The management objectives and strategies for the East Osage River Basin Watershed Inventory and Assessment were developed to address the problems and opportunities for conserving and enhancing the aquatic resources within the basin. The MDC Strategic Plan, the Fisheries Division Operational Plan, the Lake of the Ozarks Fisheries Management Plan, the MDC Stream Areas Program Plan, the MDC Stream Access Acquisition Plan, and the MDC West Central Regional Management Guidelines indicate areas of future expanded resource management, public awareness, and access needs, and helped guide development of these objectives and strategies.

The following text describes the management objectives and strategies under six major goals: water quantity and quality, habitat, biotic community, public access and recreational use, informational and educational opportunities, and data inventory and maintenance. Completion of these objectives will depend upon their status in overall Department, Division, and Regional priorities and the availability of personnel and funds. Many of the objectives rely on interagency coordination. Revision of any and all of these objectives will occur as needed. In particular, ongoing and future studies associated with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's relicensing of the Osage Project (Bagnell Dam) will provide substantial amounts of new information that will be used to evaluate and revise objectives.

GOAL I: PROTECT AND IMPROVE WATER QUANTITY AND QUALITY IN THE EAST OSAGE RIVER BASIN SO THAT ALL STREAMS ARE CAPABLE OF SUPPORTING NATIVE AQUATIC COMMUNITIES.

Status: Data were compiled for all known potential sources of water-related degradation in the basin. The beneficial uses and classifications of most third order and greater streams were evaluated, and numerous streams were recommended for upgraded classification in 1996 and 2001. Osage River discharge data were compiled from pre- and post-Bagnell Dam records maintained by the USGS. Information on discharge, river stage, water chemistry, water temperature, and aquatic communities is currently being collected and analyzed through contractual studies required of AmerenUE in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) relicensing process. Additional contractual studies and information are anticipated in 2002-2004, with a new Osage Project license scheduled to be issued in 2006.

Water Quantity

Objective I.1

Work with AmerenUE, USACE and other basin water regulators, during and following the FERC relicensing process, to improve aquatic habitat and recreational use by changing Osage Project operation to natural run-of-river (non-peaking) operation, or obtain mitigation measures which will result in equivalent or more benefits to natural resources and recreation.

Bagnell Dam

Problem/Opportunity: Bagnell Dam was constructed in 1931 for hydropower generation. AmerenUE operates the Osage Project plant under the auspices of the FERC, and the current license which expires in 2006. A new license is scheduled to be issued in 2006, and will be for at least a 30-year period. The Osage Project is a peaking plant with generation discharges usually occurring in the late morning through the evening, Monday- Friday, when power demand is at a peak. A minimum flow of about 455 cfs occurs 24 hours per day from a small "house" generator or turbine. The peaking operation creates rapid flow fluctuations, with low, drought-like flows followed by bankfull flows. As a result of the peaking and low flows, aquatic habitat and biota, and recreational use on the river have been negatively impacted. These impacts include: erosion of the river channel and islands, erosion and siltation of tributaries, loss of riparian habitat, channel widening and loss of depth at low flows - which strands aquatic life, sedimentation and loss of backwaters, changes in river flow that alter fish movement and spawning success, and cold water discharges from the lake that alter temperature and contain low levels of dissolved oxygen, and killing of fish going through the turbines (termed entrainment). Recreational use is affected by both low flows and high discharge rates, particularly the rapid changes in water levels and flow velocities. Fish kills have occurred due to low oxygen levels in the tailwater of Bagnell Dam. Some improvements have been made by cooperative efforts to increase oxygen by simple modifications in existing generation equipment and operational changes. However, DO still needs to be improved and other problems related to entrainment and fluctuating flows have not been adequately addressed. In addition, AmerenUE has requested amendments to the current license to upgrade four turbines. Increased discharge rates and potential problems with dissolved oxygen or entrainment of Lake of the Ozarks sport fishes must be addressed during the amendment comment period that is scheduled for late 2001 and early 2002. The relicensing process offers a rare opportunity to improve the Osage River for the next 30 years for fish, wildlife, and recreational use by balancing the need for hydro-power with the outstanding fisheries and tourism / recreational boon that Lake of the Ozarks offers. Guidelines can be developed to take advantage of opportunities to operate the dam in the best interests of Lake of the Ozarks, the Osage River, and the demand for power.

