Chapter 4 Habitats
4.5.17.4 Threats Affecting Aquatic Species Invasive Species. Invasive species (e.g., Red Swamp Crayfish, Green Sunfish, Redear Sunfish, Channel and Flathead catfish, Asian Clam) have become established in the basin and continue to negatively impact native species populations (Fuller et al. 1999; Cooper 2005) . Pollution. Nutrient enrichment of the waterbodies within this basin continues to be the main water quality issue and the focus of regulatory- and strategy-related activities. Overall water quality in the Fishing Creek watershed is considered excellent; however, nutrient data analysis conducted by NCDWR indicates an increase in nitrogen concentrations since 1991. This watershed is a NCDWR priority for aquatic threatened and endangered species protection. Water quality standards have not been met in the Pamlico River Estuary even though the NSW strategy has been implemented by wastewater treatment plant dischargers, municipal stormwater programs, and agricultural programs. The trend analyses point toward a rise in organic nitrogen. This warrants identifying sources and reducing inputs of organic nitrogen throughout the basin. Potential sources that need more research include groundwater and atmospheric deposition (NCDWR 2014) . The Tar-Pamlico Basin Association (TPBA) currently has 16 members representing 20 discharge facilities that account for 98% of the known effluent flow to the basin. The remaining 2% of effluent flow is from 18 small facilities that have permit limits based on their size and capability. All National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitted facilities use 7Q10 standards (the lowest stream flow for seven consecutive days that would be expected to occur once in 10 years) as critical flow in determining permit limits for non-carcinogen toxicants (USEPA 2013b) . Low-flow conditions impact the ability of a stream to assimilate both point and nonpoint source pollutants. Droughts, as well as the demand on water resources, are likely to increase; therefore, the reevaluation of stream flow will become more critical to water quality in the future (NCDWR 2015d) . Water Quality . There are 118 permitted Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) for cattle, poultry, and swine production in the Tar-Pamlico River Basin with 241 waste lagoons associated with the facilities (NCDEQ 2024c) . Waste from these sites contains high levels of nutrients (e.g., nitrogen and phosphorus) in addition to fecal coliform bacteria and chemical compounds, such as antibiotics or hormone products used in commercial feeding operations (NCDWR 2015b) . Animal-waste lagoons and spray fields that discharge near or into aquatic environments are a source of contamination from runoff, percolation into groundwater, and volatilization of ammonia and the release of bacterial contamination. These sources can significantly degrade water quality and endanger human and animal health (Mallin 2003; Mallin and Cahoon 2003) . The progress achieved by the agriculture sector in implementing the Tar-Pamlico Agriculture Nutrient Control Strategy Rule is well documented in the Annual Agricultural Progress Reports submitted to the NCDNCR Environmental Management Commission (EMC) every fall since
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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