Form 990 for tax year 2023

Totals

Total revenue

$1,383,708

Total expenses

$1,211,404

Contributions and grants received

$1,081,181

Grants paid

$375,684

Program service revenue

$244,112

Investment income

$58,415

Other revenue

$0

Total assets, end of year

$3,007,158

Total liabilities, end of year

$34,136

Net assets or fund balances, end of year

$2,973,022

Program services expenses (Part IX)

$1,011,276

Management and general expenses

$200,128

Fundraising expenses

$0

Program service expenses (Part III)

$1,011,276

Program services were 83.5% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Mission and programs · 2023

• THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS PROJECTS TO MONITOR & REPORT ON WATER QUALITY IN THE UPPER WHITE RIVER BASIN REGION OF ARKANSAS AND MISSOURI, AND THE BUFFALO RIVER WATERSHED REGION IN ARKANSAS. THESE PROJECTS PROVIDE DATA AND INFORMATION ON THE STATE OF THE WATER QUALITY AND PROVIDES INSIGHT TO THE PROJECTED DIRECTION OF WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS. THE FOUNDATION HAS WORKED WITH VOLUNTEER MONITORING PROGRAMS IN BOTH ARKANSAS AND MISSOURI FOR FIELD WORK AND ANALYSIS OF WATER QUALITY. VOLUNTEER MONITORING PROGRAMS IN BOTH ARKANSAS AND MISSOURI PARTNERSHIPS INCLUDE STREAM TEAM PROGRAMS IN ARKANSAS, LAKES OF MISSOURI VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, SECCHI DAY ON BEAVER LAKE, STREAMSMART, AND VARIOUS OTHER STATE AGENCIES, NGOS AND GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES.

  Expenses $15,000 · Revenue $243,598

• AS OF DECEMBER 1, 2020, THE FOUNDATION ENTERED INTO A GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE ARKANSAS NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION TO ESTABLISH A SEPTIC TANK REMEDIATION PROGRAM FOR CONTINUED PROTECTION OF THE UPPER WHITE RIVER/BEAVER RESERVOIR WATERSHED IN ARKANSAS. THE FOUNDATION IS TO RECEIVE AN AMOUNT UP TO 254,000 FROM THE WATER DEVELOPMENT FUND FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF A 1,000,000 CONSTRUCTION GRANT FROM THE CLEAN WATER STATE REVOLVING FUND FOR A THREE-YEAR PROJECT PERIOD. IN 2023, THIS SRF SEPTIC REMEDIATION PROJECT REPLACED OR REPAIRED 25 FAILING SEPTIC SYSTEMS IN THE BEAVER RESERVOIR WATERSHED IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS TOTALING 330,161.74 IN PROJECT COSTS; OF WHICH 250,881.52 WERE GRANTS TO HOMEOWNERS, AND 79,280.22 WERE 0% INTEREST LOANS TO HOMEOWNERS.

  Expenses $302,881 · Grants $250,881

• THE FOUNDATION ENTERED INTO A SUB-GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION TO PERFORM AND COMPLETE A SOIL AND WATER ASSESSMENT TOOL (SWAT) MODEL FOR THE UPPER WHITE RIVER WATERSHED IN ARKANSAS (HUC 11010001). THIS PROJECT BEGAN 12/1/2021. THE FOUNDATION SUB-CONTRACTED WITH FTN ASSOCIATES, OVERSEEING AND REVIEWING MODELING AND REPORTING ACTIVITIES. THE DRAFT FINAL SWAT MODEL REPORT WAS REVIEWED BY THE FOUNDATION AND COMMENTS SENT TO FTN ASSOCIATES IN DECEMBER 2023. THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED EARLY 2024. THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO APPLY THE SWAT MODEL FOR THE ARKANSAS PORTION OF THE UPPER WHITE RIVER WATERSHED SO THAT THE SUB-WATERSHEDS (HUC12S) THAT ARE PARTIALLY OR COMPLETELY WITHIN ARKANSAS CAN BE RANKED BASED ON SEDIMENT AND NUTRIENT LOADS, WHICH HELPS PRIORITIZE THE SUB-WATERSHEDS TO ASSIST IN DEVELOPING NONPOINT SOURCE (NPS) INVESTMENT STRATEGIES THAT WILL HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT ON WATER QUALITY OBJECTIVES. MODEL RESULTS FROM THIS PROJECT WILL BE USED AS PART OF THE WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLAN DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.

