Columbia looks at banning camping near waterways as DNR deadline approaches
Ryan Shiner
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The City of Columbia is looking at proposing an ordinance that would ban camping near streams.
A proposal shared to ABC 17 News by a city utilities spokesperson says the ordinace aims to reduce the amount of pollutants in waterways. The city was told by the state’s Department of Natural Resources earlier this month that the DNR was not satisfied with a previous storm water management plan.
The department set a Nov. 15 deadline for the city to draft new ordinance language after concerns of human waste from homeless encampments entering streams. The new ordinance has not yet appeared on a City Council agenda.
Previous reporting says the DNR has stated Hinkson Creek, Grindstone Creek and Hominy Branch contain E. coli from human waste from homeless encampments near the streams, posing significant risks to Columbia’s water quality and public health.
The proposed ordinance says no one can be arrested for violating it unless that person has received prior warnings. It states that it will be illegal to camp or store personal property within 50 feet of any stream, creek, lake or watery on public or personal property.
It states owners of property near a stream may not camp or store property near the waterway “unless such owner ensures secure receptacles for the disposal of trash, waste and debris are maintained and utilized to prevent pollutants from entering any such adjacent stream, creek, lake, or waterway.” It also states sheds are allowed.