4.5 River Basins
T ABLE 4.72 SGCN in the New River Basin
Federal/ State Status*
Taxa Group
Scientifc Name
Common Name Kanawha Darter
Etheostoma kanawhae
FISH
— —
Exoglossum laurae Percina caprodes
Tonguetied Minnow
Logperch
—/T
Percina gymnocephala Percina oxyrhynchus Salvelinus fontinalis Cyclonaias tuberculata
Appalachia Darter Sharpnose Darter Brook Trout (Native) Purple Wartyback
—
—/SC
—
MUSSEL
—/E
Elliptio dilatata
Spike
—/SC FSC/E
Lasmigona subviridis
Green Floater
* See Table 4.43 in Section 4.5.3.2 for abbreviations.
impacts on aquatic habitats. Impacts from sedimentation appear to be quite severe in some localized areas and generally degrade habitats in larger tributaries and in the mainstem New River. Habitats in the same reaches also appear to sufer from over-widened channels with more uniform depth and substrate coarseness. Increasing human population places greater demand on drinking water supplies. Increased water withdrawals from streams, primarily in the upper South Fork New River subbasin, are a potential trend. Most agriculture and development is concentrated in the valleys with the exception of Christmas tree farms, although development on steeper slopes is increasing. Christmas tree production is a major agricultural enterprise in the basin and large amounts of pesti- cides and herbicides are used. Impacts from this on aquatic systems are largely unknown. Impoundment is not a signifcant issue in the basin. According to an NCDENR dam inven- tory (NCDEMLR 2014) , there are 46 impoundments in the basin. Most are small privately owned lakes used for recreation. Tere is one run-of-river hydroelectric facility at Sharpe Falls on North Fork New River, and numerous small impoundments on tributaries. Numerous nonnative aquatic animal species are established in the basin. As identifed in previous basin accounts, nonnative vegetation can also negatively impact native aquatic animal communities. Tis includes both aquatic and riparian plant species and nonnative plant pathogens that can alter riparian vegetation and afect aquatic habitats (e.g., Hemlock Wooly Adelgid). Hydrilla is well established throughout many of the larger streams, espe- cially the South Fork system, and appears to substantially impact instream habitats. Overall, impacts of invasive species on populations of native species are unclear at present, but should be a focus of long-term monitoring and specifc investigations.
589
2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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