News Release 432

DEPARTMENT AWARDS MORE THAN $680,000
TO ADDRESS WATER QUALITY ISSUES ON HINKSON CREEK

Volume 36-432

Contact: Renee Bungart

(For immediate release)

573-751-4465

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, JULY 24, 2008 -- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has awarded a $300,884 grant to the Boone County Commission for phase 2 of the Hinkson Creek Watershed Restoration Project. 

This project will continue the efforts of the previous Hinkson Creek Project, which addressed development-related erosion, the effect of impervious surface on water quality, degradation of stream banks and the role watershed residents can play in maintaining healthy watersheds. 

During the second phase of the Hinkson Creek Watershed Restoration, efforts will focus on reducing peak storm flow by providing incentives for a variety of low-impact development techniques on new and existing developments.  A project steering committee will provide technical assistance, and a stakeholder committee will help prioritize and direct implementation efforts developed in the watershed management plan. 

A feasibility study will also be conducted to provide cost-estimates for best management practices in the target area.  It is anticipated that at least four storm water retrofits and best management practices will be completed in this project.  Best management practice efficiency data will be collected to determine load reductions.  Additionally, volunteer water quality monitoring and cleanup events will help keep residents involved in watershed protection.

The department has awarded a second grant in the amount of $380,000 to the University of Missouri, Columbia, for the hydrologic monitoring of Hinkson Creek.  This project will help improve the understanding of the hydrologic cycle of this urbanized watershed and validate sediment Total Maximum Daily Loads.  In addition to an existing U.S. Geological Survey gauging site, four other gauging stations will be installed and equipped with continuous sediment loggers and climate stations. The first two years of this three-year project will begin to close the water budget and increase understanding of the urban hydrograph in terms of peak flow and flushing events.

Other ongoing Department of Natural Resources grant projects in the watershed include the Jefferson Farms Demonstration Project and the Columbia Rain Garden minigrant.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 7, through the Department of Natural Resources, has provided funding for these projects under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act.

These grants will be administered by the Department of Natural Resources' Water Protection Program.  For more information, contact the department's Water Protection Program at
P.O. Box 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102 or by calling at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-1300.

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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Contact Information:
Project manager for Boone County is Bill Florea 573-886-4330.
Project manager for University of Missouri- Columbia is Dr. Jason Hubbart 573-884-7732.