3.6 Freshwater Mussels
impediments to host fsh movement will allow natural recolonization of suitable habitats and facilitate gene fow between populations.
Freshwaters that support populations of SGCN mussels must be monitored to detect changes in water quality. Water quality rat- ings (poor to excellent) determined by the NC Division of Water Resources (NCDWR) Water Sciences Section inform several other aspects of state water quality programs. For example, some waters with excellent quality can be petitioned for additional protection, and waters rated as poor may be listed as impaired, thereby making them subject to restoration planning. Not all waters are monitored, so having important mussel habitat included in a long-term monitoring program is an important step in having access to other water quality management tools.
Wavyrayed Lampmussel marked for Cheoah River restoration project (Melissa McGaw, NCWRC)
Waters rated as excellent and which have outstanding resources values (as defned in water quality statutes) can be petitioned for designation as Outstanding Resource Waters (ORW) or High-Quality Waters (HQW). Tose designations aford additional protections to ensure that water quality and associated resources are maintained. Te process is not automatic and starts when NCDWR is petitioned to provide the additional designation and associated protections. Resource agencies should identify the waters important for mussel conserva- tion, which are eligible for ORW or HQW designations, and petition for those protections. Cooperation between NCDWR and partners (i.e., state and federal agencies, conservation organizations) is needed to develop site-specifc water quality restoration plans under NC Administrative Code (see NCAC 15A 02b.0110) which outlines rules for considering feder- ally listed threatened or endangered aquatic species. For example, through collaborative eforts, NCWRC, along with NCNHP, USFWS, and NCDWR, developed the technical basis for a site-specifc water quality management plan for Goose Creek (Yadkin—Pee Dee River Basin). However, there are other waters with federally listed aquatic species and water quality concerns in need of additional site-specifc restoration plans.
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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