The Missouri Department of Natural Resources says the waters of the Thompson River are not safe for swimming.
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has released a report identifying heightened levels of Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria concentrations in Thompson River, Weldon River, and No Creek resulting in the water body’s placement on Missouri’s 303(d) List of Impaired Waters. The report from the DNR says whole-body contact, is NOT ADVISED in the Thompson River, Weldon River, and No Creek.
Whole-body contact recreation includes activities that involve direct human contact with waters of the state to the point of complete body submergence.
During such activities, such as swimming, accidental ingestion of the water may occur and there is direct contact to sensitive body organs, such as the eyes, ears, and nose.
If you frequent these bodies of water for any reason, take special precautions to wash your hands before eating, smoking, or other activities that encourage hand-to-mouth contact. Again, swimming IS NOT ADVISED.
The contamination appears to be coming from run-off at locations along the Thompson River, Weldon River, and No Creek.
Link to the complete DNR document:
https://dnr.mo.gov/document/thompson-river-draft-total-maximum-daily-load-implementation-strategies
CDC E. Coli Information:
https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/ecoli-symptoms.html
