Chapter 4 Habitats
Priority Conservation Action, Examples of Focal Species or Focal Habitats permeable pavement, runnels, vegetated swales, and filter strips can be used in various ways as stormwater BMPs.
• Support fencing livestock out of streams as a measure to protect riparian vegetation, maintain bank stability, and reduce nutrient inputs to the aquatic system.
• Initiate a drought management program that modifies discharge permits when base flow conditions decrease and the 7Q10 is lowered. • • Reduce impervious surfaces as one measure to control runoff and erosion. Research has shown that impervious levels of 8–12% represent a threshold region where small changes in urbanization can cause major changes in stream condition (Wang et al. 2001) . There are also many BMPs that may be alternatives to reduce runoff. Encourage use of pervious paving materials where feasible.
• Augment in-stream habitat to enhance its structural complexity to increase fish community abundance, biomass, and diversity (Hrodey and Sutton 2008).
• Preserve or restore riparian vegetation to maintain stable streambanks and dissipate water runoff energy, which allows for sediment deposition.
• In managed rivers, restore stream flows that promote controlled overbank flows and hydrological connectivity between the river and the floodplain.
• Update flood maps as required by changes in flood patterns (frequency and duration) and flooded lands to ensure protection of life and property (Band and Salvesen 2009).
• Protect potential migration corridors and preserve connectivity that allows for species and ecosystem migration.
4.2.2.5 Conservation Programs and Partnerships Conservation programs, incentives, and partnerships should be fully used to preserve high- quality resources and protect important natural communities. Protective measures that use existing regulatory frameworks to protect habitats and species should be incorporated where applicable.
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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