DONIPHAN, Mo. -- This week's sunshine and rain showers are helping reduce what is described as unsafe E. coli levels in the soil at Doniphan's Riverfront Park.
Nestled not far from the banks of the Current River, the park was under water for three days when historic flooding hit Doniphan and has remained closed since the flood waters receded earlier this month.
"In normal flooding, we don't see these conditions," explained Ron Griffin, utilities director for the City of Doniphan. "With the historic levels we had the other day, we were very concerned with the possibility of high E. coli counts."
Initial soil testing, he said, revealed the E. coli counts to be evaluated.
Griffin said he contacted regulatory agencies, including the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, about the situation. Data for parks, such as Riverfront Park, which are not regulated by the state, is not collected.
"We just researched different websites for (information) about state beaches that are regulated," Griffin said. "We compared those numbers to what we were having here.
"Our numbers were much higher. That's why we decided to close (the park) until the numbers go down."
E. coli, according to Griffin, naturally occurs in the soil as the result of different factors, including bird feces.
"There always will be (some)," but there are levels that pose a possible hazard to humans, Griffin said.
The park's counts "far exceeded" the safe range, Griffin said.
"With the historic level of flooding, more than likely septic systems from cabins along the river could be a possible cause of E. Coli," Griffin explained. "Then, another possibility would be backed-up laterals from the city services that were submerged also."
City officials, Griffin said, are monitoring the situation daily.
"Nature has a way of healing itself through sunshine and rain," Griffin explained.
The conditions this week, he said, have been perfect.
"The ultraviolet light has definitely helped in reducing the E. coli in the soil," Griffin said. "Those numbers are rapidly declining, and we're doing as much as we can through research to help them decline."
But, until the numbers reach a safe level, "we are going to keep the park closed," Griffin said. " ... We hope to have it open in a few days."
At that time, Griffin said, the summer park programs can begin.
"The safety of the public is always our primary concern, and we, as many people, do want the programs to continue when a safe level is achieved," Griffin said.
The park, he said, has four ball fields, as well as tennis, basketball and volleyball courts and playground equipment.
Residents, he said, need to understand water topped the park's main building.
"The concession, restrooms and storage facility were all submerged," explained Griffin. "Those will be disinfected daily and have been washed out, hosed out and disinfected numerous times."
Inside the building, everything from counter tops, sinks, windows, breaker box to electrical wiring, had to be replaced, he said.
Following the 2008 flood, Griffin said, there wasn't any major repair work to be done.
This time, Griffin said, areas had to be "back-filled (because) the water washed (the soil) out. Several volunteers cleaned debris from all the fences. That was greatly appreciated."
Also damaged, Griffin said, was the scoreboard, which was "mostly submerged. The announcing tower was under water."
Although the electricity was turned off to the park as the water was rising, the "controls were fried" in the announcer's stand, he said. "Even the items we placed up were under water.
"I never dreamed it would get up in the announcing tower."
Crews, according to Griffin, have been working daily to clean up the park.
"We're working as hard as we possibly can to get the park" ready, Griffin said. "By all appearances, it looks like it's ready to go (but) until the count's a little bit lower, we're going to keep it closed."