Water Demand-The Mo. Dept. of Conservation is in charge of Fisheries and Wildlife resources. But MoDNR (Missouri Department of Natural Resources) has statutory authority over environmental quality (waste), and the state water program (pollution, 303d list, clean water, drinking water permits…). Groundwater authority is shared within the MoDNR with the Land Survey (geology) Program (wells-licensing contractors, groundwater monitoring, …). MoDNR is responsible for the Missouri Water Resources Plan so “the department shall develop, maintain and periodically update a state water plan for a long-range, comprehensive statewide program for the use of surface water and groundwater resources of the state, including existing and future need for drinking water supplies, agriculture, industry, recreation, environmental protection and related needs” (MoDNR et al., 2020).
The author found the “2020 Missouri Water Resources Plan” analysis of groundwater resources very confusing. Groundwater was organized by surface watersheds with little scientific information about groundwater resources and aquifers. There were sections in the later part of chapter 4 of the water plan (MoDNR et al., 2020) that were clearly written sub regional USGS groundwater budgets and analyses (4.8 Ozark Plateaus Aquifer System Groundwater Flow Model Assessment). USGS did not assume increasing demand in surrounding states or climate forced changes in recharge in their 2060 analyses. The change in domestic and individual appropriation till 2060 is described as modest. As in the state analysis, the area of greatest impact is the Lower Ozark Aquifer under the Springfield Plateau. Suburban growth, irrigation, and nonresidential increased demand in Springfield through Branson and Joplin are forecast with head losses as great as 200 ft. Over most regions of the state there will be much smaller head loss in the Ozark Aquifer, suggesting that Southwest Missouri will need greater leadership and planning for future water resource allocation.
According to the state (MoDNR et al., 2020), nonresidential usage in many sub-regions of The Ozark Aquifer System will be stressed by 5% to 15% increased demand in 2060. Demand percent is expressed in terms of demand divided by precipitation recharge in percent. Exceptionally high withdrawals will occur in the Lower Mississippi River-St. Francois Subregion (150%) and in the Lower Ozark Aquifer (30%) within the Springfield Plateau (already discussed above). The source of the Mississippi-St. Francois Subregion (Mississippi Alluvial Aquifer) has recharge from rivers, Ozark Aquifer, and precipitation. This subregion includes the extreme southeast part of the state (bootheel) and St. Francois Mountains. and withdrawals in this sub-region are really from the alluvial aquifer. The demand in the Lower Ozark Aquifer within the Springfield Plateau is of greater concern. Projected increased need in the Southwest Missouri is where demand and consumption are already high (MoDNR et al., 2020). The state water plan does not find similar increases in surface water demand due to decreased demand from industry. There are not any specific solutions presented in the state plan for increased groundwater demand. The plan proposes fixing infrastructure and promoting conservation. Perhaps it is intended to present more aspirational based goals than detailed solutions. This plan lacks a consistent analytical and policy narrative which means subsections must be read and interpreted individually.