Objective I.2

Support the enactment of a State Water Law and other rules that will prevent negative downstream impacts from single or cumulative withdrawals.

Problem/Opportunity: Since there are inadequate water-use policies in Missouri, downstream users and government agencies have little recourse to regulate upstream water users and prevent them from withdrawing water that may impact aquatic organisms.

Water Quality

Bagnell Dam

Problems and Opportunities: Low dissolved oxygen and rapid temperature changes are common below Bagnell Dam. Some improvements have been made by AmerenUE in cooperative efforts to increase oxygen by simple modifications in existing generation equipment and operational changes. Additional improvements are possible with new technologies and with the turbine upgrades described in the water quantity objectives section. Low temperatures may be a continual problem as the depth of the intake structure on Bagnell Dam is below the thermocline and cold water discharged from the lake during the summer when LOZ is thermally stratified can impact fish and mussels.

Pollution Sources

Objective I.3

Continue to identify potential pollution sources within the basin and within the recharge areas of springs; evaluate their potential impacts on water quality and aquatic communities, and implement management strategies to monitor the potential impacts and reduce these threats.

Sewage Treatment Plants

Problem/Opportunity: Sewage treatment facilities of the Lebanon WWTP are chronically discharging poorly treated wastewater to the basin.

Sludge Application

Problem/Opportunity: Wastewater sludge stored in lagoons or applied to farmland can pose a threat to water quality. Application sites for sludge storage seem to be adequately monitored by the MDNR and 18 problems have been reported in the basin. Private haulers have only recently been required to obtain licenses and file reports, so limited information is available. There are a large number of private treatment systems in the basin, especially around LOZ, that depend on private haulers for sludge disposal. Locations of disposal sites within the watershed need to be determined.

Problem/Opportunity: There are large numbers of these systems in the LOZ area that handle considerable amounts of waste. They pose a significant threat to water quality if they are not monitored and properly maintained. The number of these systems is expected to increase with continuing development around the lake because many sites will not meet the requirements of the new regulations for conventional septic systems.

Animal Waste Point Source

Problem/Opportunity: Most of the permitted animal waste facilities in the watershed are hog confinement facilities. However, there are at least 14 large poultry operations and eight dairies within the basin.

Landfills

Problem/Opportunity: The Lebanon Sanitary Landfill occasionally discharges leachate to Goodwin Hollow, a losing stream that is hydrologically connected to Niangua Darter habitat in the adjacent subbasin.

Agricultural Runoff

Problem/Opportunity: Wastewater of greater than 300 animal units from dairies and hog and poultry confinement facilities and dairies are regulated by the MDNR as point sources. They must meet minimum standards, and operations within the watershed appear to be gradually coming into compliance. Livestock in pasture are non-point sources that are less tangible and may represent a considerable source of contaminants. The amount of stream contamination can be reduced by good pasture management, erosion control, and providing filter strips in riparian corridors.

Water Quality Monitoring

Objective I.4

Ensure that water quality and aquatic communities are monitored adequately to provide early detection of stream and lake degradation and to evaluate possible effects of watershed and stream improvement projects.

Problem/Opportunity: Support continued water quality monitoring efforts in the Wet Glaize, Tavern Creek, Little Maries River, Lower Maries River, Lower Osage River, Miller County Osage River Hills, Gravois Mills, Cole Camp Creek, Turkey Creek, and Dry Auglaize Creek Subbasins to document improvements from animal waste treatment facilities and from continuing efforts to reduce agricultural runoff.

Fish Kills

Problem/Opportunity: Several fish kills have been documented in the basin. Most have been associated with either the operation of Harry S Truman Dam and Bagnell Dam or sewage discharge from a number of municipal and non-municipal sources sewage treatment facilities within the basin.

Fish Contamination

Problem/Opportunity: During the previous sample periods, largemouth bass collected from the basin have shown elevated levels of mercury.

