The Missouri Ozarks has many cold-water streams that are fed by some of the world's largest springs. This creates quality habitat for rainbow trout, brown trout, smallmouth bass and other creatures that prefer or need cooler water temperatures to thrive. All of these large springs are part of the unique geology of the Ozarks – commonly referred to as karst topography.

Missouri is well known for its multitude of caves – so many that it is known as the Cave State – and the numerous sinkholes are also much talked about, especially when they collapse and swallow streets or houses. This is all part of the karst topography, which plays an extremely important role in the water quality of the area. According to the Nature Conservancy, in karst terrain, "runoff from streams and the ground can enter aquifers quickly, transporting unfiltered contaminants that pollute groundwater."

While the North Fork of the White River is fed by several large springs such as Double (a.k.a. Rainbow) and North Fork springs, the springs output water drawn from a large area. According to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources*, the NFOW river basin is an area approximately 1,389 square miles in size. That means water quality in the river can be affected by "nonpoint" pollution – contamination caused by other means than directly depositing pollutants into the stream, like seepage or runoff – from a location far from the banks of the river.

For example, if a septic system leaks several miles from the river, that contamination enters the groundwater, flows into a small springs that feeds a creek that flows into the NFOW. The Missouri DNR states that "seventy-four percent of the water withdrawn within the watershed comes from the groundwater system." The department also reports that "gravel dredging, indiscriminate land clearing and the presence of livestock in riparian zones for extended periods of time," along with "potential contamination … by septic systems as well as municipal discharges" are the greatest dangers to water quality in the NFOW basin.

Many of my Facebook friends live in the Ozarks, so this is something that affects you. With better knowledge of karst topography, you can understand why septic system maintenance, conservative use of fertilizers and other water-quality-conscious decisions are important, even if you don't live or work near a stream. Like Recycled Fish's motto says, "Our Lifestyle Runs Downstream," and in the Ozarks, it also runs through our karst topography.

This is one of the main issues that Team Longboat is highlighting with our trip down the NFOW during the 24 Hour Fish-A-Thon. If you'd like to support us, please visit http://www.teamlongboat.com/ to make a donation.

Thank you!

* From "The Missouri Nonpoint Source Management Program Annual Report For Federal Fiscal Year 2008"