Appendix 2-3
Chapter 2 The Need for Conservation
for propagating various species and expanding grow-out space. By increasing the capacity for propagation of various species, not just Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN), fish that serve as important host species for freshwater mussel SGCN can be reproduced instead of removing them from the wild. With fewer spatial constraints and expanded hatchery capacities, the CAC and partners can effectively propagate federally endangered and SGCN species such as the Carolina Madtom and Roanoke Logperch. Collaboration with other facilities allows for large projects and replication to be completed, including studies to test the biological fitness of propagated mussels prior to their release. , and with o evaluate substrate preferences in juvenile mussels. The CAC has also provided larvae to other hatcheries for studies such as toxicity trials, dichotomous key development, and propagation for student research. Partnerships allow stocking events to be strategically timed with seasons and field conditions to best ensure the success of the animals upon release, and animals may be held long enough to ensure they have had an adequate ‘head start’ to survive the juvenile stage in the wild. These stocking events have profound impacts on recovering populations and have even been credited with the proposed delisting of the Roanoke Logperch from the Endangered Species list. Research is vastly important in this field as well, both to inform the culture and care of the animals themselves and to help ensure management strategies in the field are as informed and effective as possible. The CAC supports biologists with research to help inform management strategies, such as feed studies, microbiome analysis, genetics evaluation, and even juvenile animal responses to changing hydrology. CAC staff have implemented studies to improve
culturing techniques and mussel growth and survival, as well as life history studies to aid in species descriptions. The hatchery can also host student interns and support graduate research, helping to train the next generation of aquatic conservationists as well as furthering research goals. In Western NC, the Cheoah River restoration project is an example of how the CAC’s conservation efforts have resulted in success. The restoration site was almost void of aquatic life due to inadequate flows from Santeetlah Dam releases that caused intermittent dewatering followed by high-flow flood events. CAC hatchery efforts focused on four SGCN mussel species and one SGCN fish to help reestablish a healthy riverine community
following improved flow regulation. The Spotfin Chub was propagated at CFI for grow out at the CAC, and four mussel species (Appalachian Elktoe, Slippershell, Rainbow, and Wavy-rayed Lampmussel) were propagated at the CAC to support the Juvenile mussels tagged and ready for restocking.
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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