SPECIES
DIVERSITY
The
Tallapoosa
harbors 120 native fish species, four of which occur nowhere else outside
the basin. The system also is home to 31 species of mussel including three
federally listed species. Eleven species of crayfish are known to inhabit
the Tallapoosa system. (State of
Rivers)
The
Nature Conservancy classified 12 fish and mussel species from the lower
Tallapoosa
watershed and 6 species from the middle Tallapoosa
watershed as species at risk, and recommended conservation of the entire
basin to protect critical fish and mussel biodiversity in the United States. (State of
Rivers)
Because
of the nature of the basins metamorphic and igneous rocks in the middle and
upper reaches, the dissolved mineral content and resulting fertility of its
waters are relatively low compared to the rest of the ACT (Alabama / Coosa /
Tallapoosa) basin.
The
Piedmont portion of the Tallapoosa
River
system is home to at least 5 endemic fishes as well as a Federally listed
freshwater mussel, an endemic mussel taxon, two endemic crayfish species and
an endemic snail. (Freeman)
REMAINING MAINSTEM
HABITAT
The Tallapoosa's upper reach above Lake Wedowee is currently
unimpounded. The proposed West Georgia Regional Reservoir would partially
impound and fragment this remaining unregulated riverine habitat.
The
middle 50 mile reach of the Tallapoosa River from Harris dam downstream to
the head of Martin Lake is the only remaining Piedmont large-river habitat
remaining in the state of Alabama. (State of the Rivers)
Today,
over 60 fish species are known from the tailwaters and tributaries in this
reach, including the four endemic fish species already mentioned. Shoals in
the lower portion contain a few stands of the Cahaba Lily.
FISH
Historically, 134 fish species have been reported from the Tallapoosa River
basin. Fisheries include striped/white/hybrid basses, paddlefish (season
closed since 1987), black basses, sunfishes, catfishes, crappie.
Several studies of fish in the
Tallapoosa
basin have been conducted in conjunction with planning for the proposed West
Georgia Reservoir. Beisser (1990) developed an inventory of fish species in
the vicinity of the proposed reservoir and identified 72 species inhabiting
the drainage based on museum collections and literature citations, of which
46 were confirmed by electrofishing in 1989–1990. Of these, five species are
endemic to the
Tallapoosa basin and three are rare or exhibit unique distribution patterns
in Georgia.
The
upper portion of the basin before Harris Reservoir supports at least 50 fish
species, four of which are endemic to the basin: Tallapoosa shiner (Cyprinella
gibbsi), lipstick darter (Etheostoma chuckwachatte), Tallapoosa darter (E.
tallapoosae), and mottled sculpin (Cottus sp.cf.C. bairdi).
Georgia
state law protects eight fish from the Tallapoosa.
There
are no federally listed fish species in the upper Tallapoosa River
Watershed. (State of
Rivers)
The
upper basin (upstream of Harris Reservoir) harbors all four endemic fish
species
Tallapoosa darter (Etheostoma tallapoosae)
R
Rare or uncommon in GA; rare or apparently secure globally.
Tallapoosa sculpin (Cottus sp. Cf. C. Bairdi)
Muscadine darter (Percina sp. cf. P. macrocephala)
Six
fish species occurring within the Tallapoosa River basin have been listed
for protection by the State as endangered, threatened, or rare; however,
none of these species have been listed at the Federal level. Two of these
are the Tallapoosa and Lipstick darters mentioned above. The four others
include
Tallapoosa
Shiner (Cyprinella gibbsi)
R
Apparently secure globally; rare or uncommon in GA.
Stippled Studfish (Fundulus bifax)
E
Critically imperiled in GA because of rarity; globally
imperiled or rare.
Pretty Shiner (Lythrurus bellus)
T
Imperiled in GA because of rarity; demonstrably secure
globally.
Black Madtom (Noturus funebris)
R
Imperiled or critically imperiled in GA; demonstrably secure
globally.
In the
middle Tallapoosa
between Harris and Martin Dam has shown a decline in some species such as
the speckled chub (Macryhybopsis aestivalis), bullhead minnow (Pimephales
vigilax), madtom catfish (Noturus spp.) and redhorse suckers (Moxostomo spp.)
However, this section still supports populations of native fish. (State
of Rivers)
Prior
to construction of the three locks and dams on the Alabama, striped bass
ascended from the Gulf of Mexico up the Alabama and Tallapoosa rivers during
the spring, reaching the falls at Tallassee and the base of what is now
Thurlow dam. The Gulf Sturgeon may also have make this trek. These and other
anadromous fish are now extirpated from the Tallapoosa, their migrations
blocked by dams on the Alabama River. Other large river fish persist in the
lower main stem such as the paddlefish and a variety of suckers.
FISH STOCKING
The
Tallapoosa River basin has a number of designated secondary trout waters
in the upper portions of the system in Georgia.
Beach Creek, Flatwood Creek, Lassetter Creek, and the mainstem Tallapoosa
River have all been stocked with rainbow trout by Georgia Game and Fish.
Brook trout have also occasionally been stocked in Beach Creek and the
mainstem, as well as brown trout and smallmouth bass in the mainstem. (GA
DNR)
Fish status in the
Tallapoosa
Basin
MUSSELS
31 mussel
species are known from the Tallapoosa River basin. (State of
Rivers)
Of these, three are federally listed as threatened or endangered.
Endangered mussels are known from the Uphapee Creek watershed including its
tributaries Opintlocco and Chewacla creeks. (State of
Rivers)
The
Fine lined pocketbook (Lampsilis altilis), a threatened
species, was once common in rivers throughout the
Mobile
Basin. It is currently limited to single drainages within the Black Warrior,
Alabama, Coosa, and Cahaba
basins and two creeks in the Tallapoosa drainage, Chewacla and Opintlocco
Creeks.
The Southern clubshell
(Pleurobema decisum), an endangered species, was once
found in both the Uphapee and Chewacla Creeks of the
Tallapoosa.
Currently it appears to be limited to just Chewacla Creek and small portions
of the Alabama and Tombigbee systems.
The
Ovate clubshell (Pleurobema perovatum), an endangered
species, was once found througout the Mobile
River Basin.
Its historical range of Chewacla, Uphapee and Opintlocco Creeks in the Tallapoosa
drainage now appears to be limited to Chewacla Creek.
Quadrula archeri
Native
mussels appear exceedingly rare in the middle reach of the Tallapoosa
mainstem. (State of
Rivers)
Mussel status in the
Tallapoosa
Basin
#
threatened or endangered 3
SNAILS
PLANTS / OTHER
Of the
eleven species of crayfish known to inhabit the Tallapoosa system, two are
found nowhere else and are considered species of concern, Cambarus
englishi and Orconectes holti. (State of
Rivers and
GA DNR or Corps)
5
salamanders and 7 frogs dependant upon freshwater for a portion of their
lifecycle are know to occur in the basin. Two other salamanders do not
require an aquatic stage. As many as seventeen additional amphibians may
occur in the basin. (GA DNR) Many of these species are considered of
specieal concern
