Chapter 3 North Carolina Species
No. 3 remain and continue to block spawning runs to the Smiley Falls area near Erwin in the middle of the Cape Fear River Basin.
Access to the Deep River and historic spawning habitats in the upper Cape Fear River basin is currently blocked by Buckhorn Dam on the Cape Fear River and Lockville Dam near the mouth of the Deep River. Fish passage around these obstructions is needed for migratory fish to reach historic spawning sites in the Deep River. Restoring migratory fish access to historic spawning and nursery habitats will help rebuild currently depressed populations to support healthy ecosystems and sustainable recreational and commercial fisheries (CFRP 2013) . Management activities differ depending on the type of habitat involved. Many large rivers have one or more hydropower operations, so a main concern is maintaining a natural flow regime. On small streams, bank stability is a major concern. Fish passage is an issue of both large and small streams. Reservoirs are typically managed differently than natural lakes. Reservoirs are usually managed for sport fisheries to provide recreation. Participation in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) relicensing process will facilitate negotiation of more natural flow regimes in regulated rivers and help identify opportunities to mitigate negative impacts from hydropower development. Natural lakes such as Lake Waccamaw and Lake Phelps are managed for both recreational fisheries and native species. Advancements in propagation techniques and hatchery facilities have contributed to the successful raising of Robust Redhorse and Spotfin Chub in captivity at NCWRC fish hatcheries. Partners such as Conservation Fisheries, Inc., have also reared Roanoke Logperch, Spotfin Chub, Sicklefin Redhorse, and Carolina Madtom, and the state of Tennessee is propagating Lake Sturgeon. These captive-raised fish have been used for augmentation stocking in areas with appropriate habitat and extant populations. Management needs include improvements to and expansion of fish hatchery facilities in order to support a successful propagation program. A core focus of the EBCI fisheries program is using fish diversity as an indicator of water quality. Staff monitor populations using Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) surveys at seven sites, conduct three-pass electrofishing depletion sampling, and apply modern environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques. Since the first formal fish diversity assessment within the Qualla Boundary, conducted in 1978, surveys have documented 50 local species. These collections support the development of molecular tools to refine IBI assessments and track ecological change. Brook Trout is the only native salmonid in the region and is a management priority for the EBCI and NCWRC. All populations require active monitoring, habitat restoration, and protection from invasive species. Brook Trout are highly sensitive to water temperature, with optimal conditions being 20°C (68°F) or lower (Petty et al. 2012, 2014; Hartman and Sweka 2001) . Multiple factors can elevate stream temperatures and reduce suitable habitat, including impoundments, thermal discharges, reduced riparian shading, heat waves, drought, low streamflow, and water withdrawals. Mitigation efforts should focus on streams supporting Brook Trout populations where temperatures consistently exceed 20°C (68°F). Mitigation measures can include
2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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