Agri-Business Roaring River

[Snow Fly]

Noticed in the St. Louis Post Dispatch 2/10/07 "Your Views" a letter concerning DNR looking to issue "Confined-Animal Feeding Operations Permit" abutting or close to three state parks and historic sites. One of the areas would be a permit to build and operate a chicken farm in the watershed of Roaring River State Park. These types of operations have caused fish kills numbering in the hundreds of thousands in Missouri and other tates.

This letter looks to be in regards to an article which appeared in the 2/1/07 Post Dispatch, which I must have missed. So it looks like another popular trout-fishing destination is in the gun scope of another money grabbing %*#@%&&@%#. :ph34r:

The letter also mentioned while DNR's mission is to "protect, preserve and enhance Missouri's natural, cultural and energy resources they are also charged with the issuance of confined-animal feeding permits, and now finds itself placed at direct odds with its own mission"

[MrsDucky]

I heard about that on the radio. The chicken farmers around here do pollute the area, but the trade off is the chicken. I understand there are issues, and we have to weigh the pros and cons, but right next to a trout park? I am just hoping good sense prevails. Agriculture has always played a major role in the MidWest, and we enjoy it's benefits...However, the smell alone will harm the people trying to fish, and I have no idea what kind of effect that will have on the fish themselves! Not to mention that chicken are not clean animals...lice, Bird Flu (I know, it's nothing to worry about, but it sounds scary!), and salmonella...which can definitely carry over to the fish! I think it can...Anyway, I'm a little concerned, but from what I heard, the decision is already made they just don't want to publicize yet. Maybe I misunderstood though. I hope so!

[Snow Fly]

MrsDucky:

The letter seemed to indicate the permit was issued, but also indicated it has to be ok'd by the state representatives! I agree agri-industries are important to the economy of Missouri, but you would think with problems found in other states DNR would try to stay away from these types of watersheds.

The letter also indicated the other operations were hog related but did not mention what state parks they would be located near.

[Danoinark]

All you have to do is look toward North West Arkansas, and the devistation the chicken industry has taken on the watersheds in this area to convince yourselves what can happen to your Missouri waters. Don't count on the DNR or any other state agency to be the keepers of your rivers. That is something the people will have to do. You may have to get loud about this. Write letters, emails, contact your State Reps and other politicos. Get on their mailing lists to find out when hearings are held and votes are anticipated.

Dano

[Kansas Fly Fisher]

This has been tried a couple of times here in S.E. Kansas and so far we have been able to defeat it with the very examples Dano mentions in his post. It works and I suggest starting now.

John

[taxidermist]

Dano is right, look at Long Creek in the summer its fricken green, looks like sludge, I have seen fish kills last summer. Things like that dont make the news here, it will harm the chicken industry.

I can remember when Cricket Creek Boat dock sat on clear water all summer long. No look at it.

I fished long creek in the Denver area never had any worms in the fish, now I dont think I would even eat one. Hell willnot fish the water stinks.

Same for Bear Creek, its getting warmer because of the nitrates.

Last summer on Crooked creek below the 3rd slab, the water was thick in stinks and the fish were low in numbers and even lower in quality.

I have a good friend who has a layer house just down the hill from my place.

The spring that hundreds of people have used for drinking water is now polluted, everyone who drinks it gets the Chicken house revenge. They are sick for several days.

I took a water sample in and its high in ecoli from chicken. Sure the water here is close enough it looks clean but its making people sick.

Fight for whats right on this issue!!

John

[Danoinark]

I have to agree completely with John. Crooked Creek is a cesspool, not just from agricultural runoff but also from urban and rural sewage and industrial waste. You can also look toward the East and Norfork Lake. Its a toxic soup down deep. It was the first impoundment thereby its the first to begin to die in my opinion. If you spend anytime below Norfork dam when they have the two generators running you will get a good whiff of sulphur, that rotten egg smell that is prevalent in high nitrate water. Couple that with the development runoff and Norfork may never recover. I am afraid our entire watershed is in danger. I hope I am just the skeptic but I don't see good things ahead. I just hope its not to late.

Dano

[crappiefisherman]

Dano, I had expierience in Branson, I worked in gated community, very near Branson landing.Now this was several years ago.The well water there was so sulfer smelling you couldnt stand to wash your hands in it.Showers in my shop where not used because who wanted to smell worse leaving then entering.I dont know that the sulfer always comes from animal waste, poss human waste.I know powersite dam tailwater side stinks of sewage on warm days when flow is low.We are killing our God given earth.With the incredible amount of people , both living and visiting I dont think we are doing a good enough job protecting our home.If you look at the city website, they are constantly looking for help at the water treatment and sewer plants, whats going on.I hope they know what they are doing down there and arent just grabbing folks that are not eco friendly and just drawing a wage.

[SilverMallard]

I got news for you fellas, a trout hatchery IS a nutrient-loading point source of pollution. They're pretty heavily regulated and monitored, but it's still true.

The key isn't the chicken farm or the treatment plant or the golf course or the septic tank or the subdivision or the hatchery. The key is the pollution they are allowed to discharge and/or runoff. We cannot stop development. That will never work. BUT we MUST get a LOT better about restricting allowable pollution. And most of us need to start AT HOME and then move out as we get control of our own backyards. How often do you pump your septic tank? Do you have it monitored annually? Do you know what the acceptable and recommended standards are? Do you over-fertilize your lawn? Do you wash your car with non-biodegradable soap? Do you change your own oil? How do you dispose of the waste oil? Household cleaners? Are you running a 4-stroke or 2-stroke outboard? Do you sanitize your waders and boots before heading to different stream? When we do ALL of these things religiously, then we probably don't need to worry about the "those who live in glass houses should not throw stones" thing.

Food for thought.

[crappiefisherman]

I must say I feel like the indian on the commercial watchin the trash blow by.I love the Branson trilakes area.I have lived here 43 years and have seen it grow from its roots.I know people get tired of hearing the complaints, after all, we have invited all these friends to our home.I agree with mallard in that we all should be more effective stewards of the land.The lakes are changing, in both use and quality.When I was younger you fished long creek till 11 am not because of the onslaught of boats but because thats when the wind got unbearable.When you fished taneycomo the only thing more exciting then the huge rainbows and steelhead was jumping the wake behind the lakequeen with your dads starcraft.FIshing bull shoals was an enjoyable time as it was seemingly undiscovered by most of the fisherman.My oh my do times change.When I was younger we had well water and I never doubted it till high school geology and spelunking classes.Boy was that a wakeup.Have you ever seen well casing in a cave? Or seen sewage running down the wall of a cavern.WE have done so much damage to the trilakes area it will never be pristine again.All we can do is try to stop additional problems.I always say , pick up cause companys coming.