Elements of Lake of the Ozarks Watershed Alliance

Sampling the Lake in 2011

In the final year of this five-year program, water was sampled from coves in the Upper Lake of the Ozarks from the Brown Bend area (Mile Marker 61) to the U.S. Highway 65 bridge (Mile Marker 90). The purpose of the program is to develop a five-year baseline that will assist in future studies of the lake’s health.

All of the coves sampled were tested monthly through October, including immediately following the Independence Day and Labor Day weekends.

To see all data results and a map of the sampling points go to this MODNR web-page.

To see the average E-coli concentration for each sampled cove during the entire 2011 sampling cylce, see the first graph below. The average of all 284 samples was 14.9 MPN (the geometric mean at which waters are considered unsafe for swimming is 126 MPN).

The second graph below is that for the July 5 results. Each point shown represents the average E-coli concentration in that cove as tested on July 5, 2011. Below that graph, see "The Rain Effect".

Rain Effect Seen in May

The graph below dramatically illustrates the deleterious effect that rain can have on the E-coli concentration in the Lake coves. This bar graph shows the average E-coli concentration of all samples collected on May 31 versus that of the June 20 sampling event.

The graph below the "Rain Effect" graph presents the results of each sample point from each event The blue line represents the May sampling event and the red line represents the June sampling event.

See E-coli Test Results To Date

See Minutes of LOWA July Meeting for Info on E-coli

See Test Results Map

Additional Information Available From DNR

Instructional Kick-off Memo

Kick-off Memo

The following memo by Scott Robinett of the Missouri DNR marks the kick-off of our 2009 Testing Program:

Good morning, everyone.
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources in cooperation with the Lake of the Ozarks Watershed Alliance and Ameren UE will once again be monitoring several locations on the Lake of the Ozarks for E coli bacteria. This will be the third season for this project that is planned to continue for a total of five years. New monitoring locations are designated each season in an attempt to cover as much of the lake as possible in the five year project period. This season we plan to focus our efforts on the Niangua arm, Linn Creek area, and Hurricane Deck area.
You can view the planned monitoring locations on an interactive Google Map at:
this google earth link
A link to this map is also located at the department's web site along with a fact sheet discussing the project in more detail. Results of the monitoring will be posted to the map as they become available.

Monitoring will be conducted from May through October, one sampling event per month. Each sampling event will include approximately half of the designated sites. The remaining sites will be monitored in alternating months. Thus, each site will be monitored a total of three times during the season, once every other month.

If you have any questions regarding the project, please feel welcome to contact me at the phone number or address below. Thank you.
Environmental Specialist III
ESP/WQMS
573-522-3384
scott.robinett@dnr.mo.gov
Fax: 573-365-5773

DNR Press Release of June 26. 2009 re May & June Results

See pdf of Press Release

DNR Press Release of July 16, 2009 re
"...Nevertheless, the Department of Natural Resources should have released results from the May sampling more quickly. In subsequent months, sampling results have been released after analysis, and that will always be the Department's practice moving forward..." See July 16 Press Release

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, OCT. 9, 2009 --

This season's final set of water samples from the Lake of the Ozarks found none with E. coli levels in excess of the federal recommended maximum for swimming areas, and the overall testing results for the summer found E. coli levels for the lake at less than one-tenth the state standard for swimming, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources announced today.

With October's sampling, which closes out the recreational season, the department has collected and analyzed 332 water samples from the Niangua arm, and Linn Creek and Hurricane Deck areas of the Lake of the Ozarks. The geometric mean for the entire recreational season -- May through October -- was 8.8 E. coli colonies per 100 milliliters of water. The state water quality standard for lakes and rivers that support swimming and related whole-body contact recreation is a geometric mean of 126 E. coli colonies per 100 milliliters of water. A geometric mean is a statistical method used to analyze data collected over a period of time.

Testing during the 2008 recreational season found the lake with an overall geometric mean of 7 E. coli colonies per 100 milliliters of water. In 2007, the first year of the five-year testing program, the season's total was 4.9. In October, a total of 59 samples were tested for E. coli bacteria. The highest of those samples was approximately one-tenth of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's recommended maximum level for public swimming areas.

