Chapter 4 Habitats
Land use in the basin is 25% forested, 32% wetland, 12% urban or developed, 3% grassland, and 11% agricultural (MRLC 2011) . Public lands make up a large portion of this basin and include all or portions of the Croatan National Forest, Hoffman State Forest, Rocky Run, Stones Creek, Carteret County and White Oak River game lands, and Camp Lejeune. The estimated 2010 human population was 336,209, which represents an increase of more than 40% since 1990 and significantly exceeds predicted increases (USCB 2012; NCDWR 2015h) . 4.5.19.2 Aquatic Resource Conditions There are a number of impaired streams in this drainage, totaling 169.3 miles (NCDWR 2014a) . There are 68 water bodies (stream reaches, intracoastal waterways, sounds, bays) that have an Outstanding Resource Waters (ORW) classification and 187 water bodies that have a High Quality Waters (HQW) classification, because they either have excellent water quality or they are a significant resource to humans and/or wildlife (NCDWQ 2015d) . Site-specific management strategies have been developed to protect water quality conditions and the outstanding resource values of some ORW. Generally, these strategies restrict new discharges or expansions of existing discharges and can require expanded stormwater controls (NCAC 2019) . The following specific ORWs in the White Oak River Basin have special management strategies. • Roosevelt Natural Areas, all fresh and saline waters in NCDWR Stream Index Nos. 20-36- 9.5-(1) and 20-36-9.5-(2)] • Core Sound section of the Southeast Pamlico, Core, and Back Sound Area, all waters of Core Sound and its tributaries • Western Bogue Sound section of the Western Bogue Sound and Bear Island Area, including Taylor Bay and the Intracoastal Waterway • Back Sound section of the Southeast Pamlico, Core, and Back Sound Area, including Shackleford Banks, Middle Marshes, Harker’s Island • Bear Island section of the Western Bogue Sound and Bear Island Area, including Goose Creek, Queen Creek, Huggins Island, and Dudley Island 4.5.19.3 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. 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 are also associated with the aquatic communities in the basin
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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