The Coosa River Basin is a hotspot for freshwater biodiversity and the focus of substantial research and conservation effort. The Upper Coosa consists of three headwater rivers, the Conasauga, Coosawattee and Etowah, their many tributaries and the agricultural, industrial, rural and densely populated lands that surround them. These watersheds are home to a dozen threatened or endangered aquatic species plus a fascinating diversity of plants and wildlife above and below the river’s surface. 

A river with boulders in the main channel and fall foliage along the banks
Image Details
The Conasauga River during the fall

The Conasauga basin supports about 90 native fish species, including more than a dozen of rare or endangered species. The Conasauga has historically supported at least 44 mussel species, but only about 20 species remain.

The Coosawattee flows about 25 miles from the town of Ellijay to Calhoun. It is dammed to form Carters Lake just downstream of Ellijay. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Carters Dam is the tallest earthen-fill dam in North America and creates a 400-foot deep reservoir. A second, re-regulation dam is located downstream of this dam.  Two crayfish and a fish are endemic to the Coosawattee River system.

A relatively small watershed, the Etowah River supports a diversity of life comparable to much larger river systems. Extending through ten counties, the Etowah’s amazing variety of aquatic species includes an estimate at one time of 91 native fish species. Unfortunately, there are concerns for the Etowah River's future health. Several native aquatic species are no longer found there. Two fish species, the amber darter and Etowah darter, are listed as federally endangered. A third, the Cherokee darter, is a federally threatened fish species. Most native mussels have been extirpated.

The Conasauga and Coosawattee come together to form the Oostanaula River, which flows 47 miles to Rome where it meets the Etowah to form the Coosa.

The Partnership for the Upper Coosa is a group of federal, state, and non-profit organizations working together in northwest Georgia to conserve the rich endemic ecosystem of the Upper Coosa.

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Contact Information

Joseph Kirsch
Partners for Fish and Wildlife Biologist (North Georgia)
Partners for Fish and Wildlife
Expertise
Native fish and aquatic species assemblages,
Adaptive fishery management,
Fish monitoring and population assessments,
Aquatic and riparian restoration and enhancement,
Invasive fish and plant species control,
Partnerships,
Grants and cooperative agreements
+1678-340-0796
Send a Message
Athens,GA

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Latest News

Two people hold a broad net in a river with green vegetation on the banks.
Our Partners
Shoal-Searching in the Conasauga
FWS Biologist joined University of Georgia team in monitoring fish communities in the Conasauga River, Georgia.
A man sitting alongside a creek.
Endangered Species Act
Mussel Man
ESA 50th Anniversary: More Important than Ever The Endangered Species Act of 1973 is the nation’s most important, and successful, tool to protect animals and plants at risk of extinction. The act currently covers 1,683 U.S. species and 646 foreign species. It serves as the emergency room for fish...
A stream through the mountains.
Endangered Species Act
An Endangered River Worth Saving
ESA 50th Anniversary: More Important than Ever The Endangered Species Act of 1973 is the nation’s most important, and successful, tool to protect animals and plants at risk of extinction. The act currently covers 1,683 U.S. species and 646 foreign species. It serves as the emergency room for fish...