Officials with the Ozarks Heritage Research Center (OHRC) at Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) will preview the documentary “Ozark Karst Dramas” at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 13.
The free event will take place at the OHRC inside MSU-WP’s Garnett Library, 304 W. Trish Knight St. Light refreshments will be served.
The documentary, produced by journalist Denise Henderson Vaughn of Mtn. View, features problems encountered due to the region’s karst topography. Karst topography is characterized by caves, springs, sinkholes and losing streams, organizers said.
The video discusses several incidents that illustrate the sometimes troublesome intersection of humans and karst topography. These include the West Plains sewage lagoon collapse in 1978, a 1981 fish kill in Maramec Spring caused by a fertilizer pipeline break, and the 2006 sinkhole that swallowed a garage and car in Nixa.
The Aug. 13 viewing will serve as a “focus group” event during which viewers will be asked to provide feedback that might help improve the final version. Viewers should not expect a polished product, but rather be willing to answer questions such as:
- Does the content hold your attention?
- Is anything confusing?
Vaughn, who has long specialized in Ozark natural resources, will give introductory remarks and lead follow-up discussion following the video’s showing. Co-producers are Neil and DeAnna Rosenbaum of Somewhereinthewood Productions in Mtn. View.
Other viewings will be scheduled at a later date for those who would prefer to see a polished, finished version of “Ozark Karst Dramas.” Also, the video will be available later this year on the website KarstintheOzarks.org. Other previously produced karst videos may be viewed on this website. Visitors also will find a repository of educational materials suitable for both classroom and home use.
Funding for the video’s production came through the South Central Ozarks Council of Governments and the South Central Solid Waste District, both of Pomona; and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 7, Lenexa, Kansas. A cooperating partner is the Ozarks Resource Center, West Plains, which facilitates the Karst in the Ozarks educational project. For more info, visit KarstintheOzarks.org.
For more information about the Aug. 13 event, contact Rebekah McKinney at 417-255-7949 or RebekahMcKinney@MissouriState.edu.