Fox River Basin Management Plan

In 1989, the Missouri Conservation Commission approved the Streams
for the Future program designed to slow stream degradation and
enhance and improve streams and corridors.  Basin planning was
developed to gather baseline hydrological, geomorphological, and
biological information on the state's major stream basins.  In
1987, the Fox River Basin was surveyed to assess stream habitat
and fish communities.  Data from the survey and information
assimilated from the literature were used to develop this basin
plan.  The Fox River Basin drains 400 mi2 in northeastern Missouri
and southeastern Iowa upstream of the gage station on the Fox
River at Wayland, Missouri.  The Fox River is a tributary to the
Mississippi River.  Approximately 20% of  basin stream mileage is
channelized.  In 1984, the watershed was 63% cropland, 16%
grassland, and 20% timber.  The Fox-Wyaconda Rivers subbasin
ranked ninth among 45 Missouri subbasins in sediment delivery to
stream channels.  Base flow has been reduced, probably related to
land use practices which have diminished the moisture retention
capacity of basin soils.  Sixteen species were added to the
annotated list of fishes known to the basin, which now numbers 52. 
Most fishes were widespread, tolerant species.  Despite what
appears to be widespread habitat degradation, few species have
been lost in the basin.