Download Little Tennessee River Basin

LITTLE TENNESSEE
T
RIVER
BASIN
he Little Tennessee River Basin contains famed trout streams, the world-renowned
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a staggering diversity of aquatic wildlife
and sparkling, clear rivers that squeeze through forested picture-perfect gorges.
Va
The basin is named for the Little Tennessee
River, which flows north into North Carolina
from Georgia. Its major tributaries include
Tenn
the Cullasaja, Nantahala, Tuckasegee and
Cheoah rivers. Major lakes in the basin are
Fontana, Santeetlah, Nantahala and Glenville. The
concrete dam that impounds Fontana Lake is the highest in the eastern United States at 480
feet. The Little Tennessee River flows into the Tennessee River once it crosses the North
Carolina-Tennessee border and eventually enters the Gulf of Mexico.
Water quality in the basin is generally excellent. Over half the land in the basin is publicly
owned, and 89 percent of the land is forested. Most of the basin’s population lives in and
around Franklin, Sylva and Cherokee, a reservation that is home to the entire Eastern Band
of Cherokee Indians, which numbers 12,500. Macon County, which includes the towns of
Franklin and Highlands, is the basin’s fastest-growing county.
profile:
Total miles of
streams and rivers:
2,565
Municipalities
within basin: 9
Counties
within basin: 6
Size: 1,797
square miles
Population:
79,493
(2000 Census)
(in North Carolina)
The upper Little Tennessee River travels in wide meanders through
pastures and farmland before reaching Emory Dam below Franklin. In
the 25 miles downstream of Lake Emory, the river bends from north to
west, becoming rocky, swift and wild as it rushes between the Cowee
and Nantahala mountains through the Little Tennessee River Gorge.
The gorge contains a rich, expansive and undisturbed mountain forest
with such rare plant species as mountain camellia and wild petunia.
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The river otter was reintroduced in the basin in
1992 (above); Little
Tennessee River (left)
A Crayfish Imposter
T
he rainbow is a mussel that acts like a …
crayfish? Besides an eyespot on its mantle
that resembles a crayfish’s and innards that look
like crayfish legs and antennae, the anchored
rainbow mussel can actually rock back and
forth. It mimics the movement of a crayfish,
right down to the crustacean’s tail-tucking
habit. Like all freshwater mussels, the rainbow
depends on fish to inadvertently pick up its
young and eventually transport them to a
permanent home. Mussels produce gelatinous
“packages” full of microscopic larvae called
glochidia. By mimicking species that fish prey
upon, mussels attract “host” fish. The mussel lar-
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vae attach to the fish and extract nutrients until
they fall off, settle to the bottom and grow shells.
S.G. TILLEY
Numerous picturesque gorges are found through- The rare Junaluska salamander occurs in the
out the river basin. The Cullasaja Gorge on
the National Forest Scenic Byway is a spectac- Cheoah River floodplain.
ular sight with several waterfalls visible from
the road. Late afternoon sun produces rainbows at Bridal Veil Falls, a
waterfall you can drive underneath. A few miles from there, you can
walk under Dry Falls. The Nantahala Gorge is a geologically striking
gorge with straight sides—the steepest valley wall is nearly 1,100 feet
high. The area is known for its exciting whitewater rafting adventures.
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U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Dry Falls, Cullasaja
Gorge, Nantahala
National Forest (above);
Appalachian elktoe (right)
The Tuckasegee River originates in Panthertown Valley, which has
been called “the Yosemite of the East.” The broad, flat valley is
flanked by the bare, curved faces of granite cliffs. The Tuckasegee’s
headwater creeks in Panthertown Valley include 20 miles of native
brook-trout streams that are classified as Outstanding Resource
Waters by the state. Closer to the community of Tuckasegee, other
headwater creeks tumble into the river at the Bonas Defeat Gorge,
which features steep cliffs and distinctive water-sculpted rocks. A 250foot waterfall cascades nearby on Flat Creek.
