Chapter 4 Habitats
Priority Conservation Action, Examples of Focal Species or Focal Habitats • Identify ways to eradicate or reduce the impacts of nonnative species throughout the basin as well as proactively preventing future introductions. Blue Catfish Flathead Catfish Japanese Mystery Snail Chinese Mystery Snail Hydrilla 4.5.20.5.4 Management Practices Management practices that reduce impacts and work synergistically with other conservation actions are needed to enhance the resilience of natural resources. Particular needs include preserving biodiversity, protecting native populations and their habitats, and improving degraded habitats. In addition, education about, and regulation and prevention of, the introduction and spread of exotic or invasive species are vital. Specific issues in this basin include secondary and cumulative impacts upon water quality, riparian vegetation and stream bank restoration and conservation, mitigation of hydropower development impacts, and species restoration opportunities. Priority Conservation Action, Examples of Focal Species or Focal Habitats • Promote programs to upgrade or increase compliance at wastewater treatment facilities and CAFOs.
• Provide support for land protection, particularly in riparian areas through acquisition or easements.
• Support well-planned stream restoration work in collaboration with other organizations.
• Support measures to remove relict or non-functioning stream barriers where appropriate.
• Reintroduce or augment rare mollusk and fish species populations in areas where water quality and stream habitats have recovered sufficiently to support them.
• Continue to identify areas critical to aquatic ecosystem health that can be conserved or restored.
• Promote prevention and awareness of the spread of exotic species and damage to native resources, communities and economic impacts.
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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