Data Series 1086

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Prepared in cooperation with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources

Quality of Surface Water in Missouri, Water Year 2016
Cover. Hydrologic technicians collecting a surface-water quality sample on the Missouri River at 

Hermann, Missouri. Photograph by Kelly Brady, hydrologic technician, U.S. Geological Survey.
Quality of Surface Water in Missouri,

Water Year 2016

By Miya N. Barr and Katherine A. Bartels

Prepared in cooperation with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources

Data Series 1086

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Department of the Interior

RYAN K. ZINKE, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

James F. Reilly II, Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2018

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Suggested citation:

Barr, M.N., and Bartels, K.A., 2018, Quality of surface water in Missouri, water year 2016: U.S. Geological Survey 

Data Series 1086, 25 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ds1086. 

ISSN 2327-638X (online)
iii

Contents

Abstract...........................................................................................................................................................1

Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................1

The Ambient Water-Quality Monitoring Network.....................................................................................2

Laboratory Reporting Conventions .............................................................................................................5

Surface Water-Quality Data Analysis Methods........................................................................................5

Station Classification for Data Analysis.....................................................................................................5

Hydrologic Conditions...................................................................................................................................8

Distribution, Concentration, and Detection Frequency of Select Constituents ................................12

Distribution of Physical Properties, Suspended-Solids Concentration, 

Suspended-Sediment Concentration, and Fecal Indicator Bacteria Density.............12

Distribution of Dissolved Nitrate plus Nitrite and Total Phosphorus Concentrations .............12

Distribution of Dissolved and Total Recoverable Lead and Zinc Concentrations....................23

Concentration and Detection Frequency of Select Pesticides from Selected Stations.........23

Summary........................................................................................................................................................23

References Cited..........................................................................................................................................24

Figures

1. Map showing location and class of selected stations and physiographic regions

of Missouri, water year 2016.......................................................................................................3

2. Map showing land use and land cover in Missouri................................................................4

3. Map showing location of selected streamflow-gaging stations used for summary

of hydrologic conditions within Missouri, water year 2016...................................................9

4. Graphs showing monthly mean streamflow for water year 2016 and long-term

mean monthly streamflow at six representative streamflow-gaging stations in

Missouri........................................................................................................................................10

5. Boxplots showing distribution of physical properties, suspended-solids

concentrations, and suspended-sediment concentrations in samples from

71 stations, water year 2016......................................................................................................13

6. Boxplots showing distribution of fecal indicator bacteria density in samples from

71 stations, water year 2016......................................................................................................15

7. Boxplots showing distribution of dissolved nitrate plus nitrite as nitrogen and

total phosphorus concentrations in samples from 71 stations, water year 2016.............16

8. Boxplots showing distribution of dissolved and total recoverable lead and zinc

concentrations from 71 stations, water year 2016 ................................................................17

9. Graphs showing detection of select pesticides from selected stations, water

year 2016 ......................................................................................................................................18
iv

Tables

1. U.S. Geological Survey station number, name, contributing drainage area,

sampling frequency, and station class and type of 74 selected stations, water

year 2016 ........................................................................................................................................6

2. Station classes and number of stations in each class and type, water year 2016............8

3. Peak streamflow for water year 2016 and periods of record for selected

streamflow-gaging stations ......................................................................................................11

4. Seven-day low flow for water year 2016, period of record 7-day low flow,

minimum daily mean streamflow for water year 2016, and period of record

minimum daily mean streamflow for selected streamflow-gaging stations in

Missouri........................................................................................................................................11

Conversion Factors

U.S. customary units to the International System of Units

Multiply By To obtain

Length

inch (in.) 2.54 centimeter (cm)

mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer (km)

Area

square mile (mi2

) 2.590 square kilometer (km2)

Flow rate

cubic foot per second (ft3

/s) 0.02832 cubic meter per second (m3/s)

Temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) may be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (°F) as follows:

°F=(1.8×°C)+32

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83).

Specific conductance is given in microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius (μS/cm at 

25 °C).

Density of bacteria is given in colonies per 100 milliliters (col/100 mL) of water.

Concentrations of chemical constituents in water are given either in milligrams per liter (mg/L) 

or micrograms per liter (μg/L).

Water year in U.S. Geological Survey reports is the 12-month period October 1 through 

September 30. The water year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends and which 

includes 9 of the 12 months; thus, the year ending September 30, 2016, is called “water year 

2016.”
v

Abbreviations

AWQMN Ambient Water Quality Monitoring Network

LRL laboratory reporting level

LT–MDL long-term method detection level

MDL method detection level

MDNR Missouri Department of Natural Resources

MRL minimum reporting level

NASQAN National Stream Quality Assessment Network

NWIS National Water Information System

NWQL National Water Quality Laboratory

TMDL total maximum daily load

USGS U.S. Geological Survey

Quality of Surface Water in Missouri, Water Year 2016

By Miya N. Barr and Katherine A. Bartels

Abstract

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the 

Missouri Department of Natural Resources, designed and 

operates a series of monitoring stations on streams and springs 

throughout Missouri known as the Ambient Water-Quality 

Monitoring Network. During water year 2016 (October 1, 

2015, through September 30, 2016), data presented in this 

report were collected at 71 stations: 69 Ambient Water-Quality 

Monitoring Network stations and 2 U.S. Geological Survey 

National Stream Quality Assessment Network stations. Among 

the 71 stations in this report, 4 stations have data presented 

for additional cooperative efforts with the U.S. Army Corps 

of Engineers. Dissolved oxygen, specific conductance, water 

temperature, suspended solids, suspended sediment, Escherichia coli bacteria, fecal coliform bacteria, dissolved nitrate 

plus nitrite as nitrogen, total phosphorus, dissolved and total 

recoverable lead and zinc, and select pesticide compound 

summaries are presented for these 71 stations. The stations 

primarily have been classified into groups corresponding to the 

physiography of the State, primary land use, or unique station 

types. In addition, a summary of hydrologic conditions in the 

State including peak streamflows, monthly mean streamflows, 

and 7-day low flows is presented.

Introduction

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) 

is responsible for the implementation of the Federal Clean 

Water Act (33 U.S.C. §1251 et seq.) in Missouri. Section 305(b) of the Clean Water Act requires that each State 

develop a water-quality monitoring program and periodically 

report the status of its water quality (U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency, 1997). Water-quality status is described 

in terms of the suitability of the water for various uses, such 

as drinking, fishing, swimming, and supporting aquatic life; 

these uses formally were defined as “designated uses” in State 

and Federal regulations. Section 303(d) of the Clean Water 

Act requires certain waters to be identified and total maximum 

daily loads (TMDLs) to be determined for waters that do not 

meet applicable water-quality standards for their designated 

uses (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2018). TMDLs 

establish the maximum amount of an impairing substance that 

a waterbody can assimilate and still meet the water-quality 

standards. A TMDL addresses a single pollutant for each 

waterbody.

Missouri has an area of about 69,000 square miles and 

an estimated population of 6.09 million people (U.S. Census 

Bureau, 2016). Within Missouri, 115,772 miles (mi) of classified streams support a variety of uses including wildlife, 

recreation, agriculture, industry, transportation, and public 

utilities, but only 24,761 mi (or about 21 percent) were monitored, evaluated, and assessed during 2016 (Missouri Department of Natural Resources, 2014a). Of these assessed stream 

miles, an estimated 5,307 mi fully support the designated uses, 

and an estimated 5,549 mi are adversely affected (impaired) 

by various physical changes or chemical contaminants to the 

point that criteria for at least one of the designated uses no 

longer can be met (Missouri Department of Natural Resources, 

2014a). The impairment has been documented by data that 

meet the requirements of the 303(d) listing methodology of 

Missouri.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation 

with the MDNR, collects surface-water quality data pertaining to water resources in Missouri each water year (October 1 

through September 30). These data, stored and maintained in 

the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS) database (https://doi.org/10.5066/F7P55KJN), are collected as part 

of the Missouri Ambient Water-Quality Monitoring Network 

(AWQMN) and constitute a source of reliable, impartial, and 

timely information for developing an enhanced understanding of the State’s water resources. To make this information 

readily available, these data were published annually in the 

Water-Data Report series from water years 1964 through 2005 

(U.S. Geological Survey, 1964–2005). Published data for the 

2006 through 2010 water years can be accessed at https://

wdr.water.usgs.gov/ (U.S. Geological Survey, 2006b–2010). 