In addition to its beauty, the Little Tennessee River system has an attribute that makes it unique among Blue Ridge rivers. With the recent
reintroduction of river otters, streams in the basin now retain their full
complement of native aquatic animals. This includes many species of
freshwater creatures that have disappeared from other streams. Its
seven rare mussel species make the “Little T” one of the two most
significant mussel sites in the state (the Tar-Pamlico basin is the other).
KEVIN ADAMS
View of Panthertown
Valley from Salt Rock,
Nantahala National Forest
The Appalachian elktoe and the littlewing pearlymussel, both federally listed as endangered
species, are found in the basin. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has designated three segments of the Little Tennessee, Tuckasegee and Cheoah rivers, comprising 80 miles, as “critical habitat” for the Appalachian elktoe. The basin also is home to three rare fish species,
including the yellowfin shiner; the secretive bog turtle; and four rare salamander species.
One of the best populations of the rare Junaluska salamander occurs in the Cheoah River
WAYNE VAN DEVENDER
floodplain; only seven populations in the
world are known, all of them here in Graham
County and parts of neighboring Tennessee.
The salamander is a candidate for federal
listing as an endangered species.
The basin lays claim to one of the most prized
natural areas in North America—the Great
Smoky Mountains National Park. The North
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Whitewater rafting in
Nantahala National Forest
(above); huge old-growth
yellow poplar, Joyce Kilmer
Memorial Forest (right)
Hellbender
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Cullasaja Falls in autumn
(far left); trout fishing
(above); Nantahala River
Gorge (left)
LITTLE TENNESSEE
RIVER BASIN
You may notice “Little
GEORGE HUMPHRIES
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Carolina portion of the park (the rest is in Tennessee) lies almost entirely within the basin. The
park has international significance due to its wildlife diversity. It boasts the greatest diversity
of amphibians in North America: 28 species of salamanders and 12 species of toads and frogs.
Some of the most famous trout streams in the state are found in the park, including Hazel,
Forney, Deep and Noland creeks.
Tennessee River Basin”
signs posted along highways throughout the
basin. The signs are part
of a statewide educational program to raise
public awareness that
we all live in a river basin
Another important and scenic natural area is Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, which shelters an
impressive stand of virgin tulip poplars and hemlocks. This cathedral-like cove forest contains
400-year-old trees—many of them soaring to 150 feet tall. Some of the trees have trunks 20
feet in circumference. The tree canopy shades the mosses and lichens that blanket the forest
floor, and it provides refuge for a host of warblers and other “neotropical” migratory songbirds
that pass through in spring and fall.
and that our individual
actions affect the quality
of its waters. Signs in all 17
river basins of the state
are made possible by
a partnership between
the N.C. Department of
Environment and Natural
One explanation for the basin’s diversity is that it has been relatively unchanged by human
activities compared to other river basins. This means that the river channels and landscape
have not been significantly altered and rivers have been dammed to a much lesser degree.
Indeed, the Little Tennessee River remains free-flowing for much of its length.
Resources and the N.C.
Department of Transportation, along with funds
from the Federal Transportation Enhancement
Sediment is the biggest threat to water quality in the basin. Historically, most of the eroded
soil came from fields, pastures and dirt roads. But in the past 20 years, a growing population
and increased development for homes and driveways have escalated sediment runoff.
Several conservation organizations are working to maintain the rural, scenic landscapes and
environmental resources of the Little Tennessee watershed, giving citizens many opportunities
Program.
Sunrise over the Great
Smoky Mountains (right);
the Little Tennessee River
Greenway at the boardwalk (below) and Tassee
Bridge (bottom)
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to get involved. The Little Tennessee Watershed Association grew
out of a 1993 conference on water quality and watershed issues
sponsored by the Town of Franklin and organized by concerned citizens, Tennessee Valley Authority and the Western North Carolina
Alliance. More than 200 people attended. The LTWA has helped
protect and restore the water quality and habitat of the Little Tennessee River and its tributaries upstream of Fontana Lake. The
organization collaborates on a riparian restoration program and
facilitates biological sampling throughout the watershed.
