Chapter 4 Habitats
Federal Status
State Status
Common Name
Scientific Name
AMPHIBIANS Mudpuppy
SC
Necturus maculosus
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Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis Eurycea longicauda longicauda
PE
SC
Eastern Hellbender
T
Eastern Long-tailed Salamander
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DRAGONFLIES Brook Snaketail
Ophiogomphus aspersus Hylogomphus viridifrons Phanogomphus descriptus Macromia margarita Hylogomphus adelphus Phanogomphus quadricolor
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Green-faced Clubtail
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Harpoon Clubtail
--
--
At -Risk
Mountain River Cruiser
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Mustached Clubtail
--
--
Rapids Clubtail
--
--
Calopteryx amata
Superb Jewelwing
--
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REPTILES Eastern Spiny Softshell
SC
Apalone spinifera spinifera
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4.5.8.4 Threats Affecting Aquatic Species Climate and Severe Weather.
Impacts from Hurricane Helene in September 2024 critically impacted counties in western North Carolina mountains. Analysis of storm total rainfall by NOAA shows widespread rain in western North Carolina counties ranging from 10 inches to up 31 inches (Hagan et al. 2025) . USGS river gauge measurements on the French Broad River at Asheville (NC) showed flooding at a record high of 24.82 feet, slightly more than the previous record from a flood in 1916 (Hagan et al. 2025) . The river gauge on the Swannanoa River at Biltmore (NC) recorded peak flood waters at 27.33 feet, significantly higher than the record from the 1916 flood records. The Nolichucky River at Embreeville (TN) had record flooding recorded at 33.88 feet, which is significantly higher than recorded from a 1901 flood event. At least 2,000 landslides were documented during and after the area was inundated and trees were blown over from wind gusts up to 90 mph (Hagan et al. 2025) . Wind gusts associated with Hurricane Helene ranged from a sustained 50 knots. NOAA recorded wind gusts of 76 mph in Haywood County, 88 mph in Watauga County, and 92 mph at Mt. Mitchell in Yancey County. Winds of this magnitude, coupled with saturated soils and steep slopes, contributed to soil liquefaction and landslides (Hagan et al. 2025) .
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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