EPA has established a single-sample recommended maximum level of 235 E. coli colonies per 100 milliliters of water for public swimming areas. The highest E. coli level found in the October sampling was 24.6 colonies per 100 milliliters.

E. coli is a bacteria found in the intestinal tract of warm-blooded animals, including humans. Most strains of E. coli are harmless, but some can cause gastrointestinal illness. Because the purpose of the testing is to provide baseline information for future comparison, rather than providing immediate public health data, the testing method used by the department does not differentiate between strains of the bacteria.

The department tests for E. coli because it is considered a reliable indicator of the possible presence of other more harmful bacteria. E. coli and other pathogens can reach lake water from many different sources, both human and animal.

The sampling program is a partnership of the DNR, the Department of Conservation, Ameren UE and the Lake of the Ozarks Watershed Alliance, which provides trained volunteers to collect the samples. Ameren also pays $15,000 per year for the five-year study. When completed, the water testing will include coves from Bagnell Dam to Truman Dam.

A link to the results and a map of the areas sampled is available on the department's Web site at dnr.mo.gov/loz.htm . Monitoring results will be posted to the map soon.

Lake of the Ozarks Testing Finds One Sample with Elevated E. Coli Levels

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, SEPT. 10, 2009 -- Water samples taken at the Lake of the Ozarks Tuesday found one sample out of 50 with E. coli levels in excess of the federal recommended maximum level for public swimming beaches, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources announced today.

Test results of water samples taken Sept. 8 found only one -- located in Laurie Hollow -- with E. coli levels above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's recommended maximum level for a single sample taken at a beach or designated swimming area of 235 E. coli colonies per 100 milliters of water.

That site, which is located on the west side of the lake's Osage River Arm north of Missouri Highway 5, posted E. coli levels of 378.4 E. coli colonies per 100 milliliters of water. Four other samples taken in the same cove had results of 5.2, 13.1, 13.4 and 40.4 E. coli colonies per 100 milliliters of water, which are below the federal recommended maximum.

Laurie Hollow was also the site of the only sample taken in July that exceeded the federal recommended maximum level. On Friday, staff from the Department's Southwest Regional Office will begin inspecting facilities in the cove's watershed that hold Department-issued wastewater treatment permits to determine if any of them might be contributing to the E. coli levels in that cove. The Department is also going to take additional samples in Laurie Hollow.

In the third year of a five-year testing program, the Department tested samples taken from 50 sites along the Niangua arm, and Linn Creek and Hurricane Deck areas of the Lake of the Ozarks for E. coli bacteria. The purpose of the program is to develop a five-year baseline that will assist in future studies of the lake's health. The 2009 final results will be available after the October round of sampling.

Testing during the 2008 recreational season found E. coli levels well within the standards for swimming at the lake. Based on the more than 320 samples taken last year, the lake had an overall geometric mean of 7 E. coli colonies per 100 milliliters of water. The state water quality standard for swimming and related whole body contact recreation is a geometric mean of 126 E. coli colonies per 100 milliliters of water during the entire recreational season. Because a geometric mean requires the collection of multiple data points over a period of time before a determination can be made, the Department compares monthly results to EPA's single-sample maximum recommended level of 235 E. coli colonies per 100 milliliters of water.

E. coli is a bacteria found in the intestinal tract of warm-blooded animals, including humans. Some strains of E. coli can cause gastrointestinal illness. These bacteria and other pathogens can reach lake water from many different sources, both human and animal. For some people, such as children, elderly or those with weakened immune systems, even low levels of these bacteria may cause illness.

The sampling program is the result of a partnership of the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Conservation, Ameren UE and the Lake of the Ozarks Watershed Alliance, which provides trained volunteers to collect the samples. Ameren also pays $15,000 per year for the five-year study. When completed, the water testing will include coves from Bagnell Dam to Truman Dam.

A link to a map of the areas to be sampled is available on the Department's Web site at http://www.dnr.mo.gov/env/esp/esp-wqm.htm .

Monitoring results will be posted to the map as they become available. For news releases on the Web, visit
www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel.

