Water quality efforts at Table Rock making difference

Water quality is improving around Table Rock Lake, according to an organization that tracks the lake’s progress.
Phil Surratt | Branson Tri-Lakes News

By Phil Surratt
Staff Writer
Originally published Nov. 10, 2009

GALENA — Water quality is improving around Table Rock Lake thanks to improved septic tanks, according to an organization that tracks the lake’s progress.

In the past eight years, Table Rock Lake Water Quality Inc. has passed nearly $750,000 in grant funds to residents in the watershed for septic tank pumpouts and failing septic systems.

David Casaletto, executive director of Table Rock Lake Water Quality Inc., recently told Stone County commissioners that grants from the Department of Natural Resources have made the septic program possible.

“So far this year, we have provided $25,000 to Stone County residents for failing septic system replacement, with another $85,000 to come,” Casaletto said. “We have also been able to provide the Stone County Health Department with a computer to track septic systems, maintenance performed at each advanced site and track renewable permits.”

Casaletto also told commissioners that the environmental organization has had tremendous success with the $50 septic pumpout rebate program.

By contacting Table Rock Lake Water Quality, residents can receive educational information about maintaining septic systems. After having a system pumped out, residents are eligible for a rebate by filling out a form provided by the organization.

Table Rock Lake Water Quality Inc. is writing two new grants to submit to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. The first is for watershed management plans for the upper Beaver Watershed, which surrounds Table Rock Lake. The second is to educate the public and demonstrate stormwater runoff solutions that include rain gardens and vegetative buffers.

“As more development continues on public and private land around Table Rock Lake, we need to look at what kind of policies we need to control non-point runoff,” said Gopala Borchelt, project director. “This grant is for a pilot project to educate the public to look into the issues. I think that is the first step to make more people aware of the problem.”

Tammy Yeldon, a federal water quality volunteer working with Borchelt, explained the education and outreach programs with which she is involved.

“My job is to make middle school and high school students more aware of our local watershed,” Yeldon said. “Along with the help of the Missouri Department of Conservation, Reeds Spring High School has developed a very good Stream Team group that is keeping an eye on aquatic insects that live in our area streams. We are also working with homeowner associations to make them aware of the problems of stormwater runoff.”

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