Missouri To Probe Secrecy on Lake E. Coli Data

"Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster is investigating whether a state agency violated the law by not releasing data showing E. coli bacteria above safe levels in the Lake of the Ozarks.

Ken Midkiff, chairman of the Missouri Clean Water Campaign, filed a complaint Friday with Koster’s office.

According to the complaint, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources denied a June 8 request from the Lake of the Ozarks Watershed Alliance and several requests from the Lake Sun Leader newspaper to release the data.

The alliance took water samples from the lake on May 26, and they were certified by a laboratory around May 29. But the department would not release the results for four weeks.

Gov. Jay Nixon said Friday he supported Koster’s review."

Karen Dillon and Jason Noble report for the Kansas City Star July 17, 2009.