Chapter 4 Habitats
4.5 River Basins 4.5.1 Introduction
In an assessment of southeastern states, North Carolina ranked third highest in overall diversity of stream types (Warren et al. 1997) . The richness of North Carolina’s aquatic fauna is directly related to the geomorphology of the state, which defines the major drainage divisions and the diversity of habitats within them. Watersheds of large rivers are commonly referred to as basins (Griffith et al. 1999) , and North Carolina uses the basin concept as a spatial framework for assessment and management of drainage systems across the state. Figure 4.5-1 provides a map depicting the boundaries of the 17 major river basins in North Carolina as designated by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ), Division of Water Resources (NCDWR). While 11 of the river basins have headwaters that begin in North Carolina, only four basins are contained entirely within the state (Cape Fear, Neuse, Tar-Pamlico, White Oak). The other river basins have waters that drain across adjacent states (Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia). Information about the river basins is available online at the NCDWR Basin Planning Branch web page ((NCDEQ 2025e) .
Figure 4.5-1 North Carolina’s river basin boundaries.
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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