Fish Contaminant Sampling

Problem/ Opportunity: MDC cooperates with the MDOH to sample fish for contaminant and heavy metals in public waters around the state. Increases in the heavy metal mercury have occurred in waters in the basin. In addition, recent changes related to fish advisory levels for mercury were adopted by EPA. In June 2001 a statewide advisory was issued for all waters for pregnant or nursing women, and children under the age of 12 who eat largemouth bass greater than 12 inches.

Beneficial Use Attainment

Objective I.5

Evaluate all classified streams to ensure that appropriate beneficial uses are being attained and recommend upgraded classifications as necessary.

Problem/Opportunity: Some third-order streams in the watershed remain unclassified.

Objective I.6

Promote programs that enhance groundwater recharge in the watershed and spring recharge areas.

Springs

Problem/Opportunity: Springs are the main source of sustained flow in streams during periods of low precipitation. Since aquatic communities can experience great stress under these conditions (low dissolved oxygen and high temperatures), adequate flow and good water quality are essential. Springs in the watershed have not been monitored sufficiently to determine current conditions or detect change over time.

Watershed Projects

Problem/Opportunity: The amount of rainfall that percolates through the soil to recharge aquifers and maintain base flows is affected by land use and the amount of vegetation. Ungrazed, uneven-aged, woodland allows optimal percolation, and well-managed pastures improve the quality of runoff events.

Promote watershed practices that improve groundwater recharge, including cattle exclusion from woodlands, good pasture management, timber stand improvement, and conversion of pasture and open fields to woodland.

Support current and future Special Area Land Treatment Projects (SALT) as administered by the county Soil and Water Conservation Districts and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

GOAL II: PROTECT AND IMPROVE AQUATIC HABITAT CONDITIONS OF THE EAST OSAGE RIVER BASIN WATERSHED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF NATIVE AQUATIC SPECIES WHILE ACCOMMODATING SOCIETY'S DEMANDS FOR WATER AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION.

Objective II.1

Ensure that instream projects within the watershed do not interfere with natural stream processes.

Osage Lock and Dam at RM 12.1

Problem/Opportunity: During the late 1890's the USACE developed a navigation plan to improve the Osage River for barge traffic. In this plan the USACE identified a series of Lock and Dams to be constructed at various intervals along the entire stretch of the Osage River. Only one lock and dam was constructed in the early 1900's by the USACE at RM 12.1. This lock and dam now has the lock removed but the dam serves as an impediment to fish migration during some parts of the year. When the Missouri River is low and no generation occurs, fish cannot get over the dam, or if the Missouri River is low and generation flows are not high enough to over top the lock and dam, the velocities in the narrow opening to the lock exceed the swimming ability of many sportfish, preventing them from migrating upstream. The Osage Lock and Dam is currently under private ownership as the USACE deeded the property back to the landowner. The lock and dam also presents a hazard to boaters and canoeists. A large amount of gravel and silt is present above the dam.

Channel Alterations

Problem/Opportunity: Many landowners and county and city governments still believe that channelization is an appropriate solution to bank erosion and flooding problems. Although some short-term reduction in bank erosion may be achieved, the negative side effects can be severe, including loss of habitat diversity, accelerated upstream and downstream erosion, headcutting upstream, and channel destabilization.

404 Activities

Problem/Opportunity: A large number of Section 404 applications for instream construction and excavation are submitted for streams within basin.

Problem/Opportunity: The permitting process for sand and gravel removal has become greatly simplified within recent years. The simplification of the application and approval process for applicants has reduced a very important component which has been beneficial in the past - direct contact between landowners or permittees and government employees from MDC, USACE, or MDNR. These contacts provided opportunities to inform the interested parties about stream processes and the meaning and justification for the permit conditions; learn about their experiences, techniques, and concerns; and otherwise establish a cooperative, mutually beneficial relationship. In addition, greater involvement by USACE, MDNR, or MDC employees provided opportunity to make site visits and document pre-permit conditions, monitor compliance, and observe possible impacts. Now, when a general permit is issued, the MDC is usually not consulted and frequently the USACE makes no site inspection. Nationwide permits are usually issued with inadequate conditions to protect aquatic resources and without MDC input.

