Plans for new lake takes shape in northwest part of Missouri

KINGSTON, Mo. -- If the federal government approves funding, Caldwell County residents may have a 362-acre lake for recreation and to ease water shortages in the area.

On Friday, county and federal officials agreed to send the Little Otter Creek watershed plan and environmental impact statement to Congress -- a required step to get funding for the lake.

"This thing becomes a political reality," said Harold Deckerd of the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service.

The still-unnamed lake, which would be built southeast of Hamilton, would contain enough water to supply 1.2 million gallons of drinking water each day.

County officials said the lake would ease a severe water shortage.

"I realized Caldwell County was just like everybody else: Either we have a water problem or we're going to have one," said Marvin Nickell, chairman of the steering committee that began planning the project in July 2000.

State conservationist Roger Hansen estimated the project will cost about $6.2 million. More than half that amount will come from the conservation service. The rest of the money will come from Caldwell County. In August, voters approved a half-cent sales tax to fund the project.

Hansen said it would be from three to five years before construction could begin on the lake.

Earlier this year, the county received a $505,000 federal grant, which it will use to begin land appraisals and other preliminary work.

The conservation service plans to install boat ramps, hiking trails and other amenities. About 319 acres surrounding the lake will also see some work, as the conservation services attempt to stop damaging floods that occur most years. Hansen said the area suffers about $65,000 in damage each year.