Endangered Species, Threatened Species,Federal Species of Concern, and Candidate Species,

Macon County, North Carolina

Updated: 01-31-2008

Critical Habitat Designations:

Spotfin chub (=turqoise shiner) - Erimonax monachus - Little Tennessee River, main channel from the backwaters of Fontana Lake upstream to the North Carolina-Georgia state line.
Federal Register Reference: September 22, 1977, Federal Register, 42:47840-47845.

Appalachian elktoe - Alasmidonta raveneliana - The main stem of the Little Tennessee River (Tennessee River system), from the Lake Emory Dam at Franklin, Macon County, North Carolina, downstream to the backwaters of Fontana Reservoir in Swain County, North Carolina. The main stem of the Little Tennessee River (Tennessee River system), from the Lake Emory Dam at Franklin, Macon County, North Carolina, downstream to the backwaters of Fontana Reservoir in Swain County, North Carolina. Within these areas, the primary constituent elements include: (i) Permanent, flowing, cool, clean water; (ii)Geomorphically stable stream channels and banks; (iii)Pool, riffle, and run sequences within the channel; (iv)Stable sand, gravel, cobble, boulder, and bedrock substrates with no more than low amounts of fine sediment; (v)Moderate to high stream gradient; (vi)Periodic natural flooding; and (vii)Fish hosts, with adequate living, foraging, and spawning areas for them.
Federal Register Reference: September 27, 2002, Federal Register, 67:61016-61040.

Definitions of Federal Status Codes:
E = endangered. A taxon "in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range."
T = threatened. A taxon "likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range."
C = candidate. A taxon under consideration for official listing for which there is sufficient information to support listing. (Formerly "C1" candidate species.)
BGPA =Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. See below.
FSC = federal species of concern. A species under consideration for listing, for which there is insufficient information to support listing at this time. These species may or may not be listed in the future, and many of these species were formerly recognized as "C2" candidate species.
T(S/A) = threatened due to similarity of appearance. A taxon that is threatened due to similarity of appearance with another listed species and is listed for its protection. Taxa listed as T(S/A) are not biologically endangered or threatened and are not subject to Section 7 consultation. See below.
EXP = experimental population. A taxon listed as experimental (either essential or nonessential). Experimental, nonessential populations of endangered species (e.g., red wolf) are treated as threatened species on public land, for consultation purposes, and as species proposed for listing on private land.
P = proposed. Taxa proposed for official listing as endangered or threatened will be noted as "PE" or "PT", respectively.

Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGPA):

In the July 9, 2007 Federal Register( 72:37346-37372), the bald eagle was declared recovered, and removed (de-listed) from the Federal List of Threatened and Endangered wildlife. This delisting took effect August 8,2007. After delisting, the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (Eagle Act) (16 U.S.C. 668-668d) becomes the primary law protecting bald eagles. The Eagle Act prohibits take of bald and golden eagles and provides a statutory definition of "take" that includes "disturb". The USFWS has developed National Bald Eagle Management Guidelines to provide guidance to land managers, landowners, and others as to how to avoid disturbing bald eagles. For mor information, visit http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/baldeagle.htm

Threatened due to similarity of appearance(T(S/A)):

In the November 4, 1997 Federal Register (55822-55825), the northern population of the bog turtle (from New York south to Maryland) was listed as T (threatened), and the southern population (from Virginia south to Georgia) was listed as T(S/A) (threatened due to similarity of appearance). The T(S/A) designation bans the collection and interstate and international commercial trade of bog turtles from the southern population. The T(S/A) designation has no effect on land management activities by private landowners in North Carolina, part of the southern population of the species. In addition to its official status as T(S/A), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service considers the southern population of the bog turtle as a Federal species of concern due to habitat loss.

Definitions of Record Status:
Current - the species has been observed in the county within the last 50 years.
Historic - the species was last observed in the county more than 50 years ago.
Obscure - the date and/or location of observation is uncertain.
Incidental/migrant - the species was observed outside of its normal range or habitat.
Probable/potential - the species is considered likely to occur in this county based on the proximity of known records (in adjacent counties), the presence of potentially suitable habitat, or both.