For a complete listing of the Department's upcoming meetings, hearings and events, visit the calendar at www.dnr.mo.gov/calendar/search.do

DNR RPress Release of Aug. 20, 2009 re
"...no samples with E. coli levels in excess of federal standards..." See DNR News Release

E-coli Test Results for 2009

See DNR's pdf of e-coli test results to date for 2009

See LOWA Comments and Summary

See Google Map of Sampling Sites

Additional Information Available at DNR Web Site

See DNR Web Site for the following information:

• Fact Sheet, PUB2039 PDF-- Updated June 25, 2009
• Results for 2008 samples PDF
• Results for 2007 samples PDF

The DNR Press Release noted above, and in particular, the DNR Fact Sheet available at the DNR web-site provide excellent discussion on the significance of E-coli test results to date. Two charts are presented below which graphically show the results for those samples collected in the May and July cycle and for the sample test results from the June sampling.

As can be seen from the chart, only four of the 14 coves tested in May were below what is considered by EPA to be safe for swimming and similar "whole-body contact" activities. However, it is also noteworthy that in the next two months, only two of the 30 coves tested exceeded the EPA recommended limit and those two were much lower than the results found in the May sampling.

Why were the May results so high? The average rainfall for the 48 hour period preceding sampling was 2.03 inches in May, 0.07 inches for the June sampling, and 0.17 inches for the July sampling cycle. Heavy rainfall had obviously washed waste material into the lake during the first sampling in May. What this means to you is that it is wise to wait a few days following a heavy rain down-fall before swimming in the lake. Other precautions, such as taking a shower following your swim are also advised. And the number one rule whenever swimming in any body of water is, "Don't drink the water."

The Lake of the Ozarks was recently noted in a major news media as being one of the top four most healthy recreational spots in the nation. "... In an article published July 6 on CNN's website, reporter Karen Cicero of CNN/health.com teamed up with a panel of travel and health experts to find the healthiest popular beach and lake towns in the country. Osage Beach, Lake of the Ozarks came in number 4 in the top 10..."

This past three years of testing the water has confirmed this to be true. The great majority of E-coli test sample results have been extremely low. This testing around the Lake of the Ozarks is meant to be a tool by which the Lake of the Ozarks can become and remain the number one most health-safe lake in the nation. Perfection is not possible and there will be occasional contamination of the lake; our sampling is one way such contamination can be found and the source eliminated.

All citizens of the Lake of the Ozarks area are urged to do their part to help keep our lake clean and safe and to participate in future plans toward making our lake number one.

May and July Test Results are shown below:

June Results are shown below:

The tables below provide the source data used in the above charts:

Year 2008 TestResults

During the year 2008, samples were collected from the Osage Arm between the Toll Bridge and Linn Creek and from the lower section of the Glaize Arm.
The "Party" Cove was included in the sampling.

In addition, two of the more troublesome coves from last year's sampling were included again in this year's sampling. These are "Jennings" and "Toad" coves.

To see a listing of the coves sampled, see this pdf.

Go Here to see a map of those sample points.

For more general information about the sampling program, Go Here.

Results for the year 2008: May 08 June 08 July 08 August 08 September 08 October 08

October 6, 2008 Test Results

See Raw Data pdf of Oct. 6, 2008 Test Results

Comments from Scott Robinett, the DNR specialist over-seeing this project, are as follow:

Here are the results of our last sampling event of the year, conducted October 6.
All samples for October were below 126 ... three of the six months this year that has occurred.
Despite some higher numbers in May and June (partly due to heavy rain events), the overall numbers for the year are very similar to 2007 and indicate overall good health for the Lake in terms of bacteria levels.

All of this year's data can be viewed on an interactive map located on the Lakes of MO Volunteers web site.-

We plan to continue with the project next year, beginning in May.

September 2, 2008 Test Results

See Raw Data pdf of Sept. 2, 2008 Test Results

Of the 55 samples tested this month, only one slightly exceeded the 126 MPN/100 ml state standard but this sample was still well below the 235 MPN/100 ml federal threshold set by the Environmental Protection Agency.

This one sample, collected on Shawnee Bend, measured 185 E. coli colonies per 100 milliliters.

