Join us for the 4th Annual Lake James Watershed Symposium

2018 State of the Lake James Watershed

Acknowledgements

Chemical Analysis of Water Quality

Summary Acknowledgements Nutrients Conductivity Acidity/Alkalinity Chlorophyll a Fecal Coliform Other Considerations Conclusions, Areas of Concern, and Next Steps

Biological Survey

Summary Acknowledgements Why Monitor Macroinvertebrates? Stream Habitat Assessment LJEA Field Assessment Procedures Macroinvertebrate Data and Biotic Index Scores Other Biological Surveys in the Watershed Habitat Data and Scores Conclusions, Areas of Concern, and Next Steps

Erosion and Sedimentation

Summary Acknowledgements Importance of Erosion and Sedimentation to Water Quality River and Lake Sediment and Turbidity Monitoring in the Lake James Watershed LJEA Stream Assessments Lake James Shoreline Erosion Lake James Sedimentation Mapping Related Materials

Land Cover Analysis

Summary Acknowledgements Land Use / Land Cover and Water Quality Methods used in the LJEA 2018 Land Cover Analysis Land Cover changes for each Hydrologic Unit Land Cover changes in the riparian zone for each Hydrologic Unit Conclusions, Areas of Concern and Next Steps

Trash Assessment

Summary Acknowledgements Background Conclusions

State of the Fishery

Summary Acknowledgements About the NC Wildlife Resources Commission Lake James Watershed State Fish Hatcheries Trout Program Watershed Trends and Threats Actions

2017 Survey of Public Opinion

Other Lake James Watershed Organizations

Have Comments or Questions?

Habitat Data and Scores

The following maps present an overview of the Habitat Scores at the 19 sample sites. A total of 15 sites were assessed in the Catawba Watershed and streams directly tributary to Lake James on 27 January 2018 and 6 February 2018 using the LJEA Field Assessment Protocol. The assessment data forms can be reviewed here. Assessments of sites in the Linville Watershed were conducted on 8 April 2018. Habitat scores range between 0 and 100; the better the habitat the higher the score. The best sites, with Habitat Scores of 90 or above, were: Mill Creek at Andrews Geyser, Paddys Creek and Curtis Creek. One site, Crooked Creek at Bat Cave Road, had a low Habitat Score of 44. A spreadsheet presenting the components of the Habitat Assessment and the scoring for each site is available here. Click on the map below for the Habitat Scores of each sample site.

The Habitat Assessments will be repeated at each of the sample sites in the fall of 2018.

Join the initiative
to protect Lake James

Become a Member

Contribute

Volunteer

Sign up for News & Updates