Summary of Scientific Findings for Southeast Atlantic States
from the National Fish Habitat Partnership's 2015 Through a Fish's Eye Report
Summary
The habitats of the Southeast Atlantic states range from the mountains and uplands in the Blue Ridge and Piedmont areas in the western portion of this region to the Southeastern and Coastal Plains. Fish habitats in the higher elevation regions are typically fast-moving, clear, coldwater streams originating from seeps and springs, while warmwater rivers of the plains carry more organic material and sediment. This diversity of habitats along a very long period of stable geologic activity produces one of the most diverse assemblages of aquatic species in the nation. The Altamaha, Chattahoochee, Flint, Savannah, Catawba, Pee Dee, Broad, and Neuse are major rivers of the region. There are a large number of dams on waterways of the Southeast [...]
Summary
The habitats of the Southeast Atlantic states range from the mountains and uplands in the Blue Ridge and Piedmont areas in the western portion of this region to the Southeastern and Coastal Plains. Fish habitats in the higher elevation regions are typically fast-moving, clear, coldwater streams originating from seeps and springs, while warmwater rivers of the plains carry more organic material and sediment. This diversity of habitats along a very long period of stable geologic activity produces one of the most diverse assemblages of aquatic species in the nation. The Altamaha, Chattahoochee, Flint, Savannah, Catawba, Pee Dee, Broad, and Neuse are major rivers of the region. There are a large number of dams on waterways of the Southeast Atlantic states.
The mountains of North Carolina and most of the coastal plain of all three states have a low risk of habitat degradation, although development is intensifying on some of the barrier islands of the coast. Based on the factors evaluated in this assessment, 67% of the inland stream area in the region was estimated to be at low to very low risk of current habitat degradation. On the other hand, 18 percent was predicted to be at high or very high risk of current habitat degradation. The threats to the regional aquatic habitats were generally from urban expansion, dams and water control structures, and agriculture. The key disturbances of streams classified with high or very high risk in the assessment of this region were: urban land use, dams, crop land use, and impervious surface cover.
Eighty-five percent of the estuarine area of the Southeast states was assessed as low or very low risk of current habitat degradation. Although many of the smaller estuaries in the Southeast Atlantic states have low or very low risk of current habitat degradation, the greatest overall risk tended to occur in North Carolina from agricultural and urban land use runoff containing excess nutrients and pollutants. Some estuaries with overall moderate risk of current habitat degradation have a very high risk of degradation from pollution, such as Charleston Harbor, which had the highest pollution sub-index of disturbance score for the region.
The U.S Geological Survey (USGS) is partnering with the National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP) to produce the 2015 report entitled, "Through a Fish's Eye: The Status of Fish Habitats in the United States 2015". The information contained within this item is a product of NFHP. The Bureau is neither responsible nor liable for the accuracy or the use of the scientific content within this item. This content is considered preliminary pending subsequent review and approval.
