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THE UPPER SPRING RIVER WATERSHED RESTORATION ACTION STRATEGY PROJECT
Major tributaries located in the upper Spring River watershed include Chat Creek, Center Creek, Williams Creek, and Stahls Creek. Smaller tributaries include Browning Hollow, Hilhouse Branch, Hewlett Branch, Marti Branch, Colley Hollow and Dry Fork. Of these tributaries Center Creek, Chat Creek, Browning Hollow, Hilhouse Branch, and, Hewlett Branch are losing streams. Land use in the area is predominantly agricultural. High concentration of animal feeding operations (AFO's) are located near Center Creek (H.U. # 11070207-040-001), Marti and Colley Hollow (H.U. # 11070207-010-005), Hilhouse Branch and Spring River (H.U. # 11070207-010-001) and an unnamed tributary draining north of the town of Freistatt ( lower third of H.U. 11070207-010-004). There are 45 known dairy farms and 22 known poultry facilities in the project area.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Missouri Department of Conservation 1997 Spring River Basin Inventory and Management Plan, by Kiner, Vitello, and Hash, contains an assessment of stream bank erosion. They found "massive failings" along sections of Center Creek, Spring River. Streambank erosion was attributed to lack of wooded riparian buffer and livestock access. With the exception of Stahls Creek, existing creeks in the project area provide habitat for the endangered Arkansas Darter. A recharge site for groundwater serving as habitat for the endangered Ozark Cavefish is located near Chat Creek.
The Unified Watershed Assessment Report shows a 3.99% decease in wetlands. In the project area there are an estimated 793 acres of prior converted wetlands. These prior converted wetlands no longer provide the basin with effective wetland function. The "Biotic Assessment of Missouri Basins" contained in the Unified Watershed Assessment Report shows the Spring River Basin has moderate biotic impairment due to riparian degradation, flow alterations, channel alterations nonpoint source pollution, urbanization, and point source pollution.
PRODUCTS AND OBJECTIVES
A minigrant to the Lawrence County Soil and Water Conservation District is supporting development of a Watershed Restoration Action Strategy (WRAS) for the upper Spring River watershed. The WRAS will identify the seven elements specified by the Environmental Protection Agency, Region VII, as follows: (1) public outreach methods; (2) monitoring and evaluation activities based on water quality goals and outcomes; (3) specific water quality problems; (4) identify a watershed coordinator/evaluator; (5) blueprint of actions to be taken and desired water quality goals and outcomes; (6) schedule of implementation; and (7) funding needs.
PROJECT SPONSOR
Lawrence County SWCD
COOPERATING AGENCY
EPA/DNR
CONTACT
Lawrence County SWCD
10733 Highway 39
Mt. Vernon, MO 65712
Paula Champion
telephone: 417-466-7682
email: lcswcd@sosnet.com
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