Objective II.2

Determine flows necessary to sustain native communities of fish and other aquatic life, and to provide adequate spawning habitat for white bass, walleye, and other species.

Problem/Opportunity: Truman Dam prevents migration of LOZ white bass, walleye, paddlefish and other species to historic spawning sites upstream. White bass spawn below Truman Dam and Bagnell Dam on the Osage River. While some walleye may spawn below Truman Dam, the contribution to the LOZ fishery is speculative. Sauger are found in the Osage River below Bagnell Dam. Suitable spawning conditions for paddlefish are not available below Truman Dam. Spawning areas for paddlefish below Bagnell Dam are useless.

Objective II.3

Implement habitat improvement projects on public and private land.

Habitat Improvement Projects on Private Land

Problem/Opportunity: Riparian corridors are in poor condition on many watershed streams and cattle frequently have access to corridors and streams. The vast majority of stream frontage in the watershed is in private ownership.

Problem/Opportunity: Promotional and educational efforts are necessary to inform landowners about cost-share programs and encourage participation.

Habitat Improvement Projects on Public Lands

Problem/Opportunity: Area Plans are prepared periodically for MDC conservation areas.

Problem/Opportunity: The Saline Valley Conservation Area provides an excellent opportunity for managing aquatic resources.

Problem/Opportunity: Develop habitat improvement projects as demonstration areas on selected MDC lands in the basin.

Unique Habitat

Objective II.4

Identify and protect unique habitat in the watershed

Problem/Opportunity: Very little high quality bottomland forest was identified in the Natural Features Inventory of the basin. This is the result of one or more of the following common practices: clearing of bottomlands up to the stream edge; allowing cattle to graze the intact forests; and repeated logging of forests and excessive erosion along the Osage River from Bagnell Dam discharges. These forests are important and necessary components of the stream ecosystem. They provide essential habitat, help prevent streambank erosion, filter surface runoff and groundwater flow, reduce water temperatures by shading streams, and contribute woody debris and organic matter.

Problem/Opportunity: Very few high quality wetlands were identified in the Natural Features Inventory. Wetlands were probably always a scarce resource in the watershed historically and many have been developed for pasture or cropland or suffered from changes in hydrology resulting from downcutting of the streambed of the Osage River due to releases from Bagnell Dam.

Problem/Opportunity: Two of the eight extant Niangua darter populations occur in the watershed. Habitat degradation is apparently still negatively impacting the Niangua darter. Nutrification and sedimentation are believed to be the most serious threats to the darter, as well as the rest of the natural fauna.

Habitat Assessment

Objective II.5

Inventory aquatic habitat throughout the basin to provide descriptions of habitat conditions in representative reaches, and quantify various parameters to allow for comparisons between subbasins and with other Missouri watersheds.

Problem/Opportunity: Insufficient numbers of SHADs were conducted to adequately characterize the entire watershed. Most of the SHADs were completed during the 1990's, so it would be desirable to repeat them if surveys are conducted at additional sites. The Habitat Assessment Committee investigated possible alternatives to the SHAD that would provide more useful quantitative data from a watershed wide perspective. Analyses of remote sensing data, including aerial photography, digital orthophotography, and satellite imagery, are promising alternatives, however, current data on a sufficiently large scale is not readily available. A method for evaluating riparian corridors has been developed by several MDC personnel using aerial photographs, aerial videos, and other methods. Photographs were on hand for only a small portion of the watershed, so this method was not pursued for this plan.

GOAL III. MAINTAIN THE DIVERSITY AND ABUNDANCE OF AQUATIC COMMUNITIES AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THE SPORT FISHERY.

Objective III.1

Protect and improve the status of threatened and endangered species, and implement state or federal recovery plans.

Problem/Opportunity: Niangua darter populations appear to be fairly stable in the Maries River but declining in Tavern Creek. Sampling in both subbasins needs to be expanded and compared to Mattingly's (UMC) sampling. No thorough, comparable survey has been conducted throughout Niangua darter range since Pflieger's in the 1970s and recent sampling procedures have been inconsistent.

