North Fabius River

The North Fabius River is the longest of the three forks of the Fabius River in northeastern Missouri (with headwaters in southeastern Iowa). It rises near Moulton in southwestern Appanoose County, Iowa, and flows generally southeast for about 109 miles (175 km) through several Missouri counties (including Schuyler, Scotland, Knox, Lewis, and Marion), passing towns such as Memphis and Monticello, before joining the South Fabius River to form the short Fabius River, which empties into the Mississippi River. Its watershed covers approximately 493 square miles (1,277 km²), is predominantly agricultural, and has been extensively channelized in parts (about 60 %), leading to sedimentation issues and habitat loss, though water quality improvements were later achieved through conservation efforts.