JASON HAILEY
GEORGE JAMES
Meanwhile, the Land Trust for the Little Tennessee works
to purchase land or negotiate conservation easements so
that vegetated buffers may be planted or protected along
waters. The root systems of such shrubs and trees trap sediment, filter certain pollutants and hold streambanks in
place. The Trust has been instrumental in gaining public
support for a conservation effort that will protect 27 miles
of riverfront on the Little Tennessee, 37 miles of tributary
streams and numerous wetland sites. Upon purchase, The
Nature Conservancy will transfer the “Needmore tract”
to the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. Long-time uses such as camping, hiking, fishing,
hunting and agriculture will continue. Another exciting conservation opportunity is a greenway
project in Macon County. The completed 6-mile greenway will follow the Little Tennessee
River and Cartoogechaye Creek, ending at Lake Emory. The path will include four scenic
pedestrian bridges, including two rescued historic bridges.
State of North Carolina: Governor Michael F. Easley • North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources: Secretary
William G. Ross Jr. • Office of Environmental Education: Project Manager Lisa Tolley • This publication was funded through the Clean
Water Act’s Section 319 Grant Program. Editor Carla Burgess • Designer Kimberly Schott, Red Gate Design • Special Thanks North
Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission • Date: 2002 • No state funds were used to print this public document.
Printed on recycled paper
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WHERE
SHOULD
I GO
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Fontana Lake
?
?
WHAT
CAN
I DO
WHO
SHOULD
I CONTACT
What makes the Little Tennessee River Basin so special? See for yourself. About half the
land is publicly owned, including the Nantahala National Forest and nearly 800 square miles
of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Also, visit these Environmental Education
Centers to discover more about your ecological address:
● Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont
● Great Smoky Mountains Mountain Farm Museum and Park Classrooms
● Highlands Nature Center
● Macon County Environmental Education Resource Center
● SOAR (Success Oriented Achievement Realized)
For more information about all the Environmental Education Centers in North Carolina,
call the Office of Environmental Education at (919) 733-0711, or check out the Web site
at http://www.ee.enr.nc.us.
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Do your part to positively influence water quality in the Little Tennessee River Basin.
Get involved in basinwide planning or a local organization interested in rivers and
streams in the river basin.
Take the time to learn about the environmental consequences of your actions.
The following contacts can provide information:
● North Carolina Office of Environmental Education, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, (800) 482-8724 or (919) 733-0711, Web site http://www.ee.enr. state.nc.us
● Stream Watch Program, Division of Water Resources, Department of Environment
and Natural Resources, (919) 733-4064, Web site http://www.ncwater.org
● Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory, (828) 524-2128, Web site http://coweeta.ecology.uga.edu
● Little Tennessee River Restoration and Greenway Project, (828) 349-2025, Web site
http://www.littletennessee.org
● Little Tennessee Watershed Association, (828) 369-6402, Web site http://www.
littletennesseewatershed.org
● Macon Tomorrow, Web site http://www.macontomorrow.org
● Watershed Association for the Tuckasegee River, Web site http://www.watrnc.org
● Upper Cullasaja Watershed Association, (828) 526-9938, ext. 23
● Land Trust for the Little Tennessee (formerly Nikwasi Land Trust), (828) 524-2711
● Little Tennessee River Basin Nonpoint Source Team, (828) 227-3506
● Southern Appalachians Highlands Conservancy, (828) 253-0095, Web site
http://www.appalachian.org
● Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Web site http://www.cherokee-nc.com/
● Western North Carolina Alliance (Franklin office), (828) 524-3899, Web site
http://www.wnca.org
● Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Division of Soil and Water Conservation,
Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Go to http://www.
enr.state.nc.us/DSWC for a listing of all county offices; call (919) 733-2302;
or check the blue pages in your local phone book.
To find out more about water quality in the Little Tennessee River Basin, contact the Division of Water Quality’s Basinwide Planning Program, Department of Environment and
Natural Resources, at (919) 733-5083, Web site http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/basinwide/.