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SULLIVAN COUNTY, MO. -- A new law is another step forward for a reservoir years in the making.

On Monday, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon signed House Bill 89 into law to establish and allow a Lake Authority to be developed at East Locust Creek Reservoir in Sullivan County.

State Rep. Zach Wyatt worked with Sen. Brad Lager on the bill. Wyatt says the reservoir will create new jobs.

“We're going to have quite a few people that will get jobs over there and be able to help the construction phase of the lake. That even makes me feel good for that it's creating an economic powerhouse for Sullivan County. But they're also able to create the jobs that are needed in this area.”

Wyatt also said that a new water supply will be now available to Northeast Missouri as the reservoir will be 2,235 acres of water and can produce seven million gallons per day.

“Freshwater is going to be the next gold in the near future. I think having this water source setup and all ready to go for the future for our water needs. It's going to benefit the whole Northeast Missouri area because of the water shortage we've seen in the past. I think this is going to help out for any type of drought we may see in the future.”

Wyatt is very excited about this new chapter for Northeast Missouri. “I think this legislation is a great step forward for Northeast Missouri. I know a lot of people have heard about this lake since the 70's since our former Gov. Bond, then Sen. Bond. It's great that we've been able to keep moving this forward. Since two years ago to now, we've been able to take this huge leap and now it's looking like it's going to be there. I'm quite excited.”

The lake will be governed by the North Central Missouri Regional Water Commission.
   
The Lake Authority will: 
   1) Enable the control over activities that prove to contaminate the reservoir
   2) Allow landowners to continue to own property nearly to the water’s edge
   3) Reduce the amount of acres that must be acquired
   4) Have the ability to create a Tax Increment Financing District that will direct revenues into the lake project from private development and investments without a tax increase.

The lake will be located between Milan and Pollock. Plans call for the reservoir to be completed in 2012.

View the original map of the proposed East Locust Creek Reservoir with a click here.