3/23/2015 Etowah HCP- About the Etowah region 

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aquatic habitat conservation p 

b c roun 

background 

etowah aquatic HCP 

overview 

about the etowah 

about the species 

about esa & hcps 

maps 

faqs 

press 

pi nnin proce r arch pclici ' ocum A 

about the etowah region 

The Etowah River is a major headwater tributary of 

the Coosa River system of the Mobile River drainage. 

Lying entirely within Georgia at the foothills of the 

Southern Appalachians, it originates in the Blue Ridge 

physiographic province but also drains Piedmont and 

Valley & Ridge provinces. Because the mainstem of 

the Coosa is impounded by reservoirs along most of its 

length, many species that were originally more 

widespread are now found only in the Etowah and 

other headwater tributaries. In fact, the Etowah itself 

is split by the 4800-hectare Lake Allatoona, and the 

imperiled mainstem species are only found above the 

reservoir. 

The Etowah Basin lies on the north edge of the 

Atlanta metropolitan area. The suburban counties that comprise the lower portion of the 

system have been among the fastest growing counties in the nation over the last 

decade. In 1998, one of them (Forsyth County) was ranked as the fastest-growing 

county nationwide. Over the course of the 1990s the Atlanta metropolitan area added 

more people than any other region in the U.S. except Los Angeles. 

Several sensitive small-stream fish species, including 

the Cherokee darter, appear to be declining. Smallstream habitat in the developed portion of the basin is 

generally poor, due in large part to upland 

development. Agricultural lands and forests are being 

converted to subdivisions, industrial parks, shopping 

malls, and other developments at a rapid rate. As a 

result, riparian vegetation necessary for stabilizing 

stream banks and protecting water quality is being 

cleared; runoff from upland areas has increased and is 

of poorer quality; and stream geomorphology is being altered by filling, piping, 