Beginning in water year 2011, discrete water-quality data were 

no longer published annually but can be accessed in the NWIS 

database at https://nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov/mo/nwis/qwdata.

In addition to the AWQMN stations, select data collected as part of other cooperative efforts also are included in 

this report to help summarize water-quality conditions across 

the State. Water samples also are collected by the USGS at 

two USGS National Stream Quality Assessment Network 

(NASQAN; a national water-quality sampling network 
2 Quality of Surface Water in Missouri, Water Year 2016

operated by the USGS, see https://cida.usgs.gov/quality/rivers/

home) stations. The USGS, in cooperation with the U.S. Army 

Corps of Engineers, routinely collects suspended-sediment 

concentration data and various particle-size distribution data 

on the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. These data assist with 

sediment transport and navigable channel assessments along 

these larger rivers. Sediment samples are collected at seven 

USGS streamflow-gaging stations within Missouri, but only 

the four stations where water-quality data also are collected 

were used for this report. The suspended-sediment concentration data in this report is provided for comparison to the 

State’s total suspended solids criteria.

The purpose of this report is to summarize surface-water 

quality data collected by the MDNR–USGS cooperative 

AWQMN for water year 2016. The annual summary of select 

constituents provides MDNR with current information to 

assess the quality of surface water within the State and ensure 

the objectives of the AWQMN are being met. This report 

is one in a series of annual summaries (Otero-Benitez and 

Davis, 2009a, 2009b; Barr, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015; 

Barr and Schneider, 2014; Barr and Heimann, 2016). Data on 

the physical characteristics and water-quality constituents in 

samples collected during the 2016 water year are presented in 

figures and tables for 71 surface-water stations—69 AWQMN 

stations and 2 NASQAN stations among which are 4 stations 

with suspended-sediment data collected in cooperation with 

the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The 71 stations presented 

were classified into groups corresponding to the physiographic 

regions of the State (fig. 1), primary land use and land cover 

(fig. 2), or unique station classes and types (fig. 1). Data used 

to generate information for this report as well as other data not 

included are available from the NWIS database (U.S. Geological Survey, 2017). 

The Ambient Water-Quality Monitoring 

Network

The objectives of the AWQMN are to (1) obtain data 

on the quality and quantity of surface water within the State; 

(2) provide a historical database of water-quality information 

that can be used by the State planning and management agencies to make informed decisions about anthropogenic effects 

(such as agriculture, mining, and urban) on the State’s surface 

waters; and (3) provide for consistent methodology in data 

collection, laboratory analysis, and data reporting. Constituent concentration data from the AWQMN have been used to 

determine statewide water-quality status and long-term trends 

for a 15-year period (Barr and Davis, 2010) to meet information needs of State agencies involved in water-quality planning 

and management. The data collected also provide support for 

the design, implementation, and evaluation of preventive and 

remediation programs.

The MDNR and the USGS established a fixed-station 

AWQMN in 1964 with 18 stations, 5 of which are being 

sampled currently (2016). The number of stations within the 

AWQMN has varied since its inception because of changes in 

the State’s needs. During water year 2016, the AWQMN program consisted of 72 stations (71 primary stations and 1 alternate station). Alternate sampling stations have been established 

at streamflow-gaging stations near some primary AWQMN 

stations, and one such station, Drywood Creek near Deerfield, 

Missouri (06917680), was sampled in October 2015 and September 2016 because of dry conditions at East Drywood Creek 

at Prairie State Park, Missouri (06917630). Sampling frequency 

at each station is determined by several factors, including 

drainage basin size, potential effects from anthropogenic activities (such as agriculture, mining, and urban), history of chemical change, need for annual data, and cost. Each of the streams 

in the AWQMN is classified for one or more designated uses. 

For specific information on the designated uses applicable to 

the streams sampled in the AWQMN, refer to Missouri Department of Natural Resources (2014a; 2014b).

The unique eight-digit number used by the USGS to 

identify each surface-water station is assigned when a station 

is first established. The complete eight-digit number for each 

station includes a two-digit prefix that designates the primary 

river system (05 is the Upper Mississippi River, 06 is the 

Missouri River, and 07 is the Lower Mississippi River) plus a 

six-digit downstream-order number; for example, the station 

number 05587455 indicates the station is in the Upper Mississippi River system (05), and the remaining six digits (587455) 

locate the station in downstream order. In this system, the 

station numbers increase downstream along the main stem. A 

station on a tributary that enters between two main stem stations is assigned a station number between them.

Methods used for collecting and processing representative water-quality samples are presented in U.S. Geological 

Survey (variously dated). Onsite measurements of dissolved 

oxygen, specific conductance, and water temperature were 

collected at each station according to procedures described 

in Wilde (variously dated). Samples were collected, analyzed 

for fecal indicator bacteria (Escherichia coli and fecal coliform), and processed using the membrane filtration procedure 

described in Myers and others (2014). Methods used by the 

USGS for collecting and processing representative samples 

for nutrients, primary chemical constituents, trace elements, 

suspended solids, suspended sediment, and pesticide analyses 

are presented in detail in U.S. Geological Survey (2006a), Guy 

(1969), and Wilde and others (2004). All chemical analyses 

were done by the USGS National Water Quality Laboratory 

(NWQL) in Lakewood, Colorado, according to procedures 

described in Garbarino and others (2006), Fishman (1993), 

Patton and Kryskalla (2011), Patton and Truitt (1992), Sandstrom and others (2001 and 2015), and Zaugg and others 

(1995). Suspended-sediment concentrations were computed 

according to procedures described in Guy (1969).
Universal Transverse Mercator projection, zone 15Horizontal coordinate information referenced to theNorth American Datum of 1983

0 30 60 15 MILES

0 20 40 60 KILOMETERS

95° 94° 93° 92° 91° 90°

40°39°38°37°36°

06896187

07052345

07022000

07189100

07188885 07188838

05495000

06898100

06817700

05500000

06818000 06902000

06905500

06906300

06821190

06934500

06926510

07018100

07014500

06918070

06921070

07036100

07021020

07052152

07186600 07052250

07067500

07052500

07071000

07071500 07057500 07189000

07186480

07068510

07068000

07066110

07061600

07057750

07053900

07052820

07050150

07046250

07042450

07037300

07019280 07016400

07014200

07014000 06930800

06930450

06928440

06923700

06921590

06918600

06905725

06900900

06900100

06899950

06899580

05587455

06898800

07188653

05497150

05496000

06894100

07187000

07185764

07020550

06927850

06896187

07052345

07022000

07189100

07188885 07188838

05495000

06898100

06817700

05500000

06818000 06902000

06905500

06906300

06821190

06934500

06926510

07018100

07014500

06918070

06921070

07036100

07021020

07052152

07186600 07052250

07067500

07052500

07071000

07071500 07057500 07189000

07186480

07068510

07068000

07066110

07061600

07057750

07053900

07052820

07050150

07046250

07042450

07037300

07019280 07016400

07014200

07014000 06930800

06930450

06928440

06923700

06921590

06918600

06905725

06900900

06900100

06899950

06899580

05587455

06898800

07188653

05497150

05496000

06894100

07187000

07185764

07020550

06927850

Missouri

River

Mississippi

River

#

#

#

'

'

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$

$

$

$

#

#

# "

"

"

"

!

!

!

!

!

$

$

$ $

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$ $

$

$

$

$

$

"

"

""

"

"

"

" "

"

"

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$$ $

$

$

$

$$

$

$

"

"

'

"

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Big River (BRM

and BRMO

Mining (MINIMississippi Al

Dissected Till Dissected Till 

agriculture 

Ozark Plateau

agriculture 

Ozark Plateau

forest and 

Ozark Plateau

forest (OZ

Springs (SPRIUrban (URBAUrban waters

Ambient Water-

(AWQMN) cnumber (055

Osage Plains Osage Plains 

(OSPL wi a

Central LowlaCoastal Plain Central LowlaOzark PlateauOzark Plateau

 Physiographic 

Fenneman (

!

