DNR provides funding for Black Creek Watershed management plan

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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has awarded $30,000 to the Northeast Missouri Resource Conservation and Development Council Inc. to develop a watershed management plan for the Black Creek Watershed.

The overall goal of the watershed management plan is to take a holistic approach to improving water quality by reducing pollutant runoff entering the Black Creek Watershed. The plan will describe various strategies and objectives to achieve the overall goal.

The Black Creek Watershed is a tributary to the North Fork Salt River and is part of the Mark Twain Lake Watershed in Shelby County. Mark Twain Lake is a drinking water source for the Clarence Cannon Consolidated Water District, providing 3 million gallons of drinking water daily to approximately 42,000 customers.

Black Creek is listed on the state’s proposed list of impaired waters, for unknown pollutants. The primary water quality concerns in the watershed are soil erosion, nutrients, pesticides and pathogens. Because of the proposed impaired waters listing, the Northeast Missouri Resource Conservation and Development Council will coordinate a stakeholder-driven watershed management plan for the Black Creek Watershed, addressing the critical elements of a watershed management plan identified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Contributing partners in this collaborative effort include, but are not limited to: landowners, University of Missouri Extension, Shelby County Soil and Water Conservation District, Natural Resources Conservation Service and other local and state entities. The project is expected to be completed by Feb. 28, 2014.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7, has provided partial funding for this project under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act. The Department of Natural Resources’ Water Protection Program will administer the grant funds. The department is committed to working closely with communities and businesses to assist with funding efforts that improve water quality in Missouri.

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Director Pauley announces Our Missouri Waters pilot project, develops coordinated, holistic approach to watershed management

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SPRINGFIELD, Mo., Nov. 17, 2011 – The Missouri Department of Natural Resources today announced Our Missouri Waters, a new watershed-based approach that will change the way the department conducts water resource management.

Speaking at the Tri-State Water Resource Coalition annual conference in Springfield, department director Sara Parker Pauley announced the initiative that will take a coordinated, holistic approach to watershed management across the state.

“Our Missouri Waters initiative will modernize and streamline the way the department conducts watershed planning to better target our resources and provide a greater environmental benefit to the state of Missouri,” said Director Pauley. “This will help the department maintain consistency and provides a framework to measure results and provide accountability.”

Stakeholders, partnering agencies and the public will play a critical role throughout the initiative.  The department has established a Watershed Advisory Committee that will provide their expertise and insight to the department as it works to develop, implement and evaluate this new approach. Working with these partners, the department will work to improve watershed planning, identify issues within watersheds and utilize tools that are best suited to address those watershed-specific issues.

“I applaud the department for taking this step to break down silos, which will lead to a more efficient, integrated and effective approach to preserving and protecting our precious water resources,” Gov. Jay Nixon said.

Citizen participation and cooperation is also crucial for successful watershed management. “Local citizen participation is key to the success of Our Missouri Waters initiative. When citizens better understand the issues within their watershed, they become more invested in the future of their community and together we can develop the most effective solution to benefit the state’s water resources for generations to come.” added Director Pauley.

The department selected three pilot watersheds to be included in the department’s first phase of the Our Missouri Waters initiative. The department evaluated all watersheds throughout the state and selected Spring River watershed, Big River watershed and the Lower Grand River watershed due to their diversity and opportunities. When selecting the three pilot watersheds, the department examined issues such as water quality, water quantity, high-quality waters for preservation and local stakeholder interest.

The department will begin implementing the pilot projects in early 2012 and will continue the planning process into 2013. These pilots will allow the department to analyze how well this watershed-based approach works and to make adjustments before implementing a statewide effort expected to be launched in 2013.

For more information, visit the department’s website at dnr.mo.gov/omwi.htm or contact the Department of Natural Resources toll free at 800-334-6946 (voice) or 800-379-2419(Telecommunications Device for the Deaf). 

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