Eleven Point River Watershed and Inventory Assessment
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Eleven Point River Watershed and Inventory Assessment, March 2000 Prepared by Scott M. Miller, Fisheries Management Biologist and Thomas F. Wilkerson Jr, Fisheries Biologist Missouri Department of Conservation, 618 Preacher Blvd., West Plains MO 65775 Table of Contents Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................... 4 Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................ 5 Location .......................................................................................................................................... 7 Geology ......................................................................................................................................... 10 Physiographic Region ............................................................................................................... 10 Geology ..................................................................................................................................... 10 Soils .......................................................................................................................................... 10 Stream Mileage, Order and Permanency, Springs .................................................................... 10 (USDA-FS 1997 and MDNR 1995, 1996). .............................................................................. 11 Drainage Area ........................................................................................................................... 11 Channel Gradient ...................................................................................................................... 12 Landuse ......................................................................................................................................... 39 Historical Land Cover/Land Use .............................................................................................. 39 Land Type Associations ............................................................................................................ 42 Current Land Use ...................................................................................................................... 42 Soil Conservation Projects ........................................................................................................ 43 Public Areas .............................................................................................................................. 43 Hydrology ..................................................................................................................................... 55 Precipitation .............................................................................................................................. 55 USGS Gage Stations ................................................................................................................. 55 Average Daily and Peak Discharge .......................................................................................... 55 7-day Q2, Q10, and Q20 Low Flow and Slope Indices ............................................................ 55 Duration of Daily Flows and Mean Annual Discharge ............................................................ 56 10:90 Ratio ................................................................................................................................ 56 Flood Frequency ....................................................................................................................... 57 Water Quality ................................................................................................................................ 66 Water Use .................................................................................................................................. 67 Recreational Angling and Boating ............................................................................................ 68 Point Source Pollution/Nonpoint Source Pollution .................................................................. 69 Nonpoint Source Pollution ........................................................................................................ 69 Fish Contamination and Fish Kills Investigations .................................................................... 70 The Missouri Department of Health releases its Fish Advisory ............................................... 71 Habitat Conditions ........................................................................................................................ 81 2 Channel Alterations .................................................................................................................. 81 National Scenic River ............................................................................................................... 81 Natural Features ........................................................................................................................ 81 Improvement Projects ............................................................................................................... 82 Stream Habitat Assessment ....................................................................................................... 82 Biotic Communities ...................................................................................................................... 92 Stream Fish Distribution and Abundance ................................................................................. 92 Sport Fish .................................................................................................................................. 93 Fish Stocking ............................................................................................................................ 94 Mussels ..................................................................................................................................... 94 Crayfish ..................................................................................................................................... 95 Aquatic Insects .......................................................................................................................... 95 Species of Conservation Concern ............................................................................................. 95 Management Problems and Opportunities .................................................................................. 122 GOAL I: Improve riparian and aquatic habitats in the Eleven Point Watershed. ................... 122 GOAL II: Improve surface and subsurface water quality I nthe Eleven Point Watershed. .... 122 GOAL III: Maintain the abundance, diversity, and distribution of aquatic biota at or above current levels while improving the quality of the sport fishery in the Eleven Point watershed. ................................................................................................................................................. 123 GOAL IV: Increase public awareness and promote wise use of aquatic resources in the Eleven Point watershed. ...................................................................................................................... 125 Angler Guide ............................................................................................................................... 127 Eleven Point River .................................................................................................................. 127 Literature Cited ........................................................................................................................... 128 Glossary ...................................................................................................................................... 134 3 Acknowledgements We would like to express our thanks to those individuals which have contributed their time and effort to various aspects of this document. These persons include Terry Aldrich, Amy Hines, Scott Kelly, Bob Legler, Dave Mayers, Dennis Morgan, Mary Palmer, A. J. Pratt, Chris Thompson, Chuck Wichern, and Amy Williams. In addition, several individuals contributed to the review process. These persons include Sue Bruenderman, Kevin Richards, Bill Turner, Matt Winston, and various members of the United States Forest Service. Thanks to these, and any other previously unmentioned contributors. 4 Executive Summary The Eleven Point River originates near the town of Willow Springs, located in northeastern Howell County. The river flows southeasterly across northern Howell and Oregon Counties and then south, crossing the Arkansas state line about 2.5 miles west of the southeast corner of Oregon County. From there it flows generally south through Randolph County, Arkansas, joining the Spring River approximately 3.7 miles above the Spring River/Black River Confluence near Black Rock, Arkansas. The Black River is a tributary of the White River. Major tributaries of the Eleven Point River include Middle Fork, Spring Creek, Hurricane Creek, and Fredrick Creek. Greer Spring also contributes significantly to the flow of the Eleven Point River, turning the river into a cold water stream. The Eleven Point Watershed, which lies in the Salem Plateau Subdivision of the Ozark Plateau Physiographic Region, drains approximately 1, 024 square miles in portions of five counties within