Chapter 4 Habitats
Impoundments. According to the National Aquatic Barrier Inventory & Prioritization Tool (SARP 2024) , there are 2,793 dams in the basin. While many are used for recreation, flood control or stormwater management, irrigation, or water supply, six are licensed for by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for hydroelectric energy production: Roanoke Rapids (Northampton and Halifax counties); Gaston South Saddle (Halifax County); and Town of Mayodan Mayo River (Rockingham County) (SARP 2024) . These can physically alter instream habitat, change flow regimes, and often reduce DO levels. Water withdrawals for irrigation and similar uses further change flow patterns and reduce the quality/quantity of the habitat available for aquatic species (NCDWQ 2002) . Large reservoirs in the Roanoke River Basin include Hyco, Mayo, Kerr, and Lake Gaston. The Mayo and Hyco reservoirs provide water for cooling Duke Energy’s coal-fired power plants. Hyco Lake has been listed on the state’s impaired waters list for exceeding thresholds for mercury. Freshwater streams in the eastern portion of the basin are heavily used by anadromous fishes, and impoundments are barriers to movement between coastal and upstream freshwater spawning habitats. Development. According to 2010 census data, there was a population increase of roughly 1.5% in the North Carolina portion of the basin from 2000 census data (NCDWR 2012) . Recent Census data for the period 2010 to 2014 estimate a slight population decrease for the Roanoke Rapids area and the basin’s counties (USCB 2015) . However, development in adjacent urbanizing areas of central Piedmont, including the Greensboro-High Point area and the Triangle region, is likely to spur demands for water supplies that could result in interbasin withdrawals from the Roanoke River Basin (NCOEE 2007) . 4.5.15.5 Basin Specific Recommendations Conservation priorities that apply statewide to all river basins are presented in Section 4.5.3. Priority 12-digit HUCs in the Roanoke River Basin are shown in Figure 4.5.15-2 at the end of this section. 4.5.15.5.1 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.
4 - 492
2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator