News Release 039

DEPARTMENT AMENDS GRANT FOR THE COMMUNITY ON-SITE
STORM WATER AND WASTEWATER PROJECT

Volume 36-039

Contact: Renee Bungart

(For immediate release)

573-751-4465

JEFFERSON CITY, MO. JAN. 25, 2008 -- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has given a seven-month extension to the Watershed Committee of the Ozarks.  The department is issuing the time extension to allow the committee time to establish a training facility on the Valley Mill Lake site.

This facility will showcase several alternative on-site septic systems, as well as innovative storm water techniques.  An education site provides the community with a hands-on demonstration of karst features, wells and aquifers.  The watershed committee also completed several community outreach projects, including workshops, on-site rehabilitation and coupons for septic system maintenance.  The watershed committee reimbursed 100 citizens for half the cost of having their septic systems cleaned out.

Contributing partners in this collaborative effort include City Utilities of Springfield, the Watershed Committee of the Ozarks, Missouri State University and the Department of Natural Resources, as well as several prominent citizens within the greater Springfield community.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, through the Department of Natural Resources, provided the $185,750 Nonpoint Source Implementation Grant under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act.  The grant will partially fund this project.  For more information, contact the department's Water Protection Program at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-1300.

For news releases on the Web, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel/index.html.  For a complete listing of the department's upcoming meetings, hearings and events, visit the department's online calendar at www.dnr.mo.gov/calendar/search.do.

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Local contact:         Loring Bullard, Director                       
                              Watershed Committee of the Ozarks                                 
                              417-866-1127

State contact:          Georganne Bowman
                               Missouri Department of Natural Resources
                               Water Protection Program
                               573-526-1157
                               georganne.bowman@dnr.mo.gov