The middle White River Basin in Arkansas includes the White River and its tributaries that drain into Bull Shoals Lake, as well as Crooked Creek and the Buffalo River sub-basins in North-central Arkansas. Much of the middle White River Basin is contained in Missouri.

Within the upper and middle White River Basin, the Department of Environmental Quality maintains 23 active water quality monitoring stations that are sampled monthly for over 30 parameters. The Arkansas Soil and Water Conservation Commission monitors water quality on the Basin's lakes, including testing or fecal coliform levels at beaches throughout the recreation season.

Within this basin, 4 water bodies are listed on Arkansas 303(d) list of impaired streams. These include the West Fork of the White River for excessive siltation and high turbidity values; the upper White River for excessive siltation: Holman Creek, tributary to War Eagle to Beaver Reservoir, for nitrate levels above the drinking water MCL; and Hicks Creek, near Mountain Home, AR, for excessive nutrients.

Arkansas water quality data collected prior to January 1999, is stored in EPA's national database (STORET). Water quality data collected since January 1999, is being stored separately until EPA completes revision to its STORET system.

Although Arkansas has historically collected extensive water quality data from the upper and middle White River Basin watershed, Arkansas recognizes that additional analysis may be needed to accurately determine impacts on water quality in the Basin. As Arkansas and Missouri work together to address water quality in the basin, there should be additional opportunities for detailed analysis of water quality issues in the region.

In addition to water permitting of businesses, municipalities and confined animal operations in the basin, Arkansas has promoted the use of agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) to protect water quality in the Basin.