#

"

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$$

$

#

''

""

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" Osage Plains 

"

06917630

" 06918060

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, 2011, 2014, 1:100,000 and 1:2,000,000 45

Figure 1. Location and class of selected stations and physiographic regions of Missouri, water year 2016. Modified from Barr and Heimann (2016).
4 Quality of Surface Water in Missouri, Water Year 2016

89°

90°

91°

92° 95° 94° 93°

40°

39°

38°

37°

36°

94°

Land-cover data modified from the U.S. Geological Survey

National Land Cover dataset 30-meter digital data, 2011;

reclassified to open water, urban, agriculture, and forest 

0 25 50 100 MILES

0 50 100 KILOMETERS Open water—Lakes and

major rivers

Agriculture

Urban Forest

EXPLANATION

Land use and land cover

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, 1991, 2001, 

1:100,000 and 1:2,000,000

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, zone 15

Figure 2. Land use and land cover in Missouri. Modified from Barr and Heimann (2016).
Station Classification for Data Analysis 5

Laboratory Reporting Conventions

The NWQL uses method reporting conventions (Childress and others, 1999) to establish the minimum concentration for which more than one qualitative measurement can 

be made. These reporting conventions are the minimum 

reporting level (MRL), the method detection level (MDL), 

and the laboratory reporting level (LRL). The MRL is defined 

by the NWQL as the smallest measured concentration of a 

substance that can be measured reliably using a given analytical method. The MDL is the minimum concentration of a 

substance that can be measured and reported with 99 percent 

confidence that the concentration is greater than zero. A longterm method detection level (LT–MDL) is a detection level 

obtained by determining the standard deviation of 24 or more 

MDL spiked-sample measurements for an extended period. 

The LRL is computed as twice the LT–MDL. Pesticide data in 

this report that are not reported as less than (<) the LRL and 

are graphically displayed below the LRL are estimated values 

(Childress and others, 1999) and not considered detections.

Surface Water-Quality Data Analysis 

Methods

The distribution of select constituent data was displayed 

graphically using side-by-side boxplots (box and whiskers distributions; Helsel and Hirsch, 2002). The plots show the center 

of the data (median, the center line of the boxplot), the variation (interquartile range [25th to 75th percentiles] or the height 

of the box), the skewness (quartile skew, which is the relative 

size of the box halves), the spread (upper and lower adjacent 

values are the vertical lines or whiskers), and the presence or 

absence of unusual values or outliers. If the median equals 

the 25th and 75th percentiles, the boxplot is represented by a 

single horizontal line. Boxplots with censored data (suspended 

solids, dissolved nitrate plus nitrite as nitrogen, total phosphorus, and dissolved and total recoverable lead and zinc) were 

modified by making the lower limit of the box equal to the 

MRL or LT–MDL as appropriate. For pesticide concentration 

distributions, censored concentrations (reported as less than 

the LRL) were included in each distribution as a concentration 

value equal to the LRL. For some samples, pesticide concentrations are reported as estimated values (Childress and others, 

1999), which are included in the distribution as a concentration that is plotted below the LRL and above the LT–MDL. All 

data used to generate the boxplots can be obtained from the 

NWIS database (U.S. Geological Survey, 2017). These data 

can be compiled by the public from NWIS using search criteria such as USGS station identifiers (table 1) and the desired 

date range. 

Station Classification for Data Analysis

The stations primarily were classified in groups corresponding to the physiography of the State (fig. 1), primary 

land use and coverage (fig. 2), or unique station classes and 

types (fig. 1). The physiography-based groups include the 

Dissected Till Plains (DTPL) in the north, the Osage Plains 

(OSPL) in the west-central, the Mississippi Alluvial Plain 

(MIALPL) in the southeast, and the Ozark Plateaus in the 

middle and southwest. The Ozark Plateaus (Fenneman, 1938) 

were further subdivided into two distinct groups based on 

physiographic location—the Salem Plateau (OZPLSA) and 

the Springfield Plateau (OZPLSP) (fig. 1). Primary land use 

and cover considered for station classification included agriculture, forest, urban, and mining, but mining is not shown 

at the scale of the map (fig. 2). Station classes specifically 

designated by land-use groups include mining (MINING) and 

urban (URBAN) stations, whereas station classes designated 

with unique station types refer to springs (SPRING) and the 

stations on the Mississippi River (BRMIG and BRMIT) and 

the Missouri River (BRMOSJ, BRMOS, and BRMOH), also 

referred to in this report as the “Big River stations” (fig. 1).

Some additional variability caused by differences in 

drainage area and land use was observed within physiographic 

regions; therefore, contributing drainage area (table 1) and 

land-use indicators were used to develop a complete set of 

classes. The land-use indicator provides a subclassification 

for stations in similar regions with different land uses (fig. 1; 

table 2). The land-use indicators include watershed indicator 

stations (wi), which are the most downstream stations in a 

large watershed and are defined for the purposes of this report 

as having a drainage area greater than 1,000 square miles, 

and the secondary land-use and coverage indicator stations, 

forest (fo), agriculture (ag), and prairie (pr). Unlike data from 

secondary land-use and coverage indicator stations, observations and analyses from watershed indicator stations can be 

interpreted as being representative of the general condition 

of the watershed rather than affected by a specific land use or 

coverage. In some instances, agriculture and forest land uses 

were present; therefore, the convention was to mention them 

in predominant order. The agriculture and forest (ag/fo) landuse indicator, for example, implies that the primary land use of 

the watershed is agriculture, although a substantial part of the 

land coverage is forest.

Three stations from the AWQMN did not fit in the station 

classes defined for this report (table 2) and were not included. 

The three excluded stations were Cuivre River near Troy, 

Missouri (05514500) and Lamine River near Pilot Grove, 

Missouri (06907300), both within the Ozark Plateaus Province, and Lake Taneycomo at Branson, Missouri (07053700), 

a station on a semi-riverine system downstream from a major 

impoundment.
6 Quality of Surface Water in Missouri, Water Year 2016

Table 1. U.S. Geological Survey station number, name, contributing drainage area, sampling frequency, and station class and type of 

74 selected stations, water year 2016.

[Water year 2016 is defined as October 1, 2015, through September 30, 2016. USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; mi2, square mile; DTPL, Dissected Till Plains; ag, 

agriculture; --, not available; BRMIG, Big River—Mississippi River below Grafton, Illinois; wi, watershed indicator; BRMOSJ, Big River—Missouri River at 

St. Joseph, Missouri; BRMOS, Big River—Missouri River at Sibley, Missouri; MINING, mining; OSPL, Osage Plains; pr, prairie; OZPLSP, Ozark Plateaus—

Springfield Plateau; fo, forest; OZPLSA, Ozark Plateaus—Salem Plateau--, not applicable; SPRING, spring; BRMOH, Big River—Missouri River at Hermann, 

Missouri; URBAN, urban; BRMIT, Big River—Mississippi River at Thebes, Illinois; MIALPL, Mississippi Alluvial Plain]

USGS station 

number

(figs. 1 and 3)

Station namea

Contributing 

drainage area

(mi2)

Water year 

2016 sampling 

frequency

Station

class and type 

(fig. 1; table 2)

