North Fork Salt River Watershed
A drinking water source for northeast Missouri
A drinking water source for northeast Missouri
The North Fork of the Salt River is an important drinking water source in northeast Missouri, providing water to over 70,000 people in this region. The river's watershed is the area of land from which water drains towards the North Fork of the Salt River. The watershed is 894 square miles in size and includes parts of six counties, including Schuyler, Adair, Knox, Macon, Monroe, and Shelby counties.
The North Fork Salt River watershed includes parts of six counties in northeast Missouri. The river is a tributary to Mark Twain reservoir. Map source: MoDNR Source Water Protection Program
Some tributaries within the North Fork Salt River watershed include: Bear Creek, Black Creek, Crooked Creek, Otter Creek, and Ten Mile Creek. Communities found within the North Fork Salt River Watershed include Brashear, Clarence, Gibbs, Leonard, Lentner, Shelbyville, Shelbina, Clarence, and Stoutsville. The communities of Kirksville, Greentop, La Plata, Millard, Hunnewell, and Queen City are partially within the watershed.
Approximately 42 percent of the 119 miles of the North Fork Salt River has been channelized. Land use is approximately 40 percent cropland, 37 percent grassland, 14 percent forest, 5 percent developed, 3 percent wetland, and 1 percent water. The northern portion is characterized by rolling hills and dominance of pasture, while the southern portion has less steep terrain and is dominated more by row crop agriculture. Claypan soils are predominant in the region and have very high runoff potential.
The North Fork Salt River is a tributary to Mark Twain Lake.
The North Fork of the Salt River is a tributary to Mark Twain Lake. The reservoir was created when Clarence Cannon Dam was completed in 1984, creating a 18,600 acre impoundment. The purposes of the reservoir include providing hydroelectric power, flood control, recreation, fish and wildlife conservation, water supply, and control of water levels for navigation downstream on the Mississippi River.
The North Fork Arm of Mark Twain Lake serves as the raw water supply to the Clarence Cannon Wholesale Water Treatment Plant, which is located on the North Fork Arm of Mark Twain Lake near Florida, MO. The treatment plant is capable of treating 10 million gallons of water per day. The Clarence Cannon Wholesale Water Commission currently serves customers in 14 counties in northeast Missouri, including individual communities and county water districts. The city of Shelbina, MO also uses water from the North Fork of the Salt River, by pumping water into Shelbina Lake when lake levels are low.
North Fork Salt River Watershed Map. This map illustrates the permitted wastewater and storm water facilities within the watershed, as well as the watershed boundaries, streams, and counties. Click on the legend icon on the lower left for a key to the map's symbols. You can zoom in and out to view features.
Everything that goes into a river, creek, or stream within the watershed can affect the quality of water that becomes our drinking water.
Because of the importance of this watershed, several watershed planning efforts have been completed. A Watershed Restoration Action Strategy was completed in 1999 and 2000 for the watershed. A nine-element plan was completed for the Black Creek watershed, which is a tributary of the North Fork of the Salt River. In 2016, a Healthy Watershed Plan was completed for the watershed. The City of Shelbina and Clarence Cannon Wholesale Water Commission have completed source water protection plans, with the goal of helping protect the quality of the raw water that reaches their drinking water treatment plants. You can find the previously completed watershed plans using the following links below:
We all live in a watershed. Everyone plays a role in either positively or negatively affecting the quality of downstream waters. From how your home's wastewater is treated, to what type and height of vegetation you have on your property, your actions can help or hurt the quality of water in your community. Learn more about how to be a watershed steward:
Keeping our water healthy - it starts with you
As part of the watershed for Mark Twain Lake, the North Fork of the Salt River serves as a regional source for water and an important tributary to Mark Twain Lake. From drinking water to recreation, the Salt River is an important regional resource. Listen to the people who help deliver clean water from Mark Twain Lake to communities in northeast Missouri:
Northeast Missouri's Salt River Watershed - a regional water resource