Kiamichi River Watershed - Oklahoma Water Resources Center

Kiamichi River Watershed
Area Description: The Kiamichi River is located in southeastern Oklahoma and flows west and south from
its source in LeFlore County, OK down to the Red River, just south of Hugo, OK. The
entire basin area is located within Oklahoma and covers roughly 1,821 sq. miles (3010
sq. km). Fishing, hunting, and boating are common recreational activities along and
around the Kiamichi River. Additionally, this watershed encompasses two major lakes
This river is home to a variety of mussels and a wide diversity of fish species. In addition,
the watershed itself is home to three federally designated endangered species: the Indiana
bat, the red-cockaded woodpecker, and the leopard darter.
Alluvial groundwater resources in this area are expected to decline in the future. The
Oklahoma Comprehensive Water Plan notes that increased reliance on bedrock aquifers
could help to lower the reduction of alluvial groundwater storage.
The two most prominent land cover types in this watershed are forests and pastureland.
Over 50% of the landscape consists of forests, while approximately 25% is interspersed
pastureland (Sanford II and Boyd, 2012).The Kiamichi River Watershed primarily lies
within the Ouachita Mountains ecoregion, with just the southern tip reaching into the
South Central Plains ecoregion. Much of this watershed is considered rural, with small
towns scattered throughout. The largest population center is Hugo, OK, with a population
of 5,257 (according to the 2013 Census estimate).
Total annual precipitation across this area ranges from 45-50 inches. Average annual
temperature for this watershed ranges from 60-62 degrees Fahrenheit.
Within the Kiamichi River
Watershed, there are a variety of
environmental measurements
being taken. Oklahoma Mesonet
stations record a large variety of
weather and climate variables,
including temperature,
precipitation, wind speed and
direction, and soil moisture.
Additionally, USGS stream
gauges record stream flow
measurements at various sites
throughout the river.
This material is based on work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. IIA1301789. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those
of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation or Oklahoma
State Regents for Higher Education.