05495000 Fox River at Wayland, Missouri 400 6 DTPL ag

05496000 Wyaconda River above Canton, Missouri 393 6 DTPL ag

05497150 North Fabius River near Ewing, Missouri 471 6 DTPL ag

05500000 South Fabius River near Taylor, Missouri 620 12 DTPL ag

05514500b Cuivre River near Troy, Missouri 903 6 --

05587455c Mississippi River below Grafton, Illinois 171,300 12 BRMIG

06817700 Nodaway River near Graham, Missouri 1,520 6 DTPL wi ag

06818000c Missouri River at St. Joseph, Missouri 426,500 12 BRMOSJ

06821190 Platte River at Sharps Station, Missouri 2,380 6 DTPL wi ag

06894100 Missouri River at Sibley, Missouri 426,500 12 BRMOS

06896187 Middle Fork Grand River near Grant City, Missouri 82.4 6 DTPL ag

06898100 Thompson River at Mount Moriah, Missouri 891 8 DTPL ag

06898800 Weldon River near Princeton, Missouri 452 7 DTPL ag

06899580 No Creek near Dunlap, Missouri 34 10 DTPL ag

06899950 Medicine Creek near Harris, Missouri 192 12 DTPL ag

06900100 Little Medicine Creek near Harris, Missouri 66.5 12 DTPL ag

06900900 Locust Creek near Unionville, Missouri 77.5 11 DTPL ag

06902000 Grand River near Sumner, Missouri 6,880 12 DTPL wi ag

06905500 Chariton River near Prairie Hill, Missouri 1,870 6 DTPL wi ag

06905725 Mussel Fork near Mystic, Missouri 24 9 DTPL ag

06906300 East Fork Little Chariton River near Huntsville, Missouri 220 6 MINING

06907300b Lamine River near Pilot Grove, Missouri 949 9 --

06917630 East Drywood Creek at Prairie State Park, Missouri 3.38 6 OSPL pr

06917680d Drywood Creek near Deerfield, Missouri 358 2 OSPL ag

06918070 Osage River above Schell City, Missouri 5,410 6 OSPL wi ag

06918600 Little Sac River near Walnut Grove, Missouri 119 12 OZPLSP ag/fo

06921070 Pomme de Terre River near Polk, Missouri 276 9 OZPLSA fo/ag

06921590 South Grand River at Archie, Missouri 356 6 OSPL ag

06923700 Niangua River at Bennett Spring, Missouri 441 6 OZPLSA fo/ag

06926510 Osage River below St. Thomas, Missouri 14,580 6 OZPLSA wi fo/ag

06927850 Osage Fork of the Gasconade River near Lebanon, Missouri 43.6 6 OZPLSA fo/ag

06928440 Roubidoux Spring at Waynesville, Missouri -- 6 SPRING

06930450 Big Piney River at Devil’s Elbow, Missouri 746 9 OZPLSA fo/ag

06930800 Gasconade River above Jerome, Missouri 2,570 12 OZPLSA wi fo/ag

06934500c,e Missouri River at Hermann, Missouri 522,500 14 BRMOH

07014000 Huzzah Creek near Steelville, Missouri 259 6 OZPLSA fo/ag

07014200 Courtois Creek at Berryman, Missouri 173 6 OZPLSA fo/ag

07014500 Meramec River near Sullivan, Missouri 1,475 12 OZPLSA wi fo/ag

07016400 Bourbeuse River above Union, Missouri 808 9 OZPLSA fo/ag

07018100 Big River near Richwoods, Missouri 735 10 MINING

07019280 Meramec River at Paulina Hills, Missouri 3,920 11 URBAN wi

07020550 South Fork Saline Creek near Perryville, Missouri 55.3 6 OZPLSA fo/ag
Station Classification for Data Analysis 7

Table 1. U.S. Geological Survey station number, name, contributing drainage area, sampling frequency, and station class and type of 

74 selected stations, water year 2016.—Continued

[Water year 2016 is defined as October 1, 2015, through September 30, 2016. USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; mi2, square mile; DTPL, Dissected Till Plains; ag, 

agriculture; --, not available; BRMIG, Big River—Mississippi River below Grafton, Illinois; wi, watershed indicator; BRMOSJ, Big River—Missouri River at 

St. Joseph, Missouri; BRMOS, Big River—Missouri River at Sibley, Missouri; MINING, mining; OSPL, Osage Plains; pr, prairie; OZPLSP, Ozark Plateaus—

Springfield Plateau; fo, forest; OZPLSA, Ozark Plateaus—Salem Plateau--, not applicable; SPRING, spring; BRMOH, Big River—Missouri River at Hermann, 

Missouri; URBAN, urban; BRMIT, Big River—Mississippi River at Thebes, Illinois; MIALPL, Mississippi Alluvial Plain]

USGS station 

number

(figs. 1 and 3)

Station namea

Contributing 

drainage area

(mi2

)

Water year 

2016 sampling 

frequency

Station

class and type 

(fig. 1; table 2)

07021020 Castor River at Greenbriar, Missouri 423 6 OZPLSA fo/ag

07022000c, e Mississippi River at Thebes, Illinois 713,200 14 BRMIT

07036100 St. Francis River near Saco, Missouri 664 9 OZPLSA fo/ag

07037300 Big Creek at Sam A. Baker State Park, Missouri 189 6 OZPLSA fo/ag

07042450 St. Johns Ditch at Henderson Mound, Missouri 313 7 MIALPL

07046250 Little River Ditches near Rives, Missouri 1,620 12 MIALPL

07050150 Roaring River Spring at Cassville, Missouri -- 6 OZPLSP ag/fo

07052152 Wilson Creek near Brookline, Missouri 51 12 URBAN

07052250 James River near Boaz, Missouri 462 6 URBAN

07052345 Finley Creek below Riverdale, Missouri 261 12 OZPLSP ag/fo

07052500 James River at Galena, Missouri 987 12 URBAN

07052820 Flat Creek below Jenkins, Missouri 274 12 OZPLSP ag/fo

07053700b Lake Taneycomo at Branson, Missouri -- 6 --

07053900 Swan Creek near Swan, Missouri 148 6 OZPLSA fo/ag

07057500 North Fork River near Tecumseh, Missouri 561 6 OZPLSA fo/ag

07057750 Bryant Creek below Evans, Missouri 214 6 OZPLSA fo/ag

07061600 Black River below Annapolis, Missouri 493 8 OZPLSA fo/ag

07066110 Jacks Fork above Two River, Missouri 425 12 OZPLSA fo/ag

07067500 Big Spring near Van Buren, Missouri -- 4 SPRING

07068000 Current River at Doniphan, Missouri 2,040 12 OZPLSA wi fo/ag

07068510 Little Black River below Fairdealing, Missouri 194 6 OZPLSA fo/ag

07071000 Greer Spring at Greer, Missouri -- 3 SPRING

07071500 Eleven Point River near Bardley, Missouri 793 6 OZPLSA fo/ag

07185764 Spring River above Carthage, Missouri 425 12 OZPLSP ag/fo

07186480 Center Creek near Smithfield, Missouri 303 9 MINING

07188653 Big Sugar Creek near Powell, Missouri 141 12 OZPLSP ag/fo

07186600 Turkey Creek near Joplin, Missouri 41.8 9 URBAN

07187000 Shoal Creek above Joplin, Missouri 427 12 OZPLSP ag/fo

07188838 Little Sugar Creek near Pineville, Missouri 195 12 OZPLSP ag/fo

07188885 Indian Creek near Lanagan, Missouri 239 12 OZPLSP ag/fo

07189000 Elk River near Tiff City, Missouri 872 12 OZPLSP ag/fo

07189100 Buffalo Creek at Tiff City, Missouri 60.8 12 OZPLSP ag/fo

a

Station names were obtained from the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Information System database: https://nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov/mo/nwis/qwdata.

b

Station data are not included in this report because this station does not fit within the classification system used for this report.

c

Additional water temperature and suspended-sediment samples were collected at this station in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

d

This station was sampled as an alternate station when East Drywood Creek at Prairie State Park, Missouri (06901870), was dry.

e

Stations 06934500 and 07022000 are not part of the Ambient Water-Quality Monitoring Network but were used in this report. Stations 06934500 and 

07022000 are funded by the U.S. Geological Survey National Stream Quality Assessment Network.
8 Quality of Surface Water in Missouri, Water Year 2016

Hydrologic Conditions

Surface-water streamflow varies seasonally in Missouri 

and tends to reflect precipitation patterns. During water year 

2016, the average annual precipitation of the conterminous 

United States was 3.80 inches (in.) greater than the 20th century average of 31.07 in. (National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 2018a). Total precipitation across Missouri 

during water year 2016 was 51.52 in., which was greater 

than the 20th century State precipitation average of 40.79 in. 

(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2018b).

The selection of streamflow-gaging stations (hereinafter 

referred to as “streamgages”) used to describe the variation 

in hydrologic conditions was based on their geographical 

distribution across the State and a period of record of at least 

45 years. This summary of statewide hydrologic condition 

data or the current (2016) water year in comparison to historical conditions is a legacy of information that was previously 

provided in the annual Water-Data Reports (U.S. Geological 

Survey, 1964–2005). Stations with streamgages used for the 

hydrologic summary are identified in figure 3.

Six streamgages distributed throughout the State were 

selected to compare water year 2016 monthly mean streamflow to the long-term mean monthly streamflow (fig. 4). 

Monthly mean streamflow is the arithmetic mean of daily 

streamflow for a given month. For comparison to water year 

2016, a long-term mean was attained from all monthly mean 

streamflows for the available period of record. Of these six 

streamgages, three (05495000, 06921590, and 07052500) are 

part of the AWQMN and the remaining three streamgages 

(06897500, 06933500, and 07067000) only record streamflow and are not part of the AWQMN (table 1; figs. 3 and 4). 

