The Lower Osage Watershed covers an area of 7,760 square miles in central Missouri. The watershed is home to several major rivers, including the Osage, the Gasconade, and the Maries. These rivers are fed by precipitation, snowmelt, and groundwater, and provide important habitat for a variety of fish and wildlife species. The Lower Osage Watershed receives an average of 40 inches of precipitation per year, with most of this falling during the spring and summer months. Snowfall is relatively rare in the region, with an average annual snowfall of around 14 inches. The watershed is also home to several large reservoirs, including Truman Lake and Lake of the Ozarks. These reservoirs are important sources of drinking water, as well as popular recreational destinations for boating, fishing, and swimming. Climatically, the Lower Osage Watershed is characterized by hot, humid summers and cold, snowy winters. In recent years, the region has experienced increasing temperatures and more frequent extreme weather events, such as floods and droughts.