Chapter 4 Habitats
4.5.6 Catawba River Basin 4.5.6.1 River Basin Description
The Catawba River Basin is in the south-central portion of western North Carolina in the Mountain and Piedmont ecoregions. Headwaters begin in the western side of McDowell County and flow eastward into the Piedmont ecoregion before turning southeast and flowing toward the North Carolina/South Carolina border. The Catawba River Basin encompasses all or portions of 14 counties and 59 municipalities, including the largest municipality in the state, Charlotte (NCDEQ 2011) . Other large municipalities include Gastonia, Hickory, Huntersville, Lenoir, Mooresville, and Morganton. Figure 4.5.6-1 depicts the geographic location of the basin.
Figure 4.5.6-1 Location of the Catawba River Basin.
The basin covers approximately 3,343 square miles and has more than 7,940 miles of freshwater streams (NCDEQ 2011) . This basin, along with the Broad River Basin, forms the
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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