Cuivre River Watershed and Inventory Assessment, February 3, 1993 Prepared by Devon L. Weirich, Fisheries Management Biologist Missouri Department of Conservation, Kirksville, MO 63501 Table of Contents Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................................... 4 Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................................... 5 Location ........................................................................................................................................................ 6 Geology ......................................................................................................................................................... 8 Physiographic Region ............................................................................................................................... 8 Geology ..................................................................................................................................................... 8 Soils .......................................................................................................................................................... 9 Stream Order ............................................................................................................................................. 9 Watershed Area/Stream Length ................................................................................................................ 9 Channel Gradient ...................................................................................................................................... 9 Land Use ..................................................................................................................................................... 22 Recent Land Use ..................................................................................................................................... 22 Soil Conservation Projects ...................................................................................................................... 22 Public Areas ............................................................................................................................................ 22 Corps of Engineers 404 Jurisdiction ....................................................................................................... 23 Hydrology ................................................................................................................................................... 26 Precipitation ............................................................................................................................................ 26 U.S. Geological Gaging Stations ............................................................................................................ 26 Permanence/Intermittence of Flow in Stream Reaches .......................................................................... 26 Average Annual Discharge ..................................................................................................................... 26 Detailed Hydrologic Data ....................................................................................................................... 27 Flood Frequency ..................................................................................................................................... 27 Dam and Hydropower Influence ............................................................................................................ 27 Water Quality and Use ................................................................................................................................ 33 Beneficial Use Attainment ...................................................................................................................... 33 Boating .................................................................................................................................................... 33 Chemical Quality of Stream Flow .......................................................................................................... 33 Point Source Pollution/Nonpoint Source Pollution ................................................................................ 33 Fish Contamination Levels, Health Advisories and Fish Kills ............................................................... 34 Habitat Conditions ...................................................................................................................................... 38 Channel Alterations ................................................................................................................................ 38 Unique Habitat ........................................................................................................................................ 38 Improvement Projects ............................................................................................................................. 38 Stream Habitat Assessment .................................................................................................................... 38 Biotic Community ....................................................................................................................................... 42 2 Fish Community ..................................................................................................................................... 42 Intolerant Species .................................................................................................................................... 43 Sportfish .................................................................................................................................................. 44 Fish Stockings ......................................................................................................................................... 44 Fishing Regulations ................................................................................................................................ 44 Aquatic Invertebrates Mussels ................................................................................................................ 44 Crayfish ................................................................................................................................................... 45 Aquatic Insects ........................................................................................................................................ 45 Threatened and Endangered Species ...................................................................................................... 45 Management Problems and Opportunities .................................................................................................. 54 ObJectives and Strategies ............................................................................................................................ 55 Riparian and Aquatic Habitat Protection ................................................................................................ 55 Aquatic Community Protection .............................................................................................................. 56 Public Awareness .................................................................................................................................... 58 Literature Cited ........................................................................................................................................... 60 List of Figures ............................................................................................................................................. 63 List of Tables .............................................................................................................................................. 63 Glossary ...................................................................................................................................................... 64 3 Acknowledgements I would like to thank all of the Fisheries Management District 4 staff who assisted with this project by conducting background research, field work, fish identification, map measurements, writing and editing. One person in particular, Laurie Peach, is deserving of a special acknowledgment for keeping this project moving forward when some staff were diverted to other commitments. Without everyone’s help and information provided by cooperating agencies this plan would not be possible. Thank you. Devona Weirich 4 Executive Summary The Cuivre River is a low gradient, seventh order river located in northeast Missouri. It originates in Audrain and Pike counties and flows south-eastward through Pike, Montgomery, Lincoln, Warren and St. Charles counties to its confluence with the Mississippi River near Winfield, Missouri. Its maJor tributaries are the West Fork Cuivre River and the North Fork Cuivre River. The entire watershed is 1,235 square miles. The average annual discharge of Cuivre River at the Troy gage station for its 61-year period of record is 650 cubic feet per second. One percent of the watershed is in public ownership. There is one state park, five Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) lake or wildlife areas and three MDC stream fishing accesses. Approximately 23% of the watershed is forested and 77% is