Chapter 4 Habitats
Based on 2011 National Land Cover Dataset information (MRLC 2011; Jin et al. 2013) , land use cover in the basin is 79% forested, 10% agricultural, 10% developed or urban, 1% grassland, and less than 1% wetland (MRLC 2011; Jin et al. 2013) . Most land ownership is private, with less than 10% public lands (which includes portions of the Pisgah National Forest, Blue Ridge Parkway, Elk Knob Game Land, and Grandfather Mountain State Park). 4.5.18.2 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. There are more than 300 miles of freshwater streams in the basin that have been classified by NCDWR for best uses (NCDWR 2015dd, NCDEQ 2025f,g) . Some streams have more than one classification. There are 14 streams designated as High Quality Waters (HQW) in the basin, including the Watauga River. Seventeen streams have been designated Outstanding Resource Waters (ORW) (NCDWR 2025) . There are four streams designated as Critical Areas (CA) because of their proximity to drinking water supply waters (NCDEQ 2025f,g) . There are 53 streams designated by NCDWR as trout waters (Tr) in the basin (NCDEQ 2025) . NCDWR’s trout water designation is a supplemental classification that protects freshwaters for natural propagation of trout and survival of stocked trout on a year-round basis. This is not the same as the NCWRC’s designated Public Mountain Trout Waters, which are waters that support trout and are open to public fishing. 4.5.18.3 Aquatic Species Appendix 3 provides lists of SGCN and other priority species for which there are knowledge gaps or management concerns. Appendix 3-18 identifies aquatic SGCN associated with 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 may have both aquatic and terrestrial stages to their life history. The following list of SGCN is also associated with the aquatic communities in the basin
Federal Status
State Status
Common Name
Scientific Name
AMPHIBIANS
Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis Eurycea longicauda longicauda
PE
SC
Eastern Hellbender
Eastern Long-tailed Salamander
T
T
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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