1st Regional Stream Team Summit

Ten Missouri Stream Teams, representing four southwest Missouri counties (Barton, Jasper, Newton and McDonald) showed up, Thursday, September 24, 2009, for the 1st regional Stream Team summit (Team #48, 2889, 2917, 2945, 3308, 3492, 3573, 3714, 3811, and 3860). The staff and members of Wildcat Glades Conservation and Audubon Center and Stream Team #3714 hosted the event. There were 35+ Stream Team enthusiasts there, including representatives from Missouri's Department of Natural Resources and Department of Conservation. Missouri Stream Team Coordinator, Andrew Branson, talked about Stream Team Associations and the Missouri Watershed Coalition.

High Water Event (September 20-22, 2009)

La Russell Access Point experienced a high water event Sunday (September 20, 2009) due to unusually large amount of precipitation in the area. The Monet Times reported today, "Cleanup continues in Monett, where emergency management say at least 70 businesses and 15 trailer homes had some damage after heavy rain fell over the weekend. David Compton, emergency management director for Barry and Lawrence counties, said between 8 and 9 inches of rain fell in Monett, with areas northeast of the town reporting up to a foot of rain."

A second high water event occurred Monday, Sept 21. The Springfield News Leader (09/22/09) reported, "Reports of flash flooding around the county followed a deluge Monday night that dropped as much as 4 inches or more of rain on some parts of the Ozarks. In Springfield, the National Weather Service reported more than 2 inches of rainfall by about 9 p.m., with the heaviest downpour recorded from 5-6 p.m., when heavy storm clouds descended on the city amid a flurry of thunderstorm and flash flooding watches and warnings. Flash flood warnings, the more severe alert signifying ongoing or imminent threats, were in effect in Greene County and several neighboring counties through the early morning. NWS meteorologist Steve Lindenberg said reports of flooding were widespread Monday night." [double click on graph for close-up view]

The USGS reported that Spring River (at La Russell) went from a depth of 1.50' at 7:15 am to 7.54' at 8:15 pm (Sunday, September 20, 2009). That is an increase of 6'in 13 hours (or 5.5" increase per hour). The water depth decreased on Monday to a low of 2.61' at 4:30 pm, before rising to 5.96' at 5:30 am (Tuesday, Sept 22, 2009).

Body Contact NOT Reccomended 09/17/2009

The Jasper County Health Department has posted the results of their 09/17/2009 water quality testing at the La Russell Access Point on Spring River. Specifically, this is the number of Escherichia coli colonies per 100 milliliters of river water. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that swimming and body contact is NOT recommended when the sample exceeds 235 E. coli colonies per 100 ml. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) recommends a maximum of 126 E. coli colonies per 100 ml. as the limit for "recreational" swimming and whole body contact, annually between April 1 and October 31.

The 09/17/2009 test results (E. coli colonies per 100 ml) indicated a level of 248.1.

For further information, contact:
Jasper County Health Department
105 Lincoln
Carthage, MO 64836
417/358-3111
417/358-0494 (fax)
moehra@lpha.dhss.mo.gov (e-mail)
877-879-9131 (toll free)
8:30 - 4:30 (hours)

29th La Russell-Bowers Mill Reunion

There were over 80+ current and former residents of La Russell and Bowers Mill at the 29th Annual Reunion Picnic this afternoon. One of our Stream Team Members received his 10-Year Stream Team certificate, originally with the Bowers Mill Stream Team #1216. Congratulations Bill!


La Russell Stream Team #2945 members demonstrated water chemistry techniques for measuring turbidity, pH, conductivity and temperature. Historical water chemistry and E. coli test results for 2009 were available. The turbidity tube was the most popular demonstration. Stream Team members also helped recruit new members.

This year we used the Your Watershed Matters poster, along with a map of the Grand Lake O' The Cherokee Watershed to demonstrate the importance of good watershed practices. We had five new La Russell Stream Team #2945 members join during the Reunion. We distributed Missouri Department of Conservation brochures on Missouri Fur bearers, Common Missouri Spiders, Common Roadside Wildflowers, Why Watershed Conservation and Understanding Streams.

4-Wheelers and Vandalism

Recent vandalism at the site has been erosion, caused by 4-wheelers spinning their tires in the parking area. The soil and gravel that is dislodged is washed directly into the river. The material contributes to sediment in the water, eliminating habitat for macro-invertebrates and increasing turbidity.

Defoliation Aromatic Sumac

Today, La Russell Stream Team members observed two 3-year old Aromatic Sumac seedlings with unusual defoliation. There was no evidence of insects on either plant. Notice the defoliation on the newest growth (tall shoot). [Double click for close up of both plants]






All of the leaves have been defoliated from this plant. You can see new growth at the botton of the plant. We did not observe any defoliation on any other of the Aromatic Sumac seedlings. These two plants are 6' apart.

Water Chemistry Survey #7

The La Russell Stream Team 2945 completed our 7th Volunteer Water Quality Chemistry Survey, Monday, September 7 (Labor Day Holiday). Here are the results.
Air temperature - 18C
Water temperature - 18.5C
pH - 8.7
Alkalinity - 410
Dissolved O2 (9+1=10)
90% dissolved oxygen
Nitrate - 4
Turbidity -20