August 4, 2008 Test Results

See Raw Data pdf of Aug 4, 2008 Test Results

Comments from Scott Robinett concerning these results:
...all samples from August 4 were very low. The locations sampled on August 4 are the same locations that were sampled on June 16 when coves 044, 046, and 048 had high results. Note site 048A, which had a June result of 1553 has an August result of 1. Other sites show similar improvement. Overall, the data has shown a steady improvement this year ... the geometric mean for May was 36.1, the geometric mean for August is 2.1. The drier weather now compared to the heavy spring rains is a very big reason for the improvement....

July 7, 2008 Test Results

See Raw Data pdf of July 7, 2008 Test Results
Overall results were much lower than the May and June events. The average for July was just 11.6 ... May and June averages were 53.1 and 77.6 respectively. The highest result for July was 60.2

See DNR News Release

June 16, 2008 Test Results

See Raw Data pdf ofJune 16 2008 Test Results

or, see results as individual sample points on a lake map at The Lakes of Missouri Volunteers Program web site.

Comments:
As was the case in May, the averages are running higher than last year. This is likely due to the much wetter spring this year compared to last year. The June event did turn up three coves with numbers above the standard. Department of Natural Resources staff from the Southwest Regional Office will be conducting further investigations in those areas with high results. If you have any questions, please contact:
. Scott Robinett
Environmental Specialist III
ESP/WQMS

May 27, 2008 Test Results

The first sampling event for the year took place on Tuesday, May 27. Despite a few rain drops, the nine sampling teams of LOWA volunteers, Department of Natural Resouces, Department of Conservation, and AmerenUE successfully collected all planned samples - 55 in all. Most of the samples were collected between the toll bridge and mile marker 29.5.

Overall, the results were higher than the same period last year. The average for samples collected in May 2007 was 40 and the geometric mean was 11. The average for May 2008 was 53 and the geometric mean was 36. The higher averages can be partially attributed to the much wetter weather this spring compared to last spring. As promised, we did sample Anderson Hollow (Party) Cove during this event - the average there was 25 with a geometric mean of 18.

For complete results, see pdf of May 2008 Test Results
and to see a map of the sample points,
Go Here



For more information on this E.coli sampling program, see The Lakes of Missouri Volunteer Program web site
and also see the Missouri DNR's press release which reports these results.
Next sampling event will be June 16.

Year 2007 Test Results

See Summary of 2007 Results for year summary.

• October 07
• September 07
• August 07
• July 07
• June 07

About the Sampling Program

The monthly water sampling is being done through a partnership between the Missouri departments of Natural Resources and Conservation along with volunteers from the Lake of the Ozarks Watershed Alliance. Tests got underway in late May 0f 2007. Each month another round of testing is completed. Testing alternates between even- and odd-numbered coves. Each cove is sampled several times to get a more accurate reading.

The testing is a five-year program funded through a settlement agreement with AmerenUE. Cost for the water testing runs about $15,000 annually.

The first round of tests included coves between between Bagnell Dam and the 16-mile marker. E. coli is a bacteria that comes from the intestinal tract of warm-blooded animals, including humans. Although the tests will not determine where the E. coli came from, it will show areas where there might be problems.

There are a number of situations that can raise E. coli levels including runoff from wastewater systems, large concentrations of waterfowl or along streams and rivers where animal manure leaches into the waterway, according to DNR.

October 2007 Results: See raw data here
October Results Comments:
This was the third set of samples from these points previouse sampled in June and August of 2007.
These October results reflect very low E-coli concentrations. The maximum found was 37.9 mpn/100ml and the geometric mean was only 3.8 mpn/100ml.

For more information on this E.coli sampling program, see The Lakes of Missouri Volunteer Program web site
September 2007 Results: See raw data here
September Results Comments: Attached results from our September 4 sampling event show,overall, that the vast majority of the results are low once again, but we did encounter three sites with numbers above 126 MPN/100 ml. The results have been shared with the MDNR regional office in Springfield, the MO Department of Health, and the county health officials.

