Grand River Watershed and Inventory Assessment
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Grand River Watershed and Inventory Assessment Prepared by Greg Pitchford, Fisheries Management Biologist and Harold Kerns, Northwest Fisheries Regional Supervisor Northwest Regional fisheries staff, 701 NE College Drive, St. Joseph, MO 64507 Table of Contents Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................................... 4 Location ........................................................................................................................................................ 5 Geology ......................................................................................................................................................... 7 Physiographic Region ............................................................................................................................... 7 Geology and Soils (USCOE 1963) ........................................................................................................... 7 Watershed Area ........................................................................................................................................ 7 Channel Gradient ...................................................................................................................................... 7 Land Use ..................................................................................................................................................... 10 Historic and Recent Land Use ................................................................................................................ 10 Soil Conservation Projects ...................................................................................................................... 11 Public Areas ............................................................................................................................................ 11 Corps of Engineers 404 Jurisdiction ....................................................................................................... 12 Hydrology ................................................................................................................................................... 25 Precipitation ............................................................................................................................................ 25 United States Geological Survey (USGS) Gaging Stations ................................................................... 25 Permanent/Intermittent Streams ............................................................................................................. 25 Average Annual Discharge ..................................................................................................................... 25 7-day Q2 and Q10 Low Flows .................................................................................................................. 25 Dam and Hydropower Influences ........................................................................................................... 26 Water Quality .............................................................................................................................................. 33 Beneficial Use Attainment (MDNR 1984) ............................................................................................. 33 Chemical Quality of Stream Flow .......................................................................................................... 33 Fish Contamination Levels, Health Advisories, and Chronic Fish Kill Areas ....................................... 33 Water Use ............................................................................................................................................... 34 Point Source Pollution ............................................................................................................................ 34 Non-Point Source Pollution .................................................................................................................... 34 Habitat Conditions ...................................................................................................................................... 39 Channel Alterations ................................................................................................................................ 39 Unique Habitat ........................................................................................................................................ 39 Improvement Projects ............................................................................................................................. 40 Stream Habitat Assessment .................................................................................................................... 40 Biotic Communities .................................................................................................................................... 44 Fish Community Data ............................................................................................................................. 44 Channel Catfish ...................................................................................................................................... 44 Flathead Catfish ...................................................................................................................................... 44 2 Blue Catfish ............................................................................................................................................ 45 Aquatic Invertebrates .............................................................................................................................. 45 Threatened and Endangered Species ...................................................................................................... 46 Fish Stockings ......................................................................................................................................... 46 Creel Survey Data ................................................................................................................................... 47 Management Problems and Opportunities .................................................................................................. 65 Goal I: Improve water quality and maintain or improve water quantity in the Grand River Basin so all streams as capable of supporting high quality aquatic communities. ..................................................... 65 Goal II: Improve riparian and aquatic habitat conditions of the Grand River Basin to meet the needs of native aquatic species while accommodating Society’s demands for water and agricultural production. ................................................................................................................................................................ 66 Goal III: Maintain diverse and abundant populations of native aquatic organisms while accommodating angler demands for quality fishing. ........................................................................................................ 67 Goal IV: Increase recreational use of streams in the Grand River Basin ............................................... 69 Goal V: Increase public appreciation for stream resources through the Grand River Basin. ................. 70 Angler Guide ............................................................................................................................................... 72 Channel catfish ....................................................................................................................................... 72 Flathead catfish ....................................................................................................................................... 72 Blue catfish ............................................................................................................................................. 72 Walleye ................................................................................................................................................... 72 Paddlefish ............................................................................................................................................... 72 Floating and Boat Accesses .................................................................................................................... 72 Fishing Regulations ................................................................................................................................ 72 Literature Cited ........................................................................................................................................... 74 Glossary ...................................................................................................................................................... 77 List of Figures ............................................................................................................................................. 80 List of Tables .............................................................................................................................................. 81 3 Executive Summary The purpose of this plan is to consolidate information regarding streams and stream fish populations within the Grand River Basin. The size and complexity of the basin combined with limited existing information requires