Sensitive Watersheds Sensitive watersheds are becoming an important component for animal agriculture to comply with the Missouri water quality standards. Regulations have been created that have limited or restricted animal feeding operations in sensitive areas throughout the state. Two key requirements that are specific to the largest operations in the state (Class IA operation) can be found in the following table. Table 1- Sensitive watershed regulations affecting animal agriculture. Class IA concentrated animal feeding operations (both new and those operations that wish to expand to a Class IA size) are prohibited from the identified watersheds of the Current, Jacks Fork and Eleven Point Rivers. Class IA operations (new or expanding operations) that are in the following critical watersheds must submit a spill prevention plan for department approval. Public drinking water lakes (L1 lakes defined in 10 CSR 20-7.031 and identified in Table G). Watersheds located upstream away from the dam from all drinking water intake structures on lakes including the watershed of Table Rock Lake. Areas in the watershed and within 5 miles upstream of any stream or river drinking water intake structure, other that those intake structures on the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. The Animal Feeding Operation Site Evaluation Tool is the best way to determine if your location is in a sensitive watershed. Maps have been developed by Center for Agricultural, Resource and Environmental Systems (CARES) that show the geographic areas of sensitive watersheds and impaired waters likely to involve agriculture as a key component of the remediation effort. The impaired waters are identified on the 2002 303(d) list and require that a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) be developed. The TMDL is a mathematical calculation of the amount of a specific pollutant a waterbody can absorb and still meet water quality standards. The watersheds that we identified as likely to involve agriculture as a key component of remediation include sources of pollution as nutrients, fecal coliform, atrazine, algae, and sediments. Type of Information Maps Permitted CAFOs in Missouri PDF File 303(d) Watersheds of Missouri PDF File Critical Watersheds, 303(d) Watersheds and Permitted CAFOs in Missouri PDF File Return to Step 2