The Beaver Watershed, located in northwest Arkansas, has a land area of approximately 1,195 square miles. It is a critical source of drinking water for the surrounding communities, including the city of Fayetteville. The hydrology of the watershed is influenced by the Ozark Mountains, with precipitation generally occurring between December and May. Specific snowpack is not a significant factor in the region. Surface water in the area includes Beaver Lake, which was built in the 1960s for flood control and water supply purposes. The reservoir has a capacity of over 1 million acre-feet and contains constituents such as nitrogen and phosphorus. Interesting climatic facts include the region's susceptibility to severe weather, including tornadoes and flooding, and the trend of increasing temperatures and changing precipitation patterns due to climate change.