The North Fork of the White River Watershed, henceforth referred to in this document as the North Fork Watershed, in Missouri occupies approximately 1,389 (888,960) square miles in parts of six counties in the Southern Missouri Ozarks. These counties include Douglas, Howell, Ozark, Texas, Webster, and Wright. The North Fork Watershed in Missouri constitutes approximately 76% of the total area of the North Fork Watershed with the remainder in Arkansas.
Two major streams drain the North Fork Watershed, the North Fork of the White River and Bryant Creek. The North Fork of the White River originates in the vicinity of Mountain Grove in southeastern Wright County. The river flows in a general southerly direction across Douglas and Ozark counties for 67 miles before emptying into Northfork Reservoir near Tecumseh, Missouri. Northfork Reservoir is a 22,000 acre (at conservation pool) United States Army Corps of Engineers reservoir. The North Fork of the White River is joined by Bryant Creek approximately one half mile north of Tecumseh, Missouri. Bryant Creek, the largest tributary to the North Fork of the White River, originates near Cedar Gap in southwestern Wright County. Bryant Creek flows southeasterly across Douglas and Ozark counties for 71 miles before emptying into the North Fork River.