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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
VALLEY SANITATION SANITARY LANDFILL RESTORATION
The Valley Sanitation Inc., Sanitary Landfill is located on the banks of a stream in the SW ¼, Section 27, Township 31 North, Range 31 West, Barton County, in southwestern Missouri. (See Appendix II for site maps.) The site is approximately 7 miles southwest of Lamar and thirty miles northeast of Joplin. This landfill is located in the Spring River Basin, approximately 1¼ miles from the North Fork Spring River in Barton County, Missouri. The stream adjacent to the landfill is an unnamed tributary to the North Fork Spring River, entering the river approximately 300 feet north of the Highway 126 bridge. The unnamed tributary transports contaminants from the landfill to the North Fork Spring River. This tributary and the North Fork Spring River are the water resources that we propose to restore and protect by this project.
The Valley Sanitation Landfill began operation in 1975. When it ceased accepting waste in 1980, the landfill operator failed to place the necessary soil cover on the landfill, adequately grade the landfill to prevent erosion and ponding of water, and sufficiently vegetate the site. Although some work was conducted at the site following 1980, the landfill was never properly closed, and the condition of the site has deteriorated. The operator is now retired and does not have sufficient funds to close the landfill. The landowner has since passed away.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Solid Waste Management Program (SWMP) proposes to coordinate with several project participants to perform the tasks needed to reduce erosion and the discharge of leachate from the Valley Sanitation Service Inc., Sanitary Landfill. Leachate and sediment flows off the landfill property and into a tributary to the North Fork Spring River within approximately 1¼ miles of the junction of the two waterbodies. The tributary runs along the north boundary of the landfill, which is located about seven miles southwest of Lamar in the SW ¼, Section 27, Township 31 North, Range 31 West, Barton County, Missouri. The North Fork Spring River has been identified as a Category 2, Section 303(d) waters, and the landfill is located within the Spring River Basin, the number one priority watershed for restoration, as noted in the Missouri Unified Watershed Assessment. In addition, improperly closed and abandoned landfills are listed as significant nonpoint sources of water pollution in the Solid Waste Management section of Missouri's Nonpoint Source Plan.
Valley Sanitation Landfill has never been properly closed, and vegetation is sparse on approximately 40% of the 30-acre fill area. Surface depressions that allow ponding of water are present, erosion is occurring, and the bank of the stream which borders the landfill to the north is poorly vegetated. The lack of soil and vegetative cover has resulted in the production of leachate, which flows off of the landfill and into the adjacent stream. The excessive erosion occurring on the site also carries sediment into the stream.
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this project are to minimize the discharge of leachate into the stream, reduce the amount of soil eroding from the landfill into the stream, and establish a stable riparian corridor in order to control the nonpoint source pollution from the site and restore and enhance the water quality of the adjacent stream. Reducing the sediment and contaminant load into this stream should also reduce the pollutant load into the North Fork Spring River and improve the overall quality of the Spring River Basin watershed.
PRODUCTS
Several products will be generated as a result of this project. These include quarterly reports, a final report, press releases, articles for publication, and a display. The quarterly reports will describe the on-going progress of the project. The final report will summarize the entire project and results, with all accompanying data and documentation. The press releases will describe the project goals and progress. Both the articles for publication and the display will summarize the project and highlight the accomplishments.
PROJECT SPONSOR
Missouri Department of Natural Resources
Solid Waste Management Program
COOPERATING AGENCIES
The USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service supports this project and has committed to provide technical assistance in the establishment of vegetative cover and a plant filter to reduce erosion in the project area, and assistance to enhance the area for wildlife.
The Barton County Soil and Water Conservation District supports this project and has committed to provide technical assistance in the areas of soils, erosion control, and vegetating the critical areas of the landfill.
CONTACT
Craig Abbott, Project Manager
Laurie A. Bobbitt, Enforcement Unit Chief
P.O. Box 176
Jefferson City, MO 65102
573-751-5401 (phone)
573-526-3902 (fax)
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