News Release No. 278

NATURAL RESOURCES, CONSERVATION APPROVE PLAN TO CLEAN UP SEDIMENT IN TAUM SAUK LOWER RESERVOIR

Volume 34-278

Contact: Connie Patterson

(For immediate release)

573-751-1010

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, JULY 13, 2006 – In continued efforts to restore water quality in the Lower Black River, the Missouri departments of Natural Resources and Conservation have approved an Ameren UE plan to temporarily lower water levels in the Taum Sauk Plant’s lower reservoir to remove exposed sediments.

Work will begin in the near future and is expected to take three to five months to complete. The plan calls for draining the reservoir to the lowest possible level to expose sediment deposited by the Dec. 14, 2005, breach of the upper Taum Sauk reservoir. The drawdown is expected to take several days, during which time the water levels in the East Fork of the Black River can be expected to rise.

Water being released from the lower reservoir dam will be controlled to avoid downstream flooding; the flow will be approximately half of what was released during the flocculation process, which took place earlier this year. The drawdown will cause higher flows on a few occasions during these releases, but significant high flows are not expected. Water levels in the Black River will not be appreciably affected.

Erosion control measures, including hydroseeding, buffers and silt fencing, will stabilize areas of exposed sediment not subject to immediate excavation. Heavy equipment will excavate sediment deposits in a manner that minimizes sediment movement downstream. However, some release of sediments downstream will be unavoidable, particularly during the early stages of the process.

The departments will ensure that Ameren and its contractors take all appropriate measures to prevent further degradation of the river. All removed sediment will be transported to, and disposed of, in an approved location.

This initiative is part of ongoing cooperative efforts to restore the river and the Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park, following the failure of AmerenUE’s Taum Sauk Hydroelectric Plant Upper Reservoir. The plan has been reviewed and approved by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

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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