Next sample date will be Oct 9, 2007.
For more information on this E.coli sampling program, see The Lakes of Missouri Volunteer Program web site
August Results: See raw data here
August Results: the following comments are from the Lake Sun Leader:

Published: Thursday, August 16, 2007 11:32 PM CDT

LAKE OF THE OZARKS - The Missouri Department of Natural Resources gave the most recent water tests for E. coli in coves between Bagnell Dam and the 16-mile marker a clean bill of health.

None of the 57 samples taken indicated an elevated level that exceeded standards set by the state. That's good news for those interested in the environmental health of Lake of the Ozarks.

'We are pleased to report that all results were well below the water quality standard,' DNR environmental specialist Scott Robinette said. 'One sample had to be discarded due to a broken container. Otherwise it was another successful event.' The state standard is 126 units per millimeter. The results of the tests provided by DNR indicated the highest amount in this batch of tests was only 33.2.

The samples for the latest round of tests were gathered Aug. 6 from even-numbered coves.

July 2007 sampl3 results.
See the raw data as a pdf file at July 9 Results
Overall, the results were good - 61 of 62 samples were below the standard, and the average was slightly above 12.

Results of the June 2007 sampling program.

See the raw data results for the 57 June samples in pdf format here
each sample test result is shown on tha sheet in the last column on the right and the location ID number of that sample point is shown in the fifth column from the left.
These sample points are identified in this image map. Only one of the 57 June samples exceeded the E.coli recommended maximum of 126 cells/100mL. That sample point was in McCoy Cove

For much more definitive information on this E.coli sampling program, see The Lakes of Missouri Volunteer Program web site May 2008 Test Results:
Following is the press release from Missouri DNR reporting results of the May 27, 2008 sampling for E-coli at the Lake of the Ozarks:

Volume 36     323                                                Larry Archer
(For immediate release)                (573) 751-3807


DEPARTMENT'S TESTING FINDS THREE
  SAMPLES IN LAKE OF THE OZARKS WATER IN EXCESS OF E. COLI LIMITS  

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, MAY 30, 2008 -- The first round of water testing at the Lake of the Ozarks found that at three of 55 sites tested E. coli bacteria existed in excess of the standard commonly used for swimming and other whole body contact recreation, according to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

The test samples, the first of six monthly samplings schedule for the Lake of the Ozarks, were taken Tuesday, May 27, at sites between the Lake of the Ozarks Community Toll Bridge and mile marker 30. The highest level of E. coli was found in a sample taken from Cove 043, which is located near mile marker 20.5 in Osage Beach. That sample showed E. coli present at 547.5 colonies per 100 milliliters, or more than four times the state standard for swimming and other aquatic recreation. Three other samples taken in the same cove showed E. coli present at roughly half the standard. The state water quality standard for water bodies with whole body contact for recreation is a geometric mean of 126 E. coli colonies per 100 milliliters of water during the recreational season, which is April 1 through Oct. 31. The geometric mean is a statistical method used to combine the results data that reduces the effect of extremely high and low values that can bias the results. E. coli levels of 178.5 colonies per 100 milliliters were found in a sample taken at Racetrack Hollow, located near mile marker 28. A sample taken at Bee Hole Hollow, located near mile marker 26, showed levels of 129.1 colonies per 100 milliliters. While three other samples taken at Racetrack Hollow were well within the E. coli standard, both of the other samples taken at Bee Hole Hollow were near the limit. The Department of Natural Resources' Southwest Regional Office will be investigating those coves where the higher E. coli levels were found in order to determine possible causes. Between now and October, the Department of Natural Resources, in partnership with the Missouri Department of Conservation, AmerenUE and the Lake of the Ozarks Watershed Alliance, will test coves from Bagnell Dam to mile marker 30. Alliance volunteers trained to do such sampling are doubling the number of sites that could be sampled. This is the second year of testing for the Lake of the Ozarks. Ameren is paying $15,000 per year for the five-year study. When completed, the water testing will include coves from Bagnell Dam to Truman Dam. E. coli is a bacteria found in the intestinal tract of warm-blooded animals. Frequently associated with faulty septic tanks or sewer systems, E. coli can cause gastrointestinal illness. For more information on E. coli and the testing program, including 2007 results, visit the department's Web site.
Water sample test result data are online at www.lmvp.org/LOWA/ecoli.htm.
A link to the data can also be accessed through the Lake of the Ozarks Watershed Alliance's Web site, www.soslowa.org.

