Chapter 4 Habitats
have excellent water quality (NCDWQ 2025) . This includes freshwater segments of the Neuse, Eno, Little, and South rivers. Coastal estuarine waters of the Intracoastal Waterway, Core and Pamlico sounds, and their bays carry a HWQ classification (NCDWR 2025) . The Neuse River Estuary is made up of the Pamlico Sound, upper Core Sound, West Bay, Barry Bay, Rumley Bay, Cedar Island Bay, Back Bay, and other estuarine embayments and tributaries. The HQW classification includes NSW and ORW classifications (NCDWQ 2009) . Deep Creek and Rocky Fork Branch in the Flat River watershed have been classified as Outstanding Resource Waters (ORW) to protect the exceptional water quality in the watershed (NCDWQ 2009) . There are 63,513 acres of saltwater ORW in the Neuse River basin (NCDWQ 2009) . There are ORW Special Management Strategy Areas in the basin for Deep Creek (23,660 acres and 22 stream miles). Restrictions on permits for marinas and NPDES discharges are in place for the Neuse-Southeast Pamlico Sound, Core Sound, Thorofare Bay, with Pamlico and Back Sound Areas (126,940 acres) (NCDWR 2015c) . These areas require site-specific provisions to protect resource values (no new discharges or expansion of existing discharges) (see 15A NCAC 02B.0225). A statewide fish consumption advisory from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health is in place due to mercury contamination (https://epi.dph.ncdhhs.gov/oee/fish/arcg.html). Fish such as Blackfish (Bowfin), Largemouth Bass and Chain Pickerel (Jack Fish) have been found to have high mercury levels (NCDWR 2021) . 4.5.12.3 Aquatic Species Appendix 3 provides lists of aquatic SGCN and other priority species for which there are knowledge gaps or management concerns. Appendix 3-18 identifies aquatic SGCN associated with the aquatic communities found in this river basin. In addition to the crayfish, freshwater fish and mussels, and aquatic snails found in the basin, there are also species that have both aquatic and terrestrial stages to their life history. The following list of SGCN is also associated with the aquatic communities in the Neuse River Basin.
Federal Status
State Status
Common Name
Scientific Name
AMPHIBIANS Neuse River Waterdog
T
T
Necturus lewisi
DRAGONFLIES Coppery Emerald
-- -- -- -- --
Somatochlora georgiana
--
At-Risk
Gomphurus septima
Septima's Clubtail
Stylurus ivae
Shining Clubtail
--
Gomphurus ventricosus Gomphurus lineatifrons
Skillet Clubtail
--
Splendid Clubtail
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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