Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for January–March 2025
Greer, South Carolina, worked with our staff to facilitate animal rescues and relocations before heavy machinery needed to pass through. In snorkel surveys, staff found 2 hellbenders and 3 mud- puppies, as well as 3 federally endangered Appalachian Elktoe mussels (Alasmidonta raveneliana) and 82 state endangered Slip- pershell mussels (Alasmidonta viridis) and moved them to safe, downstream locations out of harm’s way. Where possible, machinery stayed out of the river altogether and used adjacent roads and properties to access and remove only Helene-related debris and material that could put infra- structure and property at risk if another major flood happens, which should be the main goal of this work across western North Carolina. These contractors did not strip the banks and riparian zones clean and did not damage the riverbed in the process, as had been done in other waterways. Thus, Henderson County provided a nice example of how post-Helene cleanup can be done the right way in our mountain streams, when county, state, and private partners are willing to coordinate and take protec- tion of aquatic resources seriously.
Below: An adult mudpuppy in a measuring board that was res- cued and relocated to safety from Helene-related debris removal on private property in the Mills River watershed. Mudpuppies are state listed as a special concern species and are often confused with Eastern hellbenders. Bottom: An example of a large debris jam left from Helene in the Mills River system, Henderson County, is shown above. Before any work by county officials began, a lo- cal NGO, the Mills River Partnership, hired their own contractors, experienced in stream restoration, and supervised their cleanup work in sensitive waters. Their main goal was to remove these large obstacles to improve boater safety, help stop erosion, and to do so with as minimal impact as possible to the remaining habitat. In doing so, they provided another example of how debris cleanup can be done the right way.
BEN DALTON/NCWRC
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MARIA WISE
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