Monthly mean streamflows for water year 2016 were higher 

than the long-term mean from November 2015 through January 2016 for all six streamgages (fig. 4). Missouri experienced 

high precipitation during this period, and many streamgages 

Table 2. Station classes and number of stations in each class and type, water year 2016.

[Classification system is based on physiography of the State, primary and secondary land use and coverage, unique station type, and 

drainage area, as well as a station’s representativeness to the general condition of the watershed. See the “Station Classification for Data 

Analysis” section of this report for the full explanation of station classes and types]

Station class and type (fig. 1) Number of stations 

Abbreviation Definition (table 1)

BRMIG Big River—Mississippi River below Grafton, llinois 1

BRMIT Big River—Mississippi River at Thebes, Illinois 1

BRMOSJ Big River—Missouri River at St. Joseph, Missouri 1

BRMOS Big River—Missouri River at Sibley, Missouri 1

BRMOH Big River—Missouri River at Hermann, Missouri 1

MIALPL Mississippi Alluvial Plain 2a

OZPLSA fo/ag Ozark Plateaus—Salem Plateau forest and agriculture 18

OZPLSA wi fo/ag Ozark Plateaus—Salem Plateau watershed indicator, forest and agriculture 4

OZPLSP ag/fo Ozark Plateaus—Springfield Plateau agriculture and forest 11

DTPL ag Dissected Till Plains agriculture 12

DTPL wi ag Dissected Till Plains watershed indicator, agriculture 4

OSPL ag Osage Plains agriculture 2

OSPL wi ag Osage Plains watershed indicator, agriculture 1

OSPL pr Osage Plains prairie 1

SPRING Springs 3

MINING Mining 3

URBAN Urban 4

URBAN wi Urban watershed indicator 1

a

One station in this class, Little River Ditches near Rives, Missouri (07046250), has a drainage area greater than 1,000 square miles but 

is not considered a watershed indicator station because the manmade canals and ditches within its drainage area are not connected hydrologically.
Hydrologic Conditions 9

measured new record streamflows or near record-high streamflows and flooding conditions (table 3). During the remainder 

of the 2016 water year, the monthly means were similar to 

the long-term mean streamflows. Two sites (06897500 and 

07067000) had larger streamflow in May 2016 than the longterm mean streamflow.

Peak streamflow values for nine streamgages are presented in table 3. During water year 2016, two streamgages 

(06933500 and 07022000) recorded peak streamflows that 

exceeded the long-term period of record, creating new peak 

streamflows. The 7-day low flow for the period of record and 

water year 2016, and the minimum daily mean flow for the 

period of record, are presented for selected stations in table 4. 

The 7-day low flow (the smallest values of mean streamflow 

computed during any 7-consecutive days during the analysis 

period) and minimum daily mean flows recorded during water 

year 2016 were not less than historical records for the stations 

(table 4).

0 50 100 MILES

0 50 100 KILOMETERS

07067000

07052500

06921590

06933500

05495000

06897500

07019000

06820500

07016500

05587450

06905500

06934500

07022000 07187000

06921070

07068000 07057500

EXPLANATION

Streamflow-gaging station and station number

Streamflow-gaging and water-quality station and station number 

96° 95° 94° 93° 92° 91° 90° 89°

39°

38°

37°

36°

40°

06897500

05495000

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, 1991, 2001, 

1:100,000 and 1:2,000,000

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, zone 15

Figure 3. Location of selected streamflow-gaging stations used for summary of hydrologic conditions 

within Missouri, water year 2016. Modified from Barr and Heimann (2016).
10 Quality of Surface Water in Missouri, Water Year 2016

0 50 100 MILES

0 50 100 KILOMETERS

07067000

07052500

06921590

06933500

05495000

06897500

Long-term mean monthly streamflow

Water year 2016 monthly mean streamflow

EXPLANATION

05495000 Fox River at Wayland, Missouri1 06897500 Grand River near Gallatin, Missouri

06921590 South Grand River at Archie, Missouri 06933500 Gasconade River at Jerome, Missouri

07052500 James River at Galena, Missouri1 07067000 Current River at Van Buren, Missouri

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1,000

Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep.

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

16,000

18,000

20,000

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

9,000

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

1

Station is part of the Ambient Water-Quality Monitoring Network

Streamflow, in cubic feet per second

Month

2015 2016 2015 2016

Figure 4. Monthly mean streamflow for water year 2016 and long-term mean monthly streamflow at six representative 

streamflow-gaging stations in Missouri.
Hydrologic Conditions 11

Table 3. Peak streamflow for water year 2016 and periods of record for selected streamflow-gaging stations.

[Water year 2016 is defined as October 1, 2015, through September 30, 2016. USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; ft3/s, cubic foot per second]

USGS 

station numbera

(figs. 1 and 3)

Station nameb

 (period of record in water years)

Water year 2016 Long-term period of record

Peak

streamflow

(ft3/s)

Date

Peak

streamflow

(ft3/s)

Date

05495000 Fox River at Wayland, Missouri (1922–2016) 6,230 Dec. 14, 2015 26,400 Apr. 22, 1973

05587450 Mississippi River at Grafton, Illinois (1987–2016) 412,000 Dec. 30, 2015 598,000 Aug. 1, 1993

06905500 Chariton River near Prairie Hill, Missouri (1929–2016) 25,200 Dec 14, 2015 38,400 July 27, 2008

06933500 Gasconade River at Jerome, Missouri (1903–2016) 140,000 Dec. 29, 2015 140,000 Dec. 29, 2015

06934500 Missouri River at Hermann, Missouri (1958–2016) 468,000 Dec. 29, 2015 750,000 July 31, 1993

07019000 Meramec River near Eureka, Missouri (1904–2016) 162,000 Dec. 30, 2015 175,000 Aug. 22,1915

07022000 Mississippi River at Thebes, Illinois (1933–2016) 1,050,000 Jan. 2, 2016 1,050,000 Jan. 2, 2016

07057500 North Fork River near Tecumseh, Missouri (1945–2016) 53,700 Dec 28, 2015 133,000 Nov. 19, 1985

07068000 Current River at Doniphan, Missouri (1921–2016) 81,400 Dec 30, 2015 122,000 Dec. 3, 1982

a

Stations 05587450, 06933500, and 07019000 are streamflow-gaging stations only and are not part of the Ambient Water-Quality Monitoring Network.

b

Station names were obtained from the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Information System database: https://nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov/mo/nwis/qwdata.

Table 4. Seven-day low flow for water year 2016, period of record 7-day low flow, minimum daily mean streamflow for water year 2016, 

and period of record minimum daily mean streamflow for selected streamflow-gaging stations in Missouri.

[Water year 2016 defined as October 1, 2015, through September 30, 2016; USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; ft3/s, cubic foot per second]

USGS 

station numbera

(figs. 1 and 3)

Station nameb

 (period of record in water years)

7-day low flow

(ft3/s)

Minimum daily mean streamflow

(ft3/s)

Water year 

2016

Period of 

record

Water year 

2016

Period of 

record Date

05495000 Fox River at Wayland, Missouri (1922–2016) 4.16 0 3.10 0 Sept. 10, 1930

06820500 Platte River near Agency, Missouri (1933–2016) 214 0 200 0 July 19, 1934

06921070 Pomme de Terre River near Polk, Missouri (1969–2016) 14.2 0.21 12.70 0.17 Aug. 13, 2012

07016500 Bourbeuse River near Union, Missouri (1921–2016) 36.9 13 36.5 12 Oct. 10, 1956

07067000 Current River at Van Buren, Missouri (1912–2016) 946 479 940 476 Oct. 8, 1956

07187000 Shoal Creek above Joplin, Missouri (1942–2016) 123.6 16 117.0 15 Sept. 7, 1954

a

Stations 06820500, 07016500, and 07067000 are streamflow-gaging stations only and are not part of the Ambient Water-Quality Monitoring Network 

(AWQMN).

b

Station names were obtained from the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Information System database: https://nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov/mo/nwis/qwdata.
12 Quality of Surface Water in Missouri, Water Year 2016

