PLANNED FUTURE CONDITIONS -- GOALS
I. IMPROVE PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE OF WATER QUALITY
CONCERNS AND MEASURES
Watershed residents, farmers, landowners, and water users all indicated that additional water
quality education is needed. There is interest in information about the water quality impacts
of homes and gardens. Interest is focused on pesticides and fertilizer used on lawns and
gardens, and the storage of household hazardous materials. Some farmers reported that they
would like to learn more about crop production practices that can protect water quality.
Watershed stakeholders agreed that it is very important that all schools include water quality
education in their curriculums. They requested that teachers include Higginsville City Lake
and the watershed concept in their lesson plans. It is important to make water quality
education available to both urban and rural residents, farmers, landowners, and local
government employees and officials.
II. MAXIMIZE AGRICULTURAL RETURNS AND MINIMIZE
ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS
Crop production is a vital part of the local economy. In order to minimize environmental
quality risks it is important that crop production, and agriculture in general, provide
adequate financial returns. Maintaining and improving the natural resources in the watershed
is consistent with optimum net agricultural return. Integrated Pest Management (IPM provides
both economic and environmental benefits since pesticides are used only when pest populations
exceed an economic threshold level that justifies the costs of application.
Farmers can learn a great deal from each other. Small meetings and demonstration tours that
encourage interaction can be valuable. Larger meetings and demonstration farms can use the
expertise of University, private industry, and government officials from Missouri and other
states with similar environmental challenges.
III. MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE THE WATER QUALITY IN
HIGGINSVILLE CITY LAKE
Over 9,000 people depend on Higginsville City Lake and watershed for their drinking water. All
watershed stakeholders should be aware of their drinking water quality, impacts of watershed
use, and methods to maintain and improve their water quality. Community activities that promote
awareness, such as an annual "lake day," can reach a variety of people through educational
activities and personal experiences. Local sponsorship is generally most appreciated and most
effective at recruiting wide local interest. Public land should be managed to provide an
example of water quality protection and wise land use. Decisions concerning all land use
activities in the watershed should be made to maintain and improve water quality. Some
important land use factors include road and bridge maintenance, home and farmstead landscaping,
home and building maintenance and construction, sewage treatment, and agriculture.
IV. MINIMIZE WATER TREATMENT COSTS
Higginsville public water must be treated to meet federal, state, and local standards for
public drinking water. The condition of raw water going to the treatment facility must be
known and well understood in order to provide high quality drinking water. There are several
options to provide raw water to the Higginsville Water Treatment Plant, since Higginsville
City Lake Watershed and the Missouri River are both sources of water for Higginsville City
Lake. The water plant is capable of providing high quality water to all purchasers. The Robert
Segar, University of Missouri, study should be used to determine the efficient and effective
ways to provide raw water to the treatment plant.
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