The watershed consists of 7,900 square miles with over three-fourths of this area in Missouri. The basin is best characterized as rural with a declining population and no major urban areas. Land use is predominantly agricultural with cropland the largest component. The basin contains more than 1,000 third-order and larger streams. Streams within the basin are typically turbid.
Historical accounts indicate many basin streams have always been muddy.
Even under pristine conditions it is unclear whether current water quality standards for turbidity would be achieved. Water quality standards for iron, magnesium and fecal coliform bacteria are frequently exceeded. Most water quality problems are associated with non-point source pollutants such as soil erosion and manure runoff. Habitat loss within the basin is a major factor limiting stream fish populations. Filling of the channel with sand and silt has resulted in the loss of pool habitat and coarse substrate.