Current River Watershed and Inventory Assessment, January 2003 Prepared by Thomas F. Wilkerson Jr., Fisheries Biologist Missouri Department of Conservation, West Plains, Missouri Table of Contents Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................... 5 Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................ 6 Location .......................................................................................................................................... 9 Geology ......................................................................................................................................... 11 Physiographic Region ............................................................................................................... 11 Soils .......................................................................................................................................... 11 Geology and Karst .................................................................................................................... 12 Stream Order, Mileage and Permanency .................................................................................. 13 Drainage Area ........................................................................................................................... 14 Stream Channel Gradient .......................................................................................................... 14 Land Use ....................................................................................................................................... 41 Historic Land Cover/Land Use ................................................................................................. 41 Ecological Classification .......................................................................................................... 46 Current Land Cover .................................................................................................................. 48 Soil and Water Conservation Projects ...................................................................................... 48 Public Land ............................................................................................................................... 48 Hydrology ..................................................................................................................................... 72 Precipitation .............................................................................................................................. 72 United States Geological Survey Gaging Stations .................................................................... 72 Daily Mean Discharge Statistics ............................................................................................... 72 Flow Duration ........................................................................................................................... 73 10:90 Ratio ................................................................................................................................ 74 Instantaneous Discharge ........................................................................................................... 74 7-day Q2, Q10, Q20 Low Flow and Slope Index ..................................................................... 74 Flood Frequency ....................................................................................................................... 75 Water Quality ................................................................................................................................ 87 Beneficial Use Attainment ........................................................................................................ 87 Chemical and Biological Quality of Streamflow ...................................................................... 87 USGS Pesticides National Synthesis Project ............................................................................ 89 Ground Water Quality ............................................................................................................... 90 Point Source Pollution .............................................................................................................. 90 Non-point Source Pollution ...................................................................................................... 90 National Scenic Riverways, Missouri—Phase 1. ..................................................................... 92 2 Habitat Conditions ...................................................................................................................... 110 Dam and Hydropower Influences ........................................................................................... 110 Channel Alterations ................................................................................................................ 110 Natural Features ...................................................................................................................... 112 Improvement Projects ............................................................................................................. 113 Stream Habitat Assessment ..................................................................................................... 113 Biotic Communities .................................................................................................................... 125 Stream Fish Distribution and Abundance ............................................................................... 125 Game Fish ............................................................................................................................... 126 Fish Stocking .......................................................................................................................... 126 Mussels ................................................................................................................................... 127 Snails ....................................................................................................................................... 128 Crayfish ................................................................................................................................... 128 Benthic Invertebrates .............................................................................................................. 129 Species of Conservation Concern ........................................................................................... 129 Fish .......................................................................................................................................... 129 Mussels ................................................................................................................................... 130 Management Problems and Opportunities .................................................................................. 162 GOAL I: Protect and improve riparian and aquatic habitats in the Current River watershed. 162 GOAL II: Protect surface and ground water quality in the Current River watershed. ........... 163 GOAL III: Maintain the abundance, diversity, and distribution of aquatic biota at or above current levels while improving the quality of the game fishery in the Current River watershed. ................................................................................................................................................. 165 GOAL IV: Increase public awareness and promote wise use of aquatic resources in the Current River watershed. ........................................................................................................ 167 Angler Guide ............................................................................................................................... 170 Current River (upper) (Dent and Shannon Counties) ............................................................. 170 Montauk State Park ................................................................................................................. 170 Special Trout Management Area ............................................................................................ 170 Trout Management Area ......................................................................................................... 170 Literature Cited ........................................................................................................................... 172 List of Figures ............................................................................................................................. 180 Location .................................................................................................................................. 180 Geology ................................................................................................................................... 180 Land Use ................................................................................................................................. 180 3 Hydrology ............................................................................................................................... 180 Water Quality .......................................................................................................................... 181 Habitat Conditions .................................................................................................................