Lake Of The Ozarks Could Face Water Worries By 2030

(Joplin, MO) — According to a nonprofit report, if it stays dry and more people move to the Lake of the Ozarks, the lakes region could need another water supply in just under 15 years. The Joplin Globe reports that the Tri-State Water Resource Coalition has initialed a number of studies over the years to examine water sources as well as demand throughout a 16-county region in southwest Missouri. The coalition is a nonprofit that aims to find and secure reliable water supplies in the Ozarks. Much of the region sits atop the Ozark aquifer, which is the main source of water for most of the region’s communities. There is a consensus within the coalition that a prolonged drought coupled with expected population growth means additional water sources may be needed as early as 2030. The group says it has considered reservoir sites in Jasper County and Newton County, but is now leaning toward the use of existing large reservoirs.