Chapter 3 North Carolina Species
Additional information on rare and listed freshwater fishes relevant to the river basin systems where they are found is provided in Chapter 4, including Cape Fear Shiner (Cape Fear River Basin), Robust Redhorse (Yadkin-Pee Dee River Basin), and Ironcolor Shiner (Lumber, Cape Fear, and White Oak River basins). 3.5.4 Knowledge Gaps There are 79 species identified as research priorities because there are knowledge gaps, of which 29 are also considered SGCN. Table 3-4 Freshwater Fish SGCN and Priority Species (see Appendix 3) include knowledge-gap priority species. NCWRC staff conduct rare coastal fish surveys for several species listed as knowledge gap survey and research priorities. Target species are SGCN but species that are also knowledge-gap priorities are included, for example Ironcolor Shiner. As noted in the Annotated Atlas of the Freshwater Fishes of North Carolina (Tracy et al. 2020) , Ironcolor Shiner populations and distribution have been declining since the first surveys were conducted in the 1960s. There are fish species complexes that represent closely related species that need genetic and taxonomic review to determine their status as a species. In North Carolina, there are three madtom forms (Family Ictaluridae) that do not have formal descriptions. These madtoms are a complex of species referred to as “Broadtail” madtoms and are found in the Coastal Plain ecoregion: a Cape Fear form from the Cape Fear River; a Lake Waccamaw form in the Waccamaw basin; and a Pee Dee form from the Lumber and Waccamaw River basin (Tracy et al. 2021) . Genetic assessments are needed to determine the correct taxonomy before a formal description can be developed (Tracy et al. 2021) . McCall (2023) notes that “madtom catfishes are an understudied and imperiled group of fishes, with approximately 20% of the genus under protection of the Endangered Species Act.” The EBCI supports species identified in the NC State Wildlife Action Plan. Ongoing monitoring targets several fish of greatest conservation need, including the Red/Smoky Dace complex, Wounded Darter, and Olive Darter. Restoration efforts also focus on historically abundant migratory fish, such as Muskellunge, Smallmouth Buffalo, and Lake Sturgeon, which have declined across the French Broad, Little Tennessee, and Hiwassee River basins. 3.5.5 Management Needs Multiple collaborations and partnerships have formed to design and implement conservation activities that benefit migratory fish species as well as other native aquatic species (CFRP 2013) . For example, in 2013, a rock arch fish passage ramp was built at Cape Fear River Lock & Dam No. 1, located 32 miles upstream from Wilmington. The structure improves passage for American Eel, Striped Bass, American Shad, River Herring, and possibly sturgeon species. Although construction of the rock arch ramp is complete, the USACE’s Lock and Dams No. 2 and
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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