Chapter 4 Habitats
The unimpounded reaches of the Nottely and Hiwassee rivers, downstream from dams, are affected by coldwater releases, altered hydrologic regimes, and periodic low levels of DO due to hypolimnetic and peaking power production releases from Chatuge and Nottely dams. Impoundment and thermal alteration may further affect native species by fragmenting available suitable habitat and isolating historically contiguous populations in tributaries. Water Quality. The NCDEQ monitors state waters to determine if they are supporting their use classification(s) and assigned use-support ratings. Reports for Lake Chatuge have shown it is consistently oligotrophic (offering little to sustain life) since monitoring first began (2012b) and ecological health has been rated primarily as either poor or at the low end of the fair range in most years (TVA 2021) . Periodic higher ecology health ratings have been associated with improved chlorophyll levels, higher levels of DO, timing and amount of rainfall, and changes to runoff and contaminants in sediment (TVA 2021) . The Hiwassee River Watershed Coalition and TVA developed the Lake Chatuge Watershed Action Plan (HRWC 2007) to serve as a restoration guide for returning the lake to good ecological health. Invasive Species. Nonnative species also pose potential threats to native aquatic species in the Hiwassee River Basin. The Blueback Herring, Asian Clam, Striped Bass, Snail Bullhead, Rainbow Trout, and Brown Trout are established in the basin. Blueback Herring appear to have an impact on game species (i.e., Walleye) in the Hiwassee Reservoir and Hiwassee River, but impacts to nongame species are unknown at present. Specific impacts from Asian Clam and introduced game fishes are also unclear. Other potential problems are indirect effects from invasive plant species and exotic pathogens that can significantly alter riparian vegetation (e.g., Japanese Knotweed, Hemlock Wooly Adelgid). 4.5.9.5 Basin Specific Recommendations Conservation priorities that apply statewide to all river basins are presented in Section 4.5.3.3. Priority 12-digit HUCs identified in the Hiwassee River Basin are shown in Figure 4.5.9-2 at the end of this section. 4.5.9.5.1 Surveys Surveys are systematic and scientific methods of collecting information about the distribution, abundance, and ecology of wildlife or their habitats in a specific area at a specific time. A habitat survey is a method of gathering information about the ecology of a site. The results of a habitat survey provide basic ecological information that can be used for biodiversity conservation, planning and/or management, including targeting of more detailed botanical or zoological investigations (Smith et al. 2011) . Repeated surveys using the same methods can provide information about conditions and changes to species assemblages and habitat composition over time. Priorities for conducting distributional and status surveys need to focus on species believed to be declining or mainly dependent on at-risk or sensitive communities. Lists of SGCN, knowledge gap, and management priority species are available in Appendix 3. Table 3-18 in
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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