Sturgeon

Problems and Opportunities: Lake sturgeon and shovelnose sturgeon have historically been found in the basin (Pflieger 1970). Lake sturgeon have been documented by MDC biologists from both Lake of the Ozarks and below Bagnell Dam as late as 1998 (Stoner 2000). Opportunities may exist for managing this species in the Osage River below Bagnell Dam (MDC Lake Sturgeon Plan 1992).

Sauger/Walleye

Problems and Opportunities: Sauger are primarily found in the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, however, sauger are frequently caught by anglers in the Osage River below Bagnell Dam. Several state record sauger from the Osage River have been recorded in the past ten years. Walleye are found in the Osage River, Lake of the Ozarks and some of the tributary streams. Walleye and sauger are frequently found below the Lock and Dam on the Osage River. Opportunities exist for managing these two species in the Osage River. Continuous water flow is needed to stimulate walleye gonadal development as determined in an MDC study conducted below Truman Dam (DiStefano 1994).

Problem/Opportunity: Thorough fish community samples have not been conducted in all subbasins of the East Osage River Basin.

Problem/Opportunity: Comprehensive invertebrate sampling has not been conducted in the basin. Sampling is scheduled for summer and fall 2001 on the Osage River in conjunction with the FERC relicensing of Bagnell Dam.

Problem/Opportunity: A diverse mussel community historically occupied the basin. In consideration of mussel decline throughout the Midwest and the lack of recent watershed sampling, a thorough mussel survey is warranted.

Mussels

Problem/Opportunity: All subbasins offer opportunities for producing high quality fisheries.

Problem/Opportunity: Management actions targeting one or more game species can have unexpected negative impacts on non-game fishes and invertebrates. Several listed rare, threatened, and endangered species are found in limited number in the watershed.

Problem/Opportunity: All tributaries streams are important components of the fisheries and aquatic ecosystems of the basin.

GOAL IV. INCREASE ACCESS AND MDC OWNERSHIP WITHIN THE EAST OSAGE RIVER BASIN.

Objective IV.1

Provide additional MDC owned access to the Osage.

Problem/Opportunity: There is a demand for at least one stream access on the Lower Osage River to increase user convenience and encourage more uniform use throughout the basin.

Problem/Opportunity: Enhance accessibility at all MDC access and frontage areas within the watershed.

Problem/Opportunity: Area Plans have been or are being developed for five stream areas. There are no disabled user facilities at MDC stream areas in the watershed.

Objective IV.3

Implement expansion plans as outlined in MDC area plans; focus on key expansions at Saline Valley, CA and Smokey Waters, CA.

Problem/Opportunity: Area Plans have been or are being developed for several stream areas.

Objective IV.4

Work with other divisions and agencies to address problems associated with increased public use in the basin.

GOAL V: ADDRESS INFORMATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE EAST OSAGE RIVER BASIN.

Objective V.1

Inform other agencies, local government officials, land developers, landowners, and the general public of water quantity and quality conditions and problems in the watershed.

Problem/Opportunity: Sound watershed management depends on our ability to increase public awareness and educate the general public, landowners, city and county officials, and industrial and residential developers on the importance of improving water quality, and generate an interest in water quantity and quality problems and solutions.

GOAL VI. MANAGE THE EAST OSAGE RIVER BASIN DATABASES TO PROVIDE ACCURATE AND UP-TO-DATE DATA, EASY ACCESSIBILITY, AND COMPATIBILITY WITH OTHER REGIONS, DIVISIONS, AND AGENCIES.

Objective VI.1

Organize watershed databases to improve accessibility and compatibility.

Problem/Opportunity: Numerous databases were created and a large amount of data were compiled during the inventory for this plan. These databases must be readily accessible for general use and updating. They should also be compatible with those of other regions, divisions, and agencies to facilitate exchange of data.

Objective VI.2

Problem/Opportunity: Many of the watershed databases must be updated periodically to include the most recent data (e.g., 404 permits, fish collections). MoRAP is coordinating data preparation and maintenance of some databases throughout the state to increase compatibility and efficiency.