Chapter 4 Habitats
2003. As of 2002, the agriculture sector exceeded its collective 30% nutrient reduction goal, and in 2013, reported a 43% reduction in estimated nitrogen loss to the basin through the implementation of a combination of BMPs, crop shifts, fertilization rate reductions, and loss of overall cropland acres (NCDWR 2015d) . Nutrient stormwater controls are in place for only 54% of the basin. The Tar-Pamlico stormwater rule establishes nutrient export goals for new residential and commercial development projects within the planning and zoning jurisdictions of six of the largest and fastest-growing local municipalities and five counties within the basin. The municipalities are: Greenville, Henderson, Oxford, Rocky Mount, Tarboro, and Washington. The counties are: Beaufort, Edgecombe, Franklin, Nash, and Pitt. Each of these local governments has successfully implemented and managed its stormwater program since 2006 and continues to achieve nutrient export targets through a combination of on-site BMPs and off-site nutrient offsets (NCDWR 2014) . Impoundments. According to the National Aquatic Barrier Inventory & Prioritization Tool (SARP 2024) , there are 2,627 dams in the basin. Most are small, privately owned earthen dams impounding waters for recreation and agriculture uses. There are no FERC-licensed facilities. Impoundments in the basin have affected aquatic species by physically altering habitat, reducing flows and DO, and causing erosion. Modification of flow regimes by upstream impoundments affects various life history characteristics of downstream migratory fishes and other aquatic fauna by limiting dispersal and recolonization. Additionally, water withdrawals for irrigation reduce the amount of habitat available for aquatic species (NCDWQ 2009) . Development. The Upper Tar subbasin has and will likely continue to observe the largest population growth of any of the subbasins, due in large part to its proximity to Raleigh. As the population continues to increase in areas of the basin, the potential exists for the basin to become more vulnerable to water quantity demands and other water management issues. 4.5.17.5 Basin Specific Recommendations Conservation priorities that apply statewide to all river basins are presented in Section 4.5.3. Priorities identified in the Tar-Pamlico River Basin are shown in Figure 4.5.17-2 at the end of this section. 4.5.17.5.1 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
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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