  Expenses $3,445

• ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2022, THE FOUNDATION ENTERED INTO A GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE ARKANSAS NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION TO ESTABLISH A SEPTIC TANK REMEDIATION PROGRAM FOR PROTECTION OF THE BUFFALO RIVER WATERSHED IN ARKANSAS. THE FOUNDATION IS TO RECEIVE AN AMOUNT UP TO 278,400 FROM THE WATER DEVELOPMENT FUND FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF A 1,000,000 CONSTRUCTION GRANT FROM THE CLEAN WATER STATE REVOLVING FUND FOR A THREE-YEAR PROJECT PERIOD. THE PROGRAM OFFERS FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO HOMEOWNERS IN NEED OF SEPTIC REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT WITHIN THE BUFFALO RIVER WATERSHED. FUNDING IS A COMBINATION OF GRANT AND/OR ZERO-INTEREST LOAN BASED ON HOUSEHOLD INCOME. UP TO 90% OF THE TOTAL PROJECT COST MAY BE COVERED BY THE GRANT, WHICH REQUIRES ZERO PAYBACK BY THE HOMEOWNER. IN 2023, THIS SRF SEPTIC REMEDIATION PROJECT REPLACED OR REPAIRED 8 FAILING SEPTIC SYSTEMS IN THE BUFFALO RIVER WATERSHED TOTALING 139,481.00 IN PROJECT COSTS; OF WHICH 125,532.90 WERE GRANTS TO HOMEOWNERS, AND 13,948.10 WERE 0% INTEREST LOANS TO HOMEOWNERS. THE FOUNDATION ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH BEAVER WATER DISTRICT TO CONDUCT PRELIMINARY RESEARCH ON THE IMPACT OF SEPTIC SYSTEMS ON WATER QUALITY IN STREAMS ACROSS THE BEAVER LAKE WATERSHED. THIS PROJECT INCLUDES GEOSPATIAL ANALYSIS AND WATER QUALITY SAMPLING. THE GOAL IS TO COLLECT DATA THAT CAN RELATE SEPTIC SYSTEM DENSITY, PROXIMITY TO STREAMS, AND OTHER METRICS TO WATER QUALITY INDICATORS. THIS PROJECT CAN INFORM FUTURE POLICY DECISIONS RELATED TO THE MAINTENANCE AND FUNCTIONING OF SEPTIC SYSTEMS. THIS PROJECT PERIOD IS FROM OCTOBER 2022 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2023. THIS PROJECT GENERATED DATA SHOWING THAT SEPTIC DENSITY RESULTS IN HIGHER CONCENTRATIONS OF WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS, ALTHOUGH STATISTICAL SIGNIFICANCE WAS SOMEWHAT LIMITED DUE TO LOW SAMPLE SIZE. BEGINNING IN OCTOBER 2023, THROUGH ANOTHER AGREEMENT WITH BEAVER WATER DISTRICT, THE FOUNDATION INITIATED MORE ROBUST RESEARCH, ADDING OVER TWICE AS MANY SAMPLING SITES, TO GENERATE RELIABLE SCIENCE DRIVEN DATA RELATED TO THE IMPACT OF SEPTIC SYSTEMS ON WATER QUALITY. THIS FOLLOW UP PROJECT IS SET TO BE COMPLETED IN FALL 2024. THE FOUNDATION ENTERED INTO A SUBGRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION THROUGH A SECTION 319 GRANT FROM THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY TO DEVELOP AND PREPARE AN EPA-ACCEPTED NINE-ELEMENT WATERSHED-BASED PLAN FOR THE UPPER WHITE RIVER BASIN, A HUC-8 (11010001) PRIORITY WATERSHED IN ARKANSAS. THE FOUNDATION SUB-CONTRACTED WITH FTN ASSOCIATES TOWARD THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WATERSHED-BASED PLAN. PART OF THIS PROJECT IS TO ENGAGE STAKEHOLDERS AND GENERATE LOCAL SUPPORT FOR THE PLAN AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION. THE OVERALL GOAL IS TO PRIORITIZE SUBWATERSHEDS, IDENTIFY PROJECTS TO REDUCE POLLUTANTS, AND HELP ENSURE THAT WATERWAYS MEET THEIR DESIGNATED USES. THE PROJECT BEGAN ON OCTOBER 1, 2022. DURING 2023, THE FOUNDATION HOSTED FOUR STAKEHOLDER WORKSHOPS TOWARD THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WRITTEN 9-ELEMENT PLAN. THE FINAL PLAN AND REPORT IS SET TO BE COMPLETED IN FALL 2024. IN 2021 THE FOUNDATION ENTERED INTO A SUBGRANT AGREEMENT WITH OZARKS ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER RESOURCES INSTITUTE (OWERI) TO DEVELOP A WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR LAKE TANEYCOMO WATERSHED. THE FOUNDATION FORMED AND FACILITATES AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO SHARE INFORMATION AND INPUT TO GUIDE THE WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLANNING, NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTION MODELING, AND DEMONSTRATION PROJECT FOR LAKE TANEYCOMO - WHITE RIVER WATERSHED WRITING PROCESS. THE FOUNDATION FACILITATES STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS THAT INCLUDE, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, THE FOUNDATION STAFF, OWERI STAFF, MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION STAFF, OFFICIALS AND/OR STAFF FROM ALL CITIES ALONG LAKE TANEYCOMO, DAM OPERATORS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY LEADER AND MEMBERS. THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO DEVELOP A 9-ELEMENT WATERSHED-BASED PLAN FOR THE LAKE TANEYCOMO-WHITE RIVER WATERSHED. THE FOUNDATION WILL KEEP LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS INFORMED OF THE PLAN WRITING PROCESS AND GARNER INPUT AND BUY-IN WITH THE PLAN. IN 2023, THE FOUNDATION FACILITATED A FALL MEETING TO INFORM STAKEHOLDERS OF PLAN PROGRESS, WATERSHED MODELING FINDINGS, AND INTENTION FOR PROJECT EXTENSION. THE FOUNDATION PROVIDED THE PUBLIC WITH INFORMATION ON THE PROJECT STATUS THROUGH NEWSLETTER ARTICLES AND SOCIAL MEDIA POSTINGS. THE FOUNDATION APPLIED FOR AND RECEIVED A 2.5 MILLION GRANT THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO LOW-INCOME HOMEOWNERS TO REPLACE OR REPAIR THEIR FAILING SEPTIC SYSTEMS. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES FUNDING TO ELIGIBLE PROJECTS WITHIN PRIORITY SUBWATERSHEDS IN THE HARRY S. TRUMAN LAKE WATERSHED, LAKE OF THE OZARKS WATERSHED, POMME DE TERRE WATERSHED, LAKE NIANGUA WATERSHED, TABLE ROCK LAKE WATERSHED, AND THE HEADWATERS OF THE JAMES SUBWATERSHED. THIS GRANT IS A TWO-YEAR PROJECT PERIOD. THE FOUNDATION WAS AWARDED 40,000 IN ARPA FUNDS FROM THE STONE COUNTY COMMISSION TO CONDUCT A SEPTIC IMPACT STUDY IN STONE COUNTY, MISSOURI. THIS STUDY AIMS TO EVALUATE THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF SEPTIC SYSTEMS TO THE COUNTY'S WATERWAYS, TO PROVIDE A GIS MAPPING DATABASE TO THE COUNTY IDENTIFYING LOCATIONS OF SEPTIC SYSTEMS AND PROVIDE WATER QUALITY MONITORING DATA. THE FOUNDATION PRESENTED A PREPROPOSAL TO THE BUFFALO RIVER CONSERVATION COMMITTEE ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2023 AND A FULL PROPOSAL TO THE COMMITTEE ON OCTOBER 31, 2023. THE COMMITTEE VOTED TO AWARD 69,676 TO THE FOUNDATION FOR WORK AIMING TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY IN THE MILL CREEK SUBWATERSHED OF THE BUFFALO RIVER WATERSHED THROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. THE PROJECT PERIOD IS SET FOR JANUARY 2023 THROUGH DECEMBER 2023. AN ASSOCIATED PROJECT THAT WILL PROVIDE COST-SHARE FUNDING TO LANDOWNERS WISHING TO IMPLEMENT CONSERVATION PRACTICES WILL BEGIN LATER IN 2024. THE FOUNDATION PUBLISHES AN EMAIL NEWSLETTER DISTRIBUTED TO OVER 2,500 SUBSCRIBERS DEALING WITH WATER QUALITY ISSUES IN THE UPPER WHITE RIVER BASIN WATERSHED. IN ADDITION, THE FOUNDATION'S WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE PROVIDES ACCESS TO WATER QUALITY INFORMATION FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC, REGULATORS, AND ELECTED OFFICIALS. THE FOUNDATION CONTINUES AN OUTREACH INITIATIVE THAT HAS 3 OBJECTIVES: 1. PROVIDE SUPPORT TO OTHER WATER QUALITY GROUPS; 2. SPONSOR OTHER WATER QUALITY GROUPS EVENTS SUCH AS CLEANUPS AND PUBLIC EDUCATION; 3. PROVIDE WATER QUALITY INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC. THE FOUNDATION CONTINUES TO SUPPORT PUBLIC POLICY WHICH PROMOTES AND PROTECTS WATER QUALITY IN THE OZARKS REGION. ALTHOUGH THE FOUNDATION DOES NOT ENGAGE IN LOBBYING ACTIVITY, STAFF KEEP UP TO DATE ON BOTH LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY ISSUES AND OFFERS BOTH OPINION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO POLICYMAKERS. THE FOUNDATION STAYS ABREAST OF THE DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN ARKANSAS AND MISSOURI PURSUANT TO THE BI-STATE AGREEMENT WHICH THE FOUNDATION FACILITATED DURING 2008. THE FOUNDATION ATTENDED A PUBLIC HEARING ON AUGUST 31 RELATED TO THE LAND APPLICATION OF INDUSTRIAL WASTE IN THE BEAVER LAKE WATERSHED AND SUBMITTED A PUBLIC COMMENT. THE FOUNDATION ADMINISTERS ANNUAL SHORELINE CLEANUPS ON TABLE ROCK LAKE, LAKE TANEYCOMO, AND BULL SHOALS AND ASSISTS WITH NUMEROUS OTHER CLEANUP AND ENVIRONMENTAL EVENTS. OVER 1,500 VOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATED IN THESE EVENTS REMOVING TONS OF TRASH AND DEBRIS FROM THE SHORELINE AND PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT. THE FOUNDATION HOLDS QUARTERLY MEETINGS FOR WATER QUALITY GROUPS IN WHICH A SPEAKER AND TOPIC ARE SELECTED TO PRESENT TO THE GROUPS AND TO GATHER AND DISCUSS WATER QUALITY ISSUES, PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, AND PROJECTS AND EVENTS THAT ARE OCCURRING. THE FOUNDATION ORGANIZES LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE GROUP TO PARTAKE IN THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS SUCH LIBERTY UTILITIES, US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, AND THE OZARKS UNDERGROUND LAB. MISSOURI ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION (MEEA) - RECEIVED A GRANT OF 500.00 FOR THE PURPOSE OF PURCHASING A GROUND WATER WELL KIT AND A PHARMACEUTICALS, CHEMICALS, AND WATER QUALITY KIT FOR YOUTH EDUCATION. THE KITS WILL BE USED TO TEACH YOUTH ABOUT WATER QUALITY AND POLLUTION. FRIENDS OF THE RESERVOIRS - RECEIVED A GRANT OF 1,500.00 TO KICKSTART THE CREATION OF A FREE YOUTH FISHING AND WATER QUALITY PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM WILL TEACH YOUTH BASIC FISHING SKILLS AND WATER QUALITY AS IT RELATES TO FISH HABITAT. YOUTH WILL LEAVE THE PROGRAM WITH A COMPLETE FISHING OUTFIT OF THEIR OWN TO TAKE HOME. TROUT UNLIMITED YOUTH CAMP - ARKANSAS - 2023 AND 2024 STAFF FROM H2OZARKS WERE INVITED TO PRESENT ON WATER QUALITY, MACROINVERTEBRATES, AND HOW THEY BOTH RELATE TO FISHING. ROUNTREE ELEMENTARY - PRESENTED THE ENVIROSCAPE WATERSHED TABLE TO THEIR FIFTH GRADE CLASS. HANDS-ON INTERACTION WITH THE STUDENTS DISCUSSING VARIOUS POLLUTANTS AND HOW THEY ENTER OUR WATERWAYS. STUDENTS THEN PREPARED SOLUTIONS TO THE ISSUES THAT COULD INVOLVE THEIR CLASSMATES AND THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. H2OZARKS WAS SELECTED BY ETH ZURICH TO PARTICIPATE IN A WORLD-WIDE DNA SAMPLING RESEARCH STUDY ON TABLE ROCK LAKE. THIS STUDY COVERED OVER 700 LAKES ACROSS THE GLOBE. H2OZARKS

  Expenses $689,950 · Grants $124,803

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Related organizations on this return

Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

• OZARKS ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES INC

  501C3 · ENVN SVCS · MO

  Directly controlled by UPPER WHITE RIVER BASIN FOUNDATION INC

Provenance

Return type

form_990

Tax year

2023

Filed

14 November 2024

IRS schema version

2023v5.0

Source object

202413199349315706

Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.

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