News Release No. 033

MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES HOSTS INFORMATIONAL MEETING ON BLACK RIVER RECOVERY EFFORTS

Volume 34-033

Contact: Sue Holst

(For immediate release)

573-751-6510

JEFFERSON CITY, MO., JAN. 30, 2006 – The Missouri Department of Natural Resources will hold the third in a series of monthly informational meetings Thursday, Feb. 9, to discuss progress made on water quality in the Black River and recovery efforts at Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park near Lesterville. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at Lesterville High School, Highway 21 and Elm, in Lesterville.

The meeting will focus on recovery efforts in the area following the Dec. 14 breach of the Taum Sauk Reservoir. The format of the meeting will provide participants the opportunity to visit one-on-one with representatives from the various agencies, including the Department of Natural Resources, the Missouri Department of Conservation, the Missouri Division of Tourism and AmerenUE. Individuals can ask questions of the particular agencies concerning topics that are of interest to them, whether it is water quality in the Black River and how it may affect tourism or recovery efforts at Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park. There will be no formal presentations.

The Department of Natural Resources has established a project office at the park to oversee the efforts related to mitigating the environmental damage caused by the breach.

For news releases on the Web, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel. 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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