Spring River Watershed Partnership - 5th Meeting

The Spring River Watershed Partnership committee met today to review the draft Spring River Watershed Management Plan for HUC #11070207140002. It should be finished in 30 days, after which, invitations to the original participants will be sent for their comments. The committee talked about setting up a survey for the original participants to help prioritize the most important issues. A copy of the Spring River Watershed Management Plan will be available online at the Jasper County Health Department and Environmental Task Force of Jasper and Newton Counties, websites.

Spring River Watershed Management Plan is to provide an initial assessment and a general strategic plan for the Spring River Watershed, and to focus on a 14-Digit HUC Code portion located in Central Jasper County near Carthage. The organizational format follows the nine elements recommended by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Handbook for Developing Watershed Plans to Restore and Protect our Waters (2008). The Objective of this watershed plan is to reduce the number of bacterial levels (total coliform and E. coli) to below the whole body contact level for recreational waters.

Elements of Spring River Watershed Management Plan
1. Quantify Sources of Pollutant
2. Estimates of Pollutant Load Reductions
3. Non-Point Source (NPS) Management Measures
4. Estimate of Technical and Financial Assistance Needed
5. Information/Education Component
6. Schedule for Best Management Practices(BMP)Implementation
7. Description of Interim Milestones
8. Method Used o Determine Load Reduction
9. Water Quality Monitoring Program

In addition, there was preliminary discussion about sponsoring a Missouri Stream Team, Spring River cleanup for HUC #11070207140002.

Committee accepts proposed Spring River watershed plan w/ Spring River Watershed draft report, Joplin Globe, 10/01/2009

Draft copy Executive Summary Spring River Watershed Management Plan for HUC #11070207140002, Joplin Globe, 10/01/2009