For news releases on the Web, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel
For a complete listing of the department's upcoming meetings, hearings and events, visit the department's online calendar at www.dnr.mo.gov/calendar/search.do.
July 2008 Results:

DEPARTMENT TESTING FINDS LOW E. COLI LEVELS IN LAKE OF THE OZARKS

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, JULY 17, 2008 -- The most recent round of testing at the Lake of the Ozarks found all 55 samples had only low levels of E. coli bacteria, according to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
The test samples, the third of six monthly samplings scheduled for the Lake of the Ozarks, were taken July 7 at sites between the Lake of the Ozarks Community Toll Bridge and mile marker 30. The complete test results are available online at www.lmvp.org/LOWA/ecoli.htm.

E. coli is a bacteria found in the intestinal tract of warm-blooded animals, including humans. Some strains of E. coli can cause gastrointestinal illness. These bacteria can reach lake water from many different sources, both human and animal. For some people, such as children, elderly or those with weakened immune systems, even low levels of these bacteria may cause illness. The state water quality standard for waters with whole body contact for recreation is a geometric mean of 126 E. coli colonies per 100 milliliters of water during the entire recreational season of April 1 to Oct. 31. The geometric mean is a statistical method used to analyze data collected over a period of time. This standard is based on the current risk level accepted by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency of eight people in 1,000, or less than 1 percent, over the recreational season becoming ill as a result of swimming in the water. The EPA's suggested maximum level for test results of a single sample taken at a beach is 235 E. coli colonies per 100 milliliters of water.

The department's Division of State Parks operates two public beaches at Lake of the Ozarks State Park – Public Beach #1 and the Grand Glaize Beach. The department samples water weekly at both beaches and posts warnings if warranted to ensure a safe public swimming area. Neither beach is on a cove being tested as part of this year's larger monitoring project. While the larger project is to assess the overall condition of the Lake of the Ozarks, the weekly sampling of the state park beaches is a separate effort to determine the week-to-week suitability for swimming at those specific beaches.
Lake residents and users can take simple steps to help reduce bacteria levels entering the lake:
· Keep septic system tanks or aeration systems in proper working condition by having them serviced according to manufacturer''s recommendations.
· Properly dispose of boat waste.
· Take regular bathroom breaks when swimming and use designated restrooms.
· Collect and properly dispose of pet waste.

Between now and October, the Department of Natural Resources, in partnership with the Department of Conservation, Ameren UE and the Lake of the Ozarks Watershed Alliance, will test coves from the Community Toll Bridge to mile marker 30. The testing is a proactive project to gain information about the water quality of the lake. The department and the watershed alliance will collect the next round of samples in early August.

This is the second year of testing for the Lake of the Ozarks. Ameren is paying $15,000 per year for the five-year study. When completed, the water testing will include coves from Bagnell Dam to Truman Dam.

For more information on E. coli and the testing program, including 2007 results, visit the department''s Web site at http://www.dnr.mo.gov/pubs/pub2239.pdf. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention''s Web site has additional information on swimming-related illness: http://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming/general_pub.htm. You may also contact the Department of Health and Senior Services'' Bureau of Environmental Regulations and Licensure at 573-751-6095 for more information on the possible health effects of E. coli at the Lake of the Ozarks. For Department of Natural Resources news releases on the Web, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel. For a complete listing of the department's upcoming meetings, hearings and events, visit the department's online calendar at www.dnr.mo.gov/calendar/search.do.

Summary of Year 2007 Lake Sampling Results

Coves in the lower lake area, those around Horseshoe Benad, were sampled in 2007.
See location map for location of these sample points. The even-number sample points were collected once a month during the months of May, July, and September and the odd-numbered sample points were sampled once a month during the months of June, August, and October.

Summary of May, July, and September Results

For the raw data for each of these months, go to:,
May, July, and September

Go here to see a graph of this data.

Summary of June, August, and October Results

For the raw data for each of these months, go to:,
June, August, and October

Go here to see a graph of this data.