Protecting Our Water

The Water Quality Monitoring Section takes part in the important effort of the Department of Natural Resources to ensure that Missourians will always have clean water for drinking, recreation, tourism and continued economic growth. Staff travel to all areas of the state conducting a variety of investigations. These investigations routinely include wastewater discharge monitoring, groundwater monitoring, electrofishing and stream surveys. The section often assists with special projects such as enforcement actions, environmental risk assessments or damage assessments resulting from chemical spills. The staff collects and evaluates a wide variety of water, sediment and macroinvertebrate samples. The results of these studies are used to ensure that the rivers, streams and lakes of Missouri remain a treasure for all to enjoy.

 

Learn More:   Special Water Quality Studies

Basic Sampling Training

Water Quality Parameters - Quick Reference Guide

Water Issues

East Fork Locust Creek/Locust Creek E. coli Study

E. coli Monitoring at Lake of the Ozarks Fact Sheet

Water Quality Triad

Hinkson Creek Stream Study
 

Biological Criteria

The Federal Clean Water Quality Act Amendments of 1972 codified the concept of “biological integrity” as the condition of an aquatic community inhabiting an unimpaired water body. The law profoundly affected water management by mandating that the condition of the aquatic life residing in streams and rivers is an endpoint to be measured.  The department and the University of Missouri – Columbia have been researching and developing a systematic biological criteria framework for the wadeable streams of Missouri since 1992.  Numeric criteria presented in Appendix B of the Biological Criteria for Wadeable/Perennial Streams of Missouri (2002) document are not final and will continue to be adjusted as new reference stream data becomes available.

Water Related Links

Zebra Mussel Information

Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District - Impervisous Billing

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Hog Farm Standoff

Proposed Revision to CAFO NPDES Rule

Caution Ahead - MO CAFO regulation changes