Distribution, Concentration, and 

Detection Frequency of Select 

Constituents

The analyses presented in this report include the following constituents: dissolved oxygen, specific conductance, 

water temperature, suspended solids, suspended sediment, 

Escherichia coli bacteria, fecal coliform bacteria, dissolved 

nitrate plus nitrite as nitrogen (hereinafter referred to as 

“nitrate plus nitrite”), total phosphorus, and dissolved and 

total recoverable lead and zinc. Boxplots of these constituents 

are presented for the different station classes (figs. 5–8). In 

addition, pesticide data were analyzed from seven stations 

from six classes (fig. 9). Three Big River stations and classes 

(05587455 in class BRMIG; 06934500 in class BRMOH; 

and 07022000 in class BRMIT) had pesticide analyses 

completed as part of the NASQAN program, which began 

using an experimental method for pesticide analyses during 

water year 2013 (Sandstrom and Wilde, 2014 and Sandstrom 

and others, 2015). Many constituents available using the 

experimental method were similar to the constituents available with traditional pesticide sampling methods used for the 

AWQMN stations (06918070 in class OSPL wi ag; 07042450 

and 07046250 in class MIALPL; 07052250 in class URBAN; 

fig. 1; table 1), but some have different LRLs because of the 

experimental method (fig. 9). Of the 85 pesticide constituents 

analyzed for the AWQMN and the 228 pesticide constituents 

analyzed as part of the NASQAN program during water year 

2016, 18 had concentrations that were larger than their LRL in 

at least one sample, were common to both sampling methods, 

and are presented in this report: 2-chloro-4-isopropylamino6-amino-s-triazine (more commonly referred to as CIAT, a 

degradation product of atrazine), acetochlor, alachlor, atrazine, 

cyanazine, hexazinone, malathion, metalaxyl, metolachlor, 

metribuzin, pendamethalin, phorate, prometon, prometryn, 

propyzamide, simazine, tebuthiuron, and terbuthylazine 

(fig. 9). Missouri water-quality standards are not shown on 

the graphs because these standards are not applicable to all 

streams in the AWQMN. For specific information on Missouri water-quality standards, refer to Missouri Department of 

Natural Resources (2014b).

Distribution of Physical Properties, SuspendedSolids Concentration, Suspended-Sediment 

Concentration, and Fecal Indicator Bacteria 

Density

The physical properties analyzed for this report were dissolved oxygen, specific conductance, and water temperature. 

The median dissolved oxygen, in percent saturation, ranged 

from 73 to 104 percent (fig. 5). Samples from OSPL wi ag 

stations had the smallest median dissolved oxygen percent 

saturation values, whereas samples from URBAN stations had 

the largest median dissolved oxygen (fig. 5). Median specific 

conductance values varied substantially among the station 

classes (fig. 5), ranging from 110 microsiemens per centimeter 

at 25 degrees Celsius (μS/cm at 25 °C) at the OSPL pr station 

to 834 μS/cm at 25 °C at the BRMOSJ station. Median water 

temperature ranged from 9.6 to 18.5 degrees Celsius; the 

smallest median temperature was measured at the URBAN 

wi station, and the largest was measured at OSPL wi ag station (fig. 5). The interquartile range in water temperature at 

the SPRING stations was much smaller than for other station 

classes and types.

Suspended solids and suspended sediment are measures of the solid material suspended in the water column. 

These two measures are not considered directly comparable 

because of differences in collection and analytical techniques. 

Suspended-solids concentrations were determined for all station classes and types except BRMIT and BRMOH. Median 

suspended-solids concentrations varied considerably among 

all station classes, ranging from 15 to 164 milligrams per 

liter (mg/L; fig. 5). Samples collected at the OZPL (SA fo/

ag, SA wi fo/ag, and SP ag/fo), OSPL pr, SPRING, MINING, and URBAN stations had median concentrations at the 

MRL (15 mg/L). The BRMOS station had the largest median 

suspended-solids concentrations (164 mg/L). Suspendedsediment concentrations were determined at four Big River 

stations (fig. 5). The suspended-sediment data used in this 

report consist of composited cross-sectional concentrations and average cross-sectional concentrations computed 

from five depth-integrated samples within the cross section 

(Edwards and Glysson, 1999). Additional suspended-sediment 

concentrations from individual depth-integrated samples 

within cross sections are available through the NWIS database 

(https://nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov/mo/nwis/qwdata). Median 

suspended-sediment concentrations ranged from 140 mg/L at 

BRMIG to 348 mg/L at BRMOH (fig. 5).

Median Escherichia coli and fecal coliform bacteria 

densities varied considerably among all station classes and 

types (fig. 6). Median Escherichia coli bacteria density ranged 

from 6 to 1,050 colonies per 100 milliliters of water, and fecal 

coliform bacteria density ranged from 12 to 1,200 colonies per 

100 milliliters of water (fig. 6). The smallest median densities were in samples collected at SPRING stations, whereas 

the largest median densities were in samples collected at the 

BRMOS station (fig. 6).

Distribution of Dissolved Nitrate plus Nitrite and 

Total Phosphorus Concentrations

Samples were collected at all stations for the analysis of nutrients, including dissolved nitrate plus nitrite and 

total phosphorus. Median dissolved nitrate plus nitrite and 

total phosphorus concentrations varied considerably among 

all station classes and types (fig. 7), ranging from 0.04 to 

4.14 mg/L for nitrate plus nitrite and 0.02 to 0.38 mg/L for 

total phosphorus. The smallest median dissolved nitrate plus 
Distribution, Concentration, and Detection Frequency of Select Constituents 13

Number of samples 

EXPLANATION 

Upper adjacent

75th percentile

Median

25th percentile

Lower adjacent

Lower outlier

Upper outlier

12

Dissolved oxygen,

in percent saturation

Water temperature,

in degrees Celsius

Specific conductance, in microsiemens

per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius

Station classification system (table 2)

[number of stations in class]

BRMIG [1]

BRMIT [1]

BRMOSJ [1]

BRMOS [1]

BRMOH [1]

MIALPL [2]

OZPLSA fo/ag [18]

OZPLSA wi fo/ag [4]

OZPLSP ag/fo [12]

DTPL ag [12]

DTPL wi ag [4]

OSPL ag [2]

OSPL wi ag [1]

SPRING [3]

MINING [3]

URBAN [4]

URBAN wi [1]

150

125

100

75

50

200

1,000

500

0

1,500

0

10

20

30

OSPL pr [1]

15 16 12 12 14 21 129 44 128 107 31 8 6 4 13 24 42 18

15 16 12 12 14 21 129 44 128 107 31 8 6 4 13 24 42 18

28 18 39 12 19 21 129 44 128 107 31 8 6 4 13 24 42 18

Figure 5. Distribution of physical properties, suspended-solids concentrations, and suspended-sediment 

concentrations in samples from 71 stations, water year 2016.
14 Quality of Surface Water in Missouri, Water Year 2016

Number of samples 

EXPLANATION 

Upper adjacent

75th percentile

Median

25th percentile

Lower adjacent

Lower outlier

Upper outlier

12

Suspended sediment,

in milligrams per liter

Suspended solids,

in milligrams per liter

Minimum reporting level 

Station classification system (table 2)

[number of stations in class]

BRMIG [1]

BRMIT [1]

BRMOSJ [1]

BRMOS [1]

BRMOH [1]

MIALPL [2]

OZPLSA fo/ag [18]

OZPLSA wi fo/ag [4]

OZPLSP ag/fo [11]

DTPL ag [12]

DTPL wi ag [4]

OSPL ag [2]

OSPL wi ag [1]

SPRING [3]

MINING [3]

URBAN [4]

URBAN wi [1]

OSPL pr [1]

10

100

1,000

10,000

10

100

1,000

10,000

14 0 12 12 0 19 129 41 128 102 30 8 6 4 13 24 42 12

29 18 28 0 18 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Minimum reporting level = 15

Figure 5. Distribution of physical properties, suspended-solids concentrations, and suspendedsediment concentrations in samples from 71 stations, water year 2016.—Continued
Distribution, Concentration, and Detection Frequency of Select Constituents 15

Number of samples 

EXPLANATION 

Upper adjacent

75th percentile

Median

25th percentile

Lower adjacent

Lower outlier

Upper outlier

12

Escherichia coli indicator bacteria,

in colonies per 100 milliliters

of water

Fecal coliform indicator bacteria, 

in colonies per 100 milliliters

of water

Station classification system (table 2)

[number of stations in class]

BRMIG [1]

BRMIT [1]

BRMOSJ [1]

BRMOS [1]

BRMOH [1]

MIALPL [2]

OZPLSA fo/ag [18]

OZPLSA wi fo/ag [4]

OZPLSP ag/fo [11]

DTPL ag [12]

DTPL wi ag [4]

OSPL ag [2]

OSPL wi ag [1]

SPRING [3]

MINING [3]

URBAN [4]

URBAN wi [1]

OSPL pr [1]

1

10

100

1,000

10,000

100,000

0.1

1

10

100

1,000

10,000

100,000

0.1

15 16 12 12 14 21 125 44 128 108 31 8 6 4 13 24 42 20

13 14 12 12 14 21 125 44 128 108 31 8 6 4 13 24 42 20

Figure 6. Distribution of fecal indicator bacteria density in samples from 71 stations, water year 2016.
16 Quality of Surface Water in Missouri, Water Year 2016

0.01

0.10

1.00

10.0

0.01

0.10

1.00

10.0

50.0

Dissolved nitrate plus nitrite as nitrogen,

in milligrams per liter Total phosphorus, in milligrams per liter

Number of samples 

EXPLANATION 

Upper adjacent

75th percentile

Median

25th percentile

Lower adjacent

Lower outlier

Upper outlier

12

Long-term method detection level = 0.04

Long-term method detection level = 0.02

Long-term method detection level 

BRMIG [1]

BRMIT [1]

BRMOSJ [1]

BRMOS [1]

BRMOH [1]

MIALPL [2]

OZPLSA fo/ag [18]

OZPLSA wi fo/ag [4]

OZPLSP ag/fo [11]

DTPL ag [12]

DTPL wi ag [4]

OSPL ag [2]

OSPL wi ag [1]

SPRING [3]

MINING [3]

URBAN [4]

URBAN wi [1]

OSPL pr [1]

Station classification system (table 2)

[number of stations in class]

14 16 12 12 14 19 129 43 128 102 31 8 6 4 13 24 42 17

14 16 12 12 14 19 129 43 128 102 31 8 6 4 13 24 42 17

Figure 7. Distribution of dissolved nitrate plus nitrite as nitrogen and total phosphorus 

concentrations in samples from 71 stations, water year 2016.
Distribution, Concentration, and Detection Frequency of Select Constituents 17

Figure 8. Distribution of 

dissolved and total recoverable 

lead and zinc concentrations 

from 71 stations, water year 

2016.

1.00

10.0

0.10

0.01

1.00

10.0

0.10

0.01

100

1

10

100

1,000

1

10

100

1,000

Station classification system (table 2)

[number of stations in class]

Number of samples 

EXPLANATION 

Upper adjacent

75th percentile

Median

25th percentile

Lower adjacent

Lower outlier

Upper outlier

12

Long-term method detection level = 0.04

Long-term method detection level = 0.04

Long-term method detection level = 2.0

Long-term method detection level = 2.0

Long-term method 

detection level 

Dissolved lead,

in micrograms per liter

Total recoverable lead,

in micrograms per liter

Dissoved zinc,

in micrograms per liter

Total recoverable zinc,

in micrograms per liter

BRMIG [1]

BRMIT [1]

BRMOSJ [1]

BRMOS [1]

BRMOH [1]

MIALPL [2]

OZPLSA fo/ag [18]

OZPLSA wi fo/ag [4]

OZPLSP ag/fo [11]

DTPL ag [12]

DTPL wi ag [4]

OSPL ag [2]

OSPL wi ag [1]

SPRING [3]

MINING [3]

URBAN [4]

URBAN wi [1]

OSPL pr [1]

5 0 4 4 0 7 42 14 42 36 10 3 3 1 5 8 13 4

5 0 4 4 0 7 42 14 42 36 10 3 3 1 5 8 13 4

5 0 4 4 0 7 42 14 42 36 10 3 3 1 5 8 13 4

5 0 4 4 0 7 42 14 42 36 10 3 3 1 5 8 13 4
18 Quality of Surface Water in Missouri, Water Year 2016

EXPLANATION

12/12

Laboratory reporting level (LRL)—Ambient 

Water-Quality Monitoring Network 

(AWQMN) collections. Concentrations 

less than LRL are estimated 

Sample

Number of detections/total number of 

samples

Laboratory reporting level (LRL)—U.S. 

Geological Survey National Stream 

Quality Assessment Network (NASQAN) 

collections. Concentrations less than 

LRL are estimated 

 

 

0.001

0.01

0.1

1.0

0.001

0.01

0.1

1.0

10.0

BRMIG BRMIT BRMOH MIALPL OSPL wi ag URBAN

Concentration, in micrograms per liter

2-Chloro-4-isopropylamino-6-amino-s-triazine (CIAT)

Laboratory reporting level = 0.01 (AWQMN & NASQAN)

Laboratory reporting level = 0.007 Laboratory reporting level = 0.008 

Laboratory reporting level = 0.007 Laboratory reporting level = 0.008 

Acetochlor 

Atrazine

Station classification system (table 2)

Laboratory reporting level = 0.011 Laboratory reporting level = 0.01 

15/15 16/16 14/14 7/12 6/6 3/6

14/15 16/16 9/14 9/12 3/6 1/6

15/15 16/16 14/14 9/12 6/6 4/6

Alachlor

10/15 13/16 9/14 0/12 0/6 1/6

0.001

0.01

0.1

0.001

0.01

0.1

1.0

10.0

100

Figure 9. Detection of select pesticides from selected stations, water year 2016.
Distribution, Concentration, and Detection Frequency of Select Constituents 19

EXPLANATION

12/12

Laboratory reporting level (LRL)—Ambient 

Water-Quality Monitoring Network 

(AWQMN) collections. Concentrations 

less than LRL are estimated 

Sample

Number of detections/total number of 

samples

Laboratory reporting level (LRL)—U.S. 

Geological Survey National Stream 

Quality Assessment Network (NASQAN) 

collections. Concentrations less than 

LRL are estimated 

BRMIG BRMIT BRMOH MIALPL OSPL wi ag URBAN

Concentration, in micrograms per liter

Hexazinone

Laboratory reporting level = 0.006 Laboratory reporting level = 0.014 

Station classification system (table 2)

Metalaxyl

0.01

0.1

0.001

Malathion

0.01

1.0

0.1

0.001

10.0

0.01

0.1

1.0

Cyanazine

Laboratory reporting level = 0.050 Laboratory reporting level = 0.022 

3/15 4/16 2/14 0/12 0/6 0/6

Laboratory reporting level = 0.0036 Laboratory reporting level = 0.012

Laboratory reporting level = 0.0054 Laboratory reporting level = 0.016 

0/15 0/16 2/14 0/12 0/6 0/6

8/15 6/16 6/14 1/12 0/6 0/6

0.001

0.01

0.1

1.0

0.0001

10.0

1/15 2/16 2/14 3/3 2/2 1/2

Figure 9. Detection of select pesticides from selected stations, water year 2016.—Continued
20 Quality of Surface Water in Missouri, Water Year 2016

EXPLANATION

12/12

Laboratory reporting level (LRL)—Ambient 

Water-Quality Monitoring Network 

(AWQMN) collections. Concentrations less 

than LRL are estimated 

Sample

Number of detections/total number of 

samples

Laboratory reporting level (LRL)—U.S. 

Geological Survey National Stream 

Quality Assessment Network (NASQAN) 

collections. Concentrations less than 

LRL are estimated 

0.01

0.1

0.001

Pendamethalin

Phorate

0.01

0.1

0.001

1.0

BRMIG BRMIT BRMOH MIALPL OSPL wi ag URBAN

Station classification system (table 2)

0.01

0.1

1.0

Metribuzin

Metolachlor

0.01

0.1

0.001

1.0

10.0

15/15 16/16 14/14 12/12 6/6 3/6

6/15 7/16 5/14 6/12 4/6 1/6

Laboratory reporting level = 0.010 Laboratory reporting level = 0.012

Laboratory reporting level = 0.011 Laboratory reporting level = 0.02 

Laboratory reporting level = 0.020 Laboratory reporting level = 0.012 

Laboratory reporting level = 0.009 Laboratory reporting level = 0.012 

1/15 1/16 0/14 0/12 0/6 1/6

2/15 1/16 1/14 0/12 0/6 0/6

Concentration, in micrograms per liter

Figure 9. Detection of select pesticides from selected stations, water year 2016.—Continued
Distribution, Concentration, and Detection Frequency of Select Constituents 21

Propyzamide

0.001

0.01

BRMIG BRMIT BRMOH MIALPL OSPL wi ag URBAN

Station classification system (table 2)

0.001

0.01

0.1

1.0

Prometryn

Prometon

5/15 6/16 5/14 1/12 1/6 2/6

Laboratory reporting level = 0.004 Laboratory reporting level = 0.012 

0.001

0.01

0.1

0/15 0/16 0/14 3/12 0/6 0/6

10/15 10/16 10/14 0/12 0/6 0/6

Laboratory reporting level = 0.0042 Laboratory reporting level = 0.010 

Laboratory reporting level = 0.0024 Laboratory reporting level = 0.008 

Concentration, in micrograms per liter

EXPLANATION

12/12

Laboratory reporting level (LRL)—Ambient Water-Quality Monitoring Network 

(AWQMN) collections. Concentrations less than LRL are estimated

Sample

Number of detections/total number of samples

Laboratory reporting level (LRL)—U.S. Geological Survey National Stream Quality 

Assessment Network (NASQAN) collections. Concentrations less than LRL 

are estimated 

Figure 9. Detection of select pesticides from selected stations, water year 2016.—Continued
22 Quality of Surface Water in Missouri, Water Year 2016

0.001

0.01

0.1

Terbuthiuron

Terbuthylazine

BRMIG BRMIT BRMOH MIALPL OSPL wi ag URBAN

Station classification system (table 2)

Simazine

0.001

0.01

0.1

1.0

Laboratory reporting level = 0.0072 Laboratory reporting level = 0.006 

Laboratory reporting level = 0.0036 Laboratory reporting level = 0.008 

Laboratory reporting level = 0.003 Laboratory reporting level = 0.028 

12/15 15/16 9/14 4/12 3/6 2/6

1/15 1/16 3/14 1/12 0/6 1/6

4/15 3/16 1/14 2/12 0/6 1/6

0.001

0.01

0.1

1.0

Concentration, in micrograms per liter

EXPLANATION

12/12

Laboratory reporting level (LRL)—Ambient Water-Quality Monitoring Network 

(AWQMN) collections. Concentrations less than LRL are estimated

Sample

Number of detections/total number of samples

Laboratory reporting level (LRL)—U.S. Geological Survey National Stream Quality 

Assessment Network (NASQAN) collections. Concentrations less than LRL 

are estimated 

Figure 9. Detection of select pesticides from selected stations, water year 2016.—Continued
Summary 23

nitrite concentrations were computed at the OSPL pr station, 

and the largest concentrations were computed in samples 

collected at the BRMIG station (fig. 7). The smallest median 

total phosphorus concentrations were computed at the 

OZPLSA (fo/ag and wi fo/ag) and SPRING stations, all of 

which had median values equal to the LT–MDL (0.02 mg/L), 

and the largest median concentration was at the BRMOH 

station (fig. 7).

Distribution of Dissolved and Total Recoverable 

Lead and Zinc Concentrations

Samples were collected for the analysis of dissolved and 

total recoverable trace elements, including lead and zinc. No 

dissolved or total recoverable lead and zinc samples were collected at the BRMIT and BRMOH stations. Median concentration ranges were 0.040 to 0.390 micrograms per liter (μg/L) 

of dissolved lead, 0.070 to 12.3 μg/L of total recoverable lead, 

2.0 to 11.0 μg/L of dissolved zinc, and 2.0 to 30.0 μg/L of total 

recoverable zinc (fig. 8).

The smallest median concentrations of dissolved lead 

were computed at the LT–MDL (0.04 μg/L) in samples 

collected at BRMIG, BRMOS, MIALPL, OZPLSA (fo/ag, 

wi fo/ag), OZPLSP ag/fo, DTPL (ag, wi ag), OPSL wi ag, 

and SPRING stations; and MINING had the largest median 

concentration (fig. 8). Median dissolved zinc concentrations 

were computed at the LT–MDL (0.04 μg/L) for all classes 

and types, except OSPL pr, MINING, and URBAN; and 

URBAN had the largest median concentration. The smallest 

median concentration of total recoverable lead was computed 

at the SPRING stations, and the largest median concentration 

was computed at the MINING stations. The smallest median 

concentration of total recoverable zinc was the OZPLSA (fo/

ag and wi fo/ag), OZPLSP ag/fo, and SPRING stations; the 

largest median concentration of total recoverable zinc was 

computed at the BRMOS station.

Concentration and Detection Frequency of 

Select Pesticides from Selected Stations

Samples for the analysis of dissolved pesticides were 

collected at seven stations in the AWQMN, including three of 

the five Big River stations (BRMIG, BRMIT, and BRMOH), 

two stations in the MIALPL, one OSPL wi ag station, and 

one URBAN station. Data from 18 compounds analyzed at 

all stations and detected at concentrations greater than the 

LRL at 1 or more stations are presented graphically in this 

report (fig. 9). The most frequently detected pesticides were 

2-chloro-4-isopropylamino-6-amino-s-triazine (88 percent 

detection), acetochlor (75 percent detection), atrazine (93 percent detection), metolachlor (96 percent detection), and 

simazine (65 percent detection). The concentrations for all 

pesticide compounds analyzed for all stations were less than 

1.00 μg/L except acetochlor (1 percent of detections), atrazine 

(16 percent of detections), hexazinone (1 percent of detections), metalaxyl (6 percent of detections), and metolachlor 

(17 percent of detections). Of the 18 pesticide compounds with 

concentrations larger than the LRL, 7 had the largest concentrations at the MIALPL stations (fig. 9).

Summary

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with 

the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), collects surface-water quality data pertaining to water resources 

in Missouri each water year (October 1 through September 30). These data, stored and maintained in the USGS 

National Water Information System database, are collected 

as part of the Missouri Ambient Water-Quality Monitoring Network (AWQMN) and constitute a source of reliable, 

impartial, and timely information for developing an enhanced 

understanding of the State’s water resources. In addition to the 

AWQMN, the USGS also collects data at two USGS National 

Stream Quality Assessment Network (NASQAN) stations 

and, in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 

also routinely collects suspended-sediment concentration data 

and various particle-size distribution data on the Missouri and 

Mississippi Rivers. These data assist with long-term trends in 

select constituents and sediment transport and navigable channel assessments along these larger rivers.

Surface-water quality data collected during water year 

2016 at 71 stations (69 AWQMN and 2 NASQAN stations) 

are summarized in this report, among which are 4 stations with 

suspended-sediment data collected in cooperation with the 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Stations were classified into 

groups corresponding to the physiography of the State, primary land use, or unique station types. The annual summary 

of select constituents provides Missouri Department of Natural 

Resources with current information to assess the quality of 

surface water within the State and ensure the objectives of the 

AWQMN are being met. The data collected also provide support for the design, implementation, and evaluation of preventive and remediation programs.

The analyses presented in this report include the following constituents: dissolved oxygen, specific conductance, 

water temperature, suspended solids, suspended sediment, 

Escherichia coli bacteria, fecal coliform bacteria, dissolved 

nitrate plus nitrite as nitrogen, total phosphorus, and dissolved 

and total recoverable lead and zinc. Plots of the concentrations 

of these constituents are presented by the different station 

classes. In addition, pesticide data were analyzed from seven 

stations from six classes. A comparison of 2016 streamflow 

data to long-term streamflow, a summary of hydrologic conditions in the State including peak streamflows, monthly mean 

streamflows, and 7-day low flows at selected stations also are 

presented.
24 Quality of Surface Water in Missouri, Water Year 2016

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For more information about this publication, contact

Director, USGS Central Midwest Water Science Center 

1400 Independence Road

Rolla, MO 65401

(573) 308–3667

For additional information visit https://mo.water.usgs.gov

Publishing support provided by the 

Rolla Publishing Service Center

Barr and Bartels— Quality of Surface Water in Missouri, Water Year 2016—Data Series 1086

ISSN 2327-638X (online)

https://doi.org/10.3133/ds1086