WSP01088

• File Number: 8112.600
• Description: Arkansas White Red Basins Interagency Committee - AWRBIAC -- Reports
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 2
• Date: 6/1/1977
• Title: Specific Problem Analysis Summary Report - 1975 National Assessment of Water and Related Land Resources - Part 2 of 2
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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MISSOURI

The State of Missouri has identified two severe water and related
land problem areas. These are the Joplin Problem Area in ASA 1104,
and the Springfield Problem Area in ASA 1011 (Missouri Region) and
ASA 1101 of the Arkansas-White-Red Region.

Problem Area 1, Springfield Area, ASA 1101. The Springfiel~_Study
area is located in the southwest portion of tne state and consists
of Greene and Christian Counties. Springfield, the third largest
city in the state, has been classified as an SMSA by the U. S. Bu-
reau of the Census. The two-county area is approximately 1,244
square miles, or 796,160 acres.l

Springfield is located on a drainage divide, with the Sac
River Basin to the north, and the James River Basin to the south.
Runoff reaches one of these rivers through a network of tributary
streams, the largest of which are the Little Sac River, Pond Creek,
Pickerel Creek, and Clear Creek which flow into the Sac River and
Wilson Creek, South Creek and Terrell Creek, which flow into James
River.

Topography in the area is varied, ranging from gently rolling
plains in the southwest to highly dissected plateaus in the north-
east. Much of the area is 1200 to 1300 feet above sea level. Ele-
vations of more than 1450 feet occur in the east, where the Salem
,Plateau borders the area, and also to the west, where the Spr~ngfield
Plateau borders. Total relief in the area is about 400 feet.

Mild winters and warm summers are charscteristic of the ares's
humid continental climate. The average annual temperature is
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56.6 F. Lowest monthly average temperatures occur in January
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(33.6 F.) and the highest monthly average temperatures occur in
July (78.80 F.). Prevailing winds are from the south-southwest,
with an average velocity of 8-10 miles per hour. Average annual
precipitstion is 41.08 inches. December, January and February
are the driest months of the year, usually averaging 6 inches of
precipitation. March is the wettest month, sveraging 5.28 inches
of precipitation. Average annual runoff Is from 10 to 14 inches.
The sverage frost-free season is 192 days.3

Bedrock in the area consists largely of thick, cherty lime~
stones. In the northeast corner of Greene County, outcrops of sand-
stone, shale, and dolomite are found along the valley floors and walls
in the upper resches of the James River and Finley Creek. For the
most part, soils are zerived from cherty limestones and dolomites and
are generally acidic. Soils are also very stony, highly permeable
and of moderate to low fertility.

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