved. We are looking foward to making a difference-and measuring it!
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Watershed Center
Clean water is a distinguishing feature of the Ozarks. Many agencies and organizations are working to keep it that way, including the Watershed Committee of the Ozarks. To help further this goal, a few years ago the Committee embarked on the development of the Watershed Center at Valley Water Mill. This 100-acre, publicly owned site contains a large spring, seventeen-acre lake, wetlands, sinkholes, caves and stream frontage. Here, project partners will construct a watershed education facility that will be a model for sustainable development.
For more information on this exciting project, click on the Watershed Center link, Watershed Center
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Water Quality Monitoring
The Watershed Committee monitors water quality parameters, nutrients, and bacteria for 18 sites in the Little Sac River Watershed, a primary source for drinking water in Springfield and Greene County.
The parameters collected include temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, pH, phosphorus, nitrate, total coliform and E Coli. The samples are collected and analyzed monthly then the data is utilized to observe water trends in the Ozarks and aid in the preservation and improvement of water supplies in Springfield and Greene County. For a map of our water quality monitoring sites, click HERE
For more information about local water quality sampling, call Stacey Armstrong, Projects Coordinator at 417-866-1127.
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Southwest Missouri Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP)
Springfield-Branson Onsite Remediation Project
Click HERE for an APPLICATION
–We are currently not accepting new applications.
<—-Project Area Map-click to download hi-res PDF.
The Watershed Committee of the Ozarks has been awarded funds through the Southwest Missouri Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP**). The goal of this project is to improve and protect water quality while enhancing economic development for municipalities, agriculture, and tourism. This is a multi-faceted project involving several organizations, each focusing on a different water quality issue. Under this umbrella, the Watershed Committee of the Ozarks (WCO) is currently working with the Table Rock Water Quality Incorporated (TRLWQ) to demonstrate the remediation of onsite wastewater treatment systems that have failed and pose a threat to contaminating ground water. Many conventional septic systems installed in the past have been shown through scientific studies to be inadequate for many locations throughout Southwest Missouri and can negatively impact the quality of groundwater, and ultimately drinking water.
In order to demonstrate the remediation of failing systems, this project will provide design and installation services of an alternative wastewater treatment system for up to twenty homes in targeted areas to replace existing failing onsite wastewater systems.
The Watershed Committee of the Ozarks has the right to accept or reject applications.
** The Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) will identify and address major water quality challenges facing Table Rock Lake, James River, Sac River, Spring River, and the Elk River water protection efforts. Missouri Senator Kit Bond has pledged to improve water resources throughout the region. The Environmental Resources Coalition (ERC) is administering the Water Quality Improvement Project. The ERC is a non-profit group that provides research and technical assistance to a wide variety of stakeholders concerned with water quality issues, regulations and protection efforts. For more information, contact Betty Wyse at 573.634.7078 or Stacey Armstrong 417.866.1127
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Community On-Site Wastewater and Stormwater Project
The Springfield region of Missouri has seen high growth rates in the last decade. Much of this growth has occured south of the city, and in unincorporated areas. Many of these areas rely on well water, and on-site septic systems to service business and houshold needs. The area known as the “Springfield Plateau” has a unique suite of soils, topography and hydrology. These features present a distinctive potential for groundwater contamination. Stormwater issues, often overlooked in the past, are being reexamined during the “phase II” stormwater permitting. A demonstration site for new and innovative stormwater controls that can be compared to more traditional designs would benefit builders as well as city permitters and planners. Educational features that can incorporate watershed and groundwater protection would naturally tie the importance of septic and stormwater in preventing nonpoint source pollution.
Project Description: The WCO will work with their partners to establish a training facility at the Parks Eqestrian Site. This facility will showcase several alternative onsite septic systems, as well as innovative stormwater techniques. An education site will provide the community with a hands-on demonstration of karst features, wells and aquifers. Community outreach projects will include workshops, onsite rehabilitation and on-site coupons that will cost-share for maintenance. Incentives will be usesd to increase stormwater best management practices. Project Completed August 2008
Objectives
1. To provide a training facility in the Springfield area that will accomodate at least 200 installer/inspectors in a 3-year period; develop a demonstration site; provide enhanced curriculum with CE credits; and encourage correct installation, maintenance and inspeciton of on-site septic systems.
2. To prevent potential NPS pollutants from entering groundwater by educating residents about failing and un-maintained septic systems, the rehabilitation of at least one failing stystem; field days, press coverage, and mainenance cost-share for 100 local on-site systems.
3. To increase the use of stormwater management techniques in the Springfield area by creating a stormwater demonstration area; monitoring the cost and effectiveness of three alternative systems; providing training to contractors, developers and engineers; and providing cost-share or incentives to encourage participation.
4. To protect groundwater from NPS pollution in the Springfield plateau through the developemnt of a groundwater demonstration area, and groundwater workshops targeting well-drillers, homeowners, and students.
Project Sponsor–Watershed Committee of the Ozarks Cooperating Agencies–City of Springfield, Greene County, County Health and City Utilities
Contact: Mike Kromrey, Education Outreach Coordinator 417-866-1127
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
