4.2 Aquatic Communities
• Support fencing livestock out of streams as a measure to protect riparian vegetation, maintain bank stability, and reduce nutrient inputs to the aquatic system.
• Reduce impervious surfaces as one measure to control runof and erosion. Research has shown that impervious levels of 8%–12% represent a threshold where small changes in urganization can cause major changes in stream condition (Wang et al. 2001) . Tere are also many BMPs that may be alternatives to reduce runof. Encourage use of pervious paving materials where feasible.
• Initiate a drought management program that modifes discharge permits when base fow conditions decrease and the 7Q10 is lowered.
• Augment in-stream habitat to enhance its structural complexity to increase fsh com- munity abundance, biomass, and diversity (Hrodey and Sutton 2008) .
• Preserve or restore riparian vegetation to maintain stable streambanks and dissipate water runof energy, which allows for sediment deposition.
• In managed rivers, restore stream fows that promote controlled overbank fows and hydrological connectivity between the river and the foodplain.
• Update food maps as required by changes in food patterns (frequency and duration) and fooded lands to ensure protection of life and property (Band and Salvesen 2009) .
• Protect potential migration corridors and preserve connectivity that allows for species and ecosystem migration. Partnerships and Cooperative Eforts. Conservation programs, incentives, and partner- ships should be utilized to the fullest extent to preserve high-quality resources and pro- tect important natural communities. Protective measures that utilize existing regulatory frameworks to protect habitats and species should be incorporated where applicable. • Work with partners and support development of regulations for control of aquatic nui- sance species. • Undertake immediate and continuing eforts to limit water quality deterioration from point sources of pollution as well as nonpoint sources. In general, the most critical con- servation actions necessary to sustain populations of riverine habitat species involve protection of water quality and aquatic habitats. • Protect foodplains and riparian wetlands from development or land uses that interfere with food control or foodwater attenuation. Changes in food patterns (frequency and
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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