4.2 Aquatic Communities
• Study the combined efect of land use changes and climatic efects on long-term stream temperature trends as they relate to native brook trout protection, restoration, and management.
• Investigate thermal tolerance for brook trout and other native species.
• Examine stream temperature and associated microclimatic responses to a range of shading variables from riparian vegetation. Management Practices. Management practices that reduce impacts and work synergis- tically with other conservation actions are needed to enhance the resilience of natural resources. Particular needs include preserving biodiversity, protecting native populations and their habitats, and improving degraded habitats. • Increase the efective connectivity (i.e., gene fow) between headwater brook trout pop- ulations through removal of artifcial barriers and promote habitat connectivity. 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. • Plant riparian areas with native vegetation with a broad elevational range within a particular watershed and with broad hydrologic tolerance to promote resilience from climate change.
4.2.4 Coolwater Streams 4.2.4.1 Ecosystem Description
Coolwater streams are found in small and large river systems in the Mountain ecoregion. Many have impoundments and reservoirs (see Section 4.2.13 Reservoirs & Impoundments for additional information). Many of the coolwater streams and rivers originate in high-elevation areas in the upper portion of watersheds as cold waters but transition to coolwater with a decrease in elevation or gradient and the addition of tributary waters. Te coolwater designation is based upon two general principles: temperature regime and fsh community structure. Temperature regime can also be used to help classify coolwater streams where summer temperatures are predominantly warmer than 20°C (68°F) but typ- ically do not exceed 25°C (76°F). Tis is a suggested temperature that will typically support the fsh community structure (USACE 2003) . Coolwater streams generally have a fsh species composition that includes: Smallmouth Bass, Rock Bass, Walleye, Muskellunge, Creek Chub, River Chub, Bluehead Chub, Whitetail Shiner, White Sucker, Tennessee Shiner,
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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