Cleaning Up Lo ....

[fishinwrench]

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/missouristatenews/story/7D1B3946BAAD216786257693001493B2?OpenDocument#tp_newCommentAnchor

[FishinCricket]

It's a question that needs to be asked, but the answers probably won't be easy either.. Interesting article, gotta love who they took comments from.. The President and CEO of a local bank?

The contamination may not be as bad as the perception, said Greg Gagnon, the president and CEO of the Central Bank of the Lake of the Ozarks. He said most of the bacteria tests have been normal, and he expects the problem will be very manageable.

Boy, am I glad to have the opinion of a local BANKER in matters of ecological importance.. I just wonder if that's him talking or his 43 foot Scarab with twin big blocks?

Sorry, my sarcasm is probably misplaced..

[eric1978]

It's a question that needs to be asked, but the answers probably won't be easy either.. Interesting article, gotta love who they took comments from.. The President and CEO of a local bank?

Boy, am I glad to have the opinion of a local BANKER in matters of ecological importance.. I just wonder if that's him talking or his 43 foot Scarab with twin big blocks?

Sorry, my sarcasm is probably misplaced..

No, your sarcasm is totally appropriate. Guys like him are the very reason the problems have been swept under the rug. It's really easy to track his alterior motives: Studies show lake is unfit for recreation...less people seek residence there...fewer potential loans...less money...Answer...pretend there is no problem. End of story.

Cleaning up the sewage problems will be a tremendous task, and it certainly won't happen without new laws being passed (hmmm...that theme sounds familiar).

Even if the septic system problems are addressed and eventually resolved, LOZ will still be a polluted mess simply because of the sheer numbers of people who live and visit there. You gotta wonder what volume of petroleum products are leaked into the lake every year.

[fishinwrench]

AmeronUE has the answer, and the ability to make it happen, without loosing a dime themselves (except for the dock permit fees).....

Drop the normal pool to 644.0, reclaim the shoreline, and put 70% of those septic systems into "second tier" status.

Not sure what they are waiting for, I wish they'd just do it. Property owners can piss and moan all they want but they can't cry too loudly, cuz they have all been in violation for decades. We don't need new laws, fresh legislation just stalls things, the laws we already have standing are fine if acted upon.

People don't need to store thier boats in docks on hoists, they can store them on trailers or in boathouses where they can recieve better service, and result in safer watercraft that lasts longer.

The local media around the lake is terribly sidestepping and minimizing the truth around here. And yeah, "the Banker" quotes were an obvious inflammation tweek, STLToday knew that everyone would get a charge out of that....but at least they aren't afraid to print an article that guides folks to the REAL condition of things around here. After all, what have THEY got to loose. The truth hurts people here, and yes it hurts ME personally....but people caused this, myself included. It is way past time to sacrifice some convenience for a cleaner, healthier lake.

If you can afford to own 2-3 homes, multiple vehicles, and 200,000.00 worth of water toys, they you have more money than you deserve in the first place. DEAL WITH IT !

[Guest csfishinfool]

I think that lowering the lake wouldn't do anything. As the saying goes all the SH!T runs downhill. Plus you would be condensing the lake alot and less water would equal more crap I would think. You would be taking about 16 off of it. With that said the river could not be navigated. Turkey Creek, Deer Creek, Cole Camp, the list goes on and on, those creeks would be land locked. But how about trying to add a little plant life to the lake. Maybe some millfoil or hydrilla, It would help filter the water and in return helping the problem. I would love to see hydrilla in 20 ft of water on Lake Of the Ozarks. But really if they do get this problem under control they would just beable to open Truman Dam and clear the whole lake out, draw truman down and bring that water into lake O.

[Gavin]

The way I see it. A home is unfit for human habitation if it doesnt have a working waste disposal system. Require an occupancy permit, and a sewer/septic inspection as a requirement to get an occupancy permit.

Folks will complain, but they have no reason to. Electric, Plumbing, & Structural repairs are all costs of home ownership. If your septic's broke...Get it fixed...If you cant afford the fix...Sell the property because you cant really afford it. Cheers.

[fishinwrench]

The hydrilla and milfoil beds don't withstand the Winter drawdown well enough to sustain themselves. The stain in the water prevents weed growth past 5-6 feet now, so when they draw the lake down during the Winter it exposes, freezes and kills any aquatic vegetation that might be getting a start.

In years past when they didn't draw it down as much the milfoil started making a comeback in the Gravois, Northshore, and upper Glaize area....Of course dock owners complained and cussed the weeds. And some threw out pellets around their docks to kill them.

[Donna G]

OMG! I just read the entire newspaper article. Very scary. We live in northwest Arkansas, but I feel for the local LOZ anglers. What a mess. I have to agree with the earlier posts about the banker. Geez. Maybe a good guy, but where does he get off being an expert on the lake bacteria levels? We have a Central Pro-Am tournament at LOZ March 6-7. Don't think I'll be keeping any eaters prior to the tournament.

So sorry, guys. Hang in there.

[Gatorjet]

Because "it" runs down hill, the answer is public sewer systems with lift pump stations that move the sewage to modern treatment plants away from the lake. That would be unrealistic only in terms of the cost. I'm sure the people who own all the multimillion dollar homes that have caused most of the problem don't want their taxes increased to pay for it! Then there is the EPA, and getting approval for locations of the treatment plants. Finally, the resistance of the people near the plant locations to having them built close to them.

All in all, despite the banker's optimistic view, it will remain the "Sewer of the Ozarks" for longer than most of us will live.

Too bad, I hate it, but I do catch fish there!

[Mr. Ed]

I've haven't been to LOZ for years but was there yesterday looking at a boat for sale. Compared to Beaver or Table Rock that water just flat out looks dirty. I can't imagine having a place there and this all comes out... what a shame for everyone connected to that lake. The peoples who's boat I was looking at are selling everything and moving out of state. You might see a whole lot of that over the next decade.