AbstractsGeography &GIS

"Early in 1940 a project was undertaken for a complete survey of the Meramec River Basin. This project, of which the pollution study was a part, was one of the most extensive surveys made of an entire river basin and included detailed studies of soil erosion, land, use, pollution, rainfall, and recreation in the Meramec Basin. The pollution study covered that portion of the Meramec River from its confluence with the Mississippi River to Steelville, a distance of about 140 river miles; the Big River from its mouth to a point west of Flat River, a distance of 107 river miles; and the Bourbeuse River from its mouth to Tea, Missouri, a distance of 90 river miles. The objectives of the pollution study were twofold in purpose: first, to determine the extent of pollution in those sections of the Meramec Basin which are used most extensively for recreational purposes, and to formulate recommendations for the control of such pollution; and second, to establish reasonable tentative standards of cleanliness for the Meramec River and its principal Tributaries. It was felt that such standards might be extended to cover similar streams in other sections of the State which are also used for recreational purposes" – Introduction, p. 1-2.