Chapter 4 Habitats
Major tributaries of the Seneca River in North Carolina include the Toxaway, Horsepasture, Thompson, and Whitewater rivers.
Land use cover in the basin is 91% forested, 1% agricultural, 7% urban or developed, and less than 1% grassland and wetland (MRLC 2011; Jin et al. 2013) . A significant portion of the basin is publicly owned land, primarily Nantahala National Forest (189,060 acres), Pisgah National Forest (107,111 acres), NCWRC game lands (nearly 3,000 acres), and Gorges State Park (7,640 acres). 4.5.16.2 Aquatic Resource Conditions Water quality is generally good for areas where data are available; however, there are problems in parts of the basin (described below), and the lack of data for nearly half the basin provides an unclear assessment of overall water quality. Most of the Tugaloo River tributaries in North Carolina and four miles of the Horsepasture River are designated Outstanding Resource Waters (ORW), and portions of Bearwallow Creek and Whitewater River are designated High-Quality Waters (HQW). The requirements for classification as ORW are more stringent than those for HQW and in some circumstances, the unique characteristics of the resources require that a specialized management strategy be developed (NCDWQ 2015d) . Water quality in the Savannah River Basin is excellent in major streams and most small headwater streams. There are 211 miles and 619 acres of NCDWR-designated Trout waters (Tr) in the basin. This is not the same as the NCWRC’s designated Public Mountain Trout Waters, which are waters open to public trout fishing. There are several small reservoirs, including Cashiers Reservoir, Fairfield Reservoir, and Toxaway Reservoir, and many smaller ponds associated with golf courses and second home developments in the Cashiers/Highlands area. 4.5.16.3 Aquatic Species Appendix 3 provides lists of SGCN and other priority species for which there are knowledge gaps or management concerns. Appendix 3 Table 3-18 identifies aquatic SGCN associated with aquatic communities found in this river basin. 4.5.16.4 Threats Affecting Aquatic Species Development. While much of the North Carolina portion of the basin is in national forest and state-owned lands, development is increasing on private lands. There are no permitted Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) in the basin, but nutrient enrichment may be a problem (NCDWQ 2012g). Nonpoint source problems (primarily erosion and sedimentation) from land clearing, removal of riparian vegetation, and rural roads are potential problems. Impoundments. According to the National Aquatic Barrier Inventory & Prioritization Tool (SARP 2024) , there are 71 dams in the basin. Most impoundments are small, privately owned lakes used
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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