More Vandalism

Here are two examples of vandalism that lead to soil erosion and increases sediment in Spring River. The first is the result of a 4WD pickup truck, driving off of Highway U down the embankment. You can see the effect of disrupting the natural cover on the highly erodible embankment. Multiple milkweeds were run over, just as their buds were ready to bloom. This is food for the Monarch butterflies that will no longer be available.

This vandalism was done over the weekend, motorcycles off the road, under the bridge, disrupting the soil, making it susceptable to erosion and polution in the river. The tire tread patterns (both the truck and motorcycle) have been recorded for Law Enforcment.

High Water Event, May 26

A band of precipitation late Wednesday, May 25, 2010 resulted in a 1.4' rise in water depth at La Russell. The USGS water gauge went from 3.53' @ 10:30pm on 5/25 to a high of 4.93' @ 6:30am on 5/26/2010. The volume of water increased from 697 cubic feet per second to 1510 cfs (a 2.16x increase), for the same time period.

Body Contact is NOT Recommeded, May 26, 2010

The Jasper County Health Department has posted the results of their 05/26/2010 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 05/26/2010 test results (E. coli colonies per 100 ml) indicated a level of 365.4.

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)

2010 E.coli test Results - Spring River @ LaRussell (Jasper County, MO)

The following are the results of weekly water quality testing by Jasper County Health Department at the La Russell Access point (referred to as Site SR1). Specifically, these are the number of Escherichia coli colonies per 100 milliliters of river water. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had 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 samples above the 235 threshold, are in bold.

10/06/2010, 129.6
09/29/2010, 114.5
09/23/2010, 148.3
09/16/2010, 517.2
09/09/2010, 2,419.6+
09/01/2010, 2,419.6+
08/25/2010, 48.7
08/17/2010, 88.4
08/11/2010, 66.3
08/04/2010, 58.1
07/28/2010, 70.0
07/20/2010, 56.9
07/13/2010, 1229
07/07/2010, 71.7
06/30/2010, 90.9
06/22/2010, 72.3
06/15/2010, 148.3
06/09/2010, 344.8
06/03/2010, 410.6
05/26/2010, 365.4

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)

High Water Event, May 20, 2010

La Russell Access experienced another high water event, Thursday, May 20, 2010. The USGS river gauge at La Russell on Spring River, went from 3.73' on 5/19/10 @ 7:00pm, to 8.13' on 5/20 @ 3:00pm. Precipitation in the area Wednesday-Thursday was reported at 3+".

New Vandalism

This is what vandalism looks like. This is also a major cause of erosion, and elevated sediment levels in Spring River. There is no excuse for off-road activity by pick-up trucks at the La Russell Access Point. Vegetation plays a strategic role in a riparian corridor. Without it, soil (and in this case) rock an gravel are washed from the roadbed. The La Russell Stream Team #2945 reports vandalism.

Aromatic Sumac

La Russell Stream Team members were excited to discover that the Aromatic Sumac seedlings had produced berries for the first time this year. They are a crimson color. Other names for Aromatic Sumac include: Rhus aromatica and coriaria, Fragrant Sumac, and Sweet Sumac. Not to be confused with other poisonous varieties. This species is a great wildlife food. Birds, raccoons, opossums, chipmunks and deer eat the fruit, while rabbits eat the bark during hard winters.

Not all seedlings had berries. This species was selected for planting on a highly erodible gravel embankment. Click on photograph for a close-up of the berries. Here are several links that you may find interesting about the Aromatic Sumac species.
Herb of the Month
Wildflower Center
Ozark Naturalist's Journal

High Water Event, May 14, 16, 17, 2010

The week of May 9 through May 16, 2010 was exception in terms of precipitation. There are reports in exess of 8" (total) rain for the week. The LaRussell USGA water gage on Spring River had a high of 6.74" at 8:00 pm on Friday, May 14; 5.87' at 6:45 pm on Sunday May 16; and 6.09' at 4:15 am on Monday, May 17, 2010.