On January 14th, 2010 the LCWAG, Lake Conway Watershed Advocacy Group met. The topic of the meeting was about the water quality of Lake Conway, specifically about the raw sewage being dumped in the lake. A presentation was given by Buddy Wilcox on the problems in 1998 with the Lake. Professor Mark Spitzer of UCA, University of Central Arkansas, presented the study his students conducted recently on the quality of the water at its tributaries.

A study in 2003 by the EPA and the recent study conducted by UCA show a level of fecal coliform to be above EPA's standards.

There has not been a recent study and sampling of the Lake Water by EPA,  ADEQ, or the Health Department, even though one was required 2 years ago.

Only Phase 1 of the 7 phase sewer system around the lake has been completed. That was completed in 2004, nothing has been done about it since then. The other homes on the lake are still on old septic systems. The floods lately have caused them to overflow.

Interesting comments made at the meeting; " the key indicator of a problem is whether the people who live on the lake have any pollution-based illnesses"  and another comment  "there is no information presented that says the lake is not safe"

The only information presented was the facts by a 2003 EPA Study and recent UCA Study that states fecal coliform or "nutrients" as AGFC refer to it, is above EPA's Standards.

Please read the entire minutes of the meeting as supplied by LCWAG by clicking here.
 

As a form of clarification Matt Schroeder from AGFC has sent LCHOA the following information by email. With his permission it is reposted here. What is in dispute is what has been highlighted in red above.

It is clear to me that there is some confusion about what the studies say and the difference between nutrients and fecal coliform bacteria.   

First of all the 2003 EPA study did not look at fecal coliform levels.  It was setting TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Loads) levels for ammonia and nitrates (nutrients).  TMDLs are set to limit the amount of something that can enter a water body.  If you have a different study conducted by the EPA in 2003, we would like to see it.  But, the study that we have and what has been referenced does not address fecal coliform.  Also, I think that there is a misunderstanding that fecal coliform and nutrients are one in the same.  This is false.  Fecal coliform is a bacterium that lives in feces and “nutrients” are compounds such as nitrates, nitrites, and phosphates.  This confusion may be due to the fact that both fecal coliform and nutrients can have the same source.  An example of this would be a cattle operation.  Both fecal coliform and nutrients could be entering a system from the operation of a cattle farm near a lake. 

Second, the water quality testing was supposed to be done last year (2009).  That would be less than one year ago.  AGFC has also volunteered to assist in the water quality samples to expedite the process.

 Last, the study conducted by the UCA students did not find one fecal coliform sample that exceeded the state standards.  Additionally these samples were collected up tributaries of Lake Conway and one sample at the dam.  Unfortunately, Mark Spitzer (Professor of Writing) made some kind of statement that contradicted this.  I am not sure why or how he interpreted the results as exceeding the EPA limits.  Even the report generated by the UCA students did not point out a violation. 

As you can see, the “summary” that was provided had some mistakes that were due to misunderstandings.  We (AGFC), like you, want the best for Lake Conway.  The continued dissemination of misinformation only hurts the lake.  If you would like to discuss this topic in greater detail, feel free to give me a call.

 Thanks. 

Matt Schroeder

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

District Fisheries Biologist

213 A Hwy. 89 South

Mayflower, AR 72106

Office: (877)470-3309 x204

Cell: (501)412-0356