WASHINGTON  -  U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08) will tour the Johnson Shut-Ins and the Lower Reservoir of the Taum Sauk hydroelectric facility which experienced a failure earlier this year.

 

“There is a strong federal role in the investigation into what happened at Taum Sauk, as well as a tremendous job being done by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.  I want to see what progress is being made, both on the Taum Sauk facility and in preparing the park for the upcoming season.  In spite of the disaster that occurred here, the Johnson Shut-Ins remain one of the crown jewels of our state’s natural resources,” Emerson said.

 

Though the Johnson Shut-Ins will be closed to swimmers and overnight campers this summer as remediation work continues, it will be open to the public for daytime viewing after Memorial Day.  The Missouri Department of Natural Resources will also post interpretive signs and conduct tours of the damage caused by the flood.

 

“The Johnson Shut-Ins provide recreational opportunities to Southern Missouri residents as well as tourists from around the region.  There is going to be an additional opportunity for visitors to learn about what happened in the park and to look at the effects of the flood from the reservoir.  Though this was a very serious situation, it will be interesting for people to see how a flood can occur even at the highest elevation point in our state,” Emerson said.

 

WHO:          U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson
WHAT:        Tour of the Taum Sauk Reservoir and the Johnson Shut-Ins
WHEN:       TOMORROW, May 5, 2006, starting at 10:30 a.m. CDT
WHERE:     DNR trailer at entrance to access road to park off Highway N

 

Contact Heather Garner in Rep. Emerson’s Farmington office at 573-756-9755 for exact
directions.