Chapter 4 Habitats
4.5.9 Hiwassee River Basin 4.5.9.1 River Basin Description
The Hiwassee River is part of the Mississippi River System, with headwaters that begin in Georgia. The Hiwassee River flows generally to the northwest through North Carolina and into Tennessee, where it joins the Tennessee River. The North Carolina portion of the basin is located entirely within the Mountain ecoregion. Major tributaries in the basin include the Valley River, Nottely River, Tusquitee Creek, and Brasstown Creek. There are approximately 2,068 miles of freshwater streams and 10,583 acres of impoundments and reservoirs in the basin (NCDEQ 2025e; USGS and NHD n.d.) . The Hiwassee River Basin encompasses all or portions of two counties (Cherokee and Clay) and three municipalities (Andrews, Hayesville, and Murphy). Figure 4.5.9-1 depicts the geographic location of the basin.
Figure 4.5.9-1 Location of the Hiwassee River Basin.
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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