4.5 River Basins
T ABLE 4.63 SGCN in the Little Tennessee River Basin
Federal/ State Status*
Taxa Group CRAYFISH
Scientifc Name
Common Name
Cambarus carolinus Cambarus georgiae Cambarus reburrus Cambarus tuckasegee
Red Burrowing Crayfsh Little Tennessee Crayfsh French Broad River Crayfsh Tuckaseegee Stream Crayfsh
—
FSC/SC FSC/—
—
Clinostomus sp. 1
FISH
Smoky Dace Spotfn Chub
FSC/SC
Erimonax monachus Etheostoma vulneratum Moxostoma breviceps Moxostoma carinatum
T/T
Wounded Darter
FSC/SC
Smallmouth Redhorse
— —
River Redhorse
Moxostoma sp 2 Noturus favus
Sicklefn Redhorse
C/T —/E
Stonecat
Percina squamata Salvelinus fontinalis
Olive Darter
FSC/SC
Brook Trout (native) Appalachian Elktoe Slippershell Mussel
—
Alasmidonta raveneliana
MUSSEL
E/E
Alasmidonta viridis
—/E
Elliptio dilatata Pegias fabula
Spike
—/SC
Littlewing Pearlymussel Tennessee Clubshell
E/E
Pleurobema oviforme
FSC/E —/SC
Villosa iris
Rainbow
* See Table 4.43 in Section 4.5.3.2 for abbreviations.
North Carolina, and Tennessee), only 47 miles in Georgia and North Carolina remain unimpounded. Habitat alteration from impoundment, coldwater releases, and peaking fow regulation from dams also substantially impair and limit native aquatic communities in the upper Tuckasegee, Nantahala, and Cheoah river systems. Populations of aquatic animals are also fragmented and isolated by dams and other barriers throughout the basin. Potentially high-quality habitats are further degraded from nonpoint source pollution, primarily from erosion and sedimentation from disturbance related to development and agriculture. Water and habitat quality upstream from Lake Emory at Franklin (upper Little Tennessee River, Cullasaja River, Cartoogechaye Creek, and tributaries) varies considerably (LTLT 2011; NCDWQ 2012c for further information) . Instream habitat conditions in the upper Little Tennessee River are impaired by excessive sedimentation. Habitat for sensitive aquatic species within this reach is presently marginal to totally lacking. Portions of the Cullasaja River and Cartoogechaye Creek are presently in relatively good shape. While some trib- utaries in this area contribute signifcantly, substantial amounts of sediment result from bank erosion along the upper Little Tennessee mainstem. Erosion and sedimentation
562
2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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