FISHES
Hurricane Helene Updates
F oothills Region Aquatic Wildlife Diversity biologists assessed hurricane impacted reaches throughout the Fall and Winter of 2024. Primary counties impacted in the Foothills Region include: Polk, Rutherford, McDowell, Burke, Avery, and Caldwell. Within these counties certain priority areas with SGCN and state listed aquatic species may be heavily affected. Primary rivers affected in the region include: Green, Broad, Catawba, Linville, Warrior Fork and Wilson Creek. In order to better understand the impacts of Hurricane Helene on aquatic species and habitats, the Foothills Region Aquatic Wildlife Diversity biologists set out to assess 10 fish and mussel sites in some of the impacted areas, primarily in the Catawba and Broad. Initial observations were somewhat positive for some SGCN fish species, like Seagreen Darter. In order to better understand the impact to aquatic nongame species, a more rigorous, focused survey regime is planned for 2025.
GOOGLE 2023
Wilson Creek upstream of Adako Road, Caldwell County, before and after Hurricane Helene.
MICHAEL PERKINS/NCWRC
64 2024 Wildlife Diversity Program Annual Report
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