4.2 Aquatic Communities
2006) . Coldwater streams generally have a fsh species composition that includes: Brook, Brown, and Rainbow trout, Mottled Sculpin, Longnose and Blacknose Dace, and Central Stoneroller. Tis list of species is not inclusive and is provided as general guidance on com- munity structure. Table 4.5. lists the type of aquatic natural communities that may provide coldwater habitats and the ecoregion where they likely occur. Descriptions of these natural communities can be found in Sections 4.2.4 through 4.2.13 of this chapter.
Te 2005 WAP (see Chapter 5) included riverine aquatic communities, which can include coldwater stream habitats, as a priority natural community type (NCWRC 2005) .
T ABLE 4.5 Aquatic natural communities containing coldwater habitats Stream Size Ecoregions Headwaters/Small Creeks (< 40 sq.mi. DA) Mountain, Piedmont Large Creeks/Small Rivers (40–200 sq.mi. DA) Mountain, Piedmont Medium Rivers (200–3,800 sq.mi. DA) Mountain, Piedmont Reservoirs & Impoundments Mountain Springs/Groundwater/Cave Waters Statewide
4.2.3.2 Location of Habitat Coldwater aquatic communities can be found in the Broad, Catawba, French Broad, Hiwassee, Little Tennessee, New, Savannah, Watauga, and upper Yadkin river basins. A review of US Geological Survey (USGS) real-time stream gauge data for water temperatures shows that Cataloochee Creek (near Cataloochee, NC), Mills River (near Mills River, NC), Pigeon River (near Canton, NC), Yadkin River (near Patterson, NC), and Catawba River (near Pleasant Gardens, NC) historically have persistent cold waters during the summer (USGS 2014a) . Examples of other locations where coldwater habitats occur in at least a portion of the stream, and where brook trout and other coldwater fsh species have been detected during feld surveys, include Big Laurel Creek, Brasstown Creek, Cane River, Cove Creek, Mitchell River, Nolichucky River, and the Nantahala River. Tese locations represent only a few of the coldwater habitats found in the state. Figure 4.2 indicates the approximate location where coldwater habitats occur within the river basins of western North Carolina. Te presence or absence of riparian bufers, dis- charge into the waters, or other local landscape conditions will infuence water tempera- tures and aquatic communities. It is important to understand that not all of the streams, rivers, and impoundments that occur within the shaded area of Figure 4.2 provide coldwa- ter habitats or have trout or other coldwater species present in the community.
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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