News Release 380

DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES APPROVES STREAM
RESTORATION PLAN FOR JOHNSON'S SHUT-INS STATE PARK

Volume 34-380

Contact: Connie Patterson

(For immediate release)

573-751-1010

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, SEPT. 13, 2006 -- AmerenUE's plan to resolve environmental problems in the East Fork of the Black River through Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park near Lesterville has been approved, according to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. The final plan was submitted by AmerenUE on Sept. 8, and a letter issued by the department today approved the stream restoration plan and ordered work to begin immediately.

The Department of Natural Resources requested the plan of AmerenUE after the Dec. 14 breach of the Taum Sauk Reservoir sent 1.3 billion gallons of water through Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park. The flood significantly changed the stream and the floodplain, filling the stream with sand and boulders and blocking the channel with a large rock dam. The flood impaired the stream function and left the valley, stream and shut-ins vulnerable to sediment deposition, flooding and water quality problems.

The stream restoration plan was developed by staff from MACTEC, a consulting firm hired by AmerenUE. Input was provided by the Department of Natural Resources along with stream experts from the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Natural Resource Conservation Service. The plan was submitted by AmerenUE to partially correct environmental problems that occurred as a result of the breach, including the alteration of the previous stream channel and the removal of vegetation from the floodplain. The plan will help stabilize the stream banks, prevent erosion, reduce in-stream sediment, and protect natural features in the park.

The proposed plan was presented to the public at meetings in April at Lesterville and St. Louis. During April, the plan also was available to review online and at six different locations around the state.

Work on the stream restoration project is expected to take three to five months with completion scheduled before the spring rainy season.

Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park is located eight miles north of Lesterville on Highway N. The park will remain open through Sunday, Oct. 1 so visitors can see the cleanup efforts following the flood. For more information about what to see at Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park, call the park at 573-546-2450 or the Department of Natural Resources toll free at 800-334-6946 (voice) or 800-379-2419 (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf). For more information on Missouri state parks and historic sites, go to www.mostateparks.com.

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/parkssearch.do.

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