4.5 River Basins
According to an NCDENR dam inventory (NCDEMLR 2014) , there are 487 man-made impound- ments and ponds in the basin. While most are used for recreation, food control or storm- water management, irrigation, or water supply, fve are licensed for hydroelectric energy production. Tese can physically alter instream habitat, change fow regimes, and often reduce DO levels. Water withdrawals for irrigation and similar uses further change fow patterns and reduce the quality/quantity of the habitat available for aquatic species (NCDWQ 2012e) . Large reservoirs in the Roanoke River Basin include Hyco, Mayo, Kerr, and Lake Gaston. Te Mayo and Hyco reservoirs provide waters for cooling Duke Energy’s coal-fred power plants. Hyco Lake has been listed on the state’s impaired waters list for exceeding thresh- olds for mercury. Freshwater streams in the eastern portion of the basin are heavily used by anadromous fshes, and impoundments are barriers to movement between coastal and upstream freshwater spawning habitats. According to 2010 census data, there was a population increase of roughly 1.5% in the North Carolina portion of the basin from 2000 census data (NCDWR 2012) . Recent Census data for the period 2010 to 2014, estimates a slight population decrease for the Roanoke Rapids area and the basin’s counties (USCB 2015) . However, development in adjacent urbanizing areas of the central Piedmont, including the Greensboro–Highpoint area and the Triangle region, is likely to spur demands for water supplies that could result interbasin withdrawals from the Roanoke River Basin (NCOEE n.d.) . Te demand for water by consumers living in the basin is expected to increase by as much as 55% by 2020. 4.5.15.5 Recommendations Conservation priorities that apply statewide to all river basins are presented in Section 4.5.3.3. Priorities identifed in the Roanoke River Basin are shown in Figure 4.30 and a list of the priority 12-digit HUCs is included in Appendix J. Basin Specifc Recommendations Surveys. General surveys are needed to complete primary distributional status for SGCN and other priority species (see Table 4.78). • Fishes—determine distribution and status of priority species (e.g., Bigeye Jumprock, Black Banded Sunfsh, Cutlips Minnow, Ironcolor Shiner, Least Brook Lamprey, Orangefn Madtom, Roanoke Logperch, and Rustyside Sucker). In addition, conduct exploratory surveys for priority species that have a high potential of occurring in the river basin (e.g., Bridle Shiner), but are not currently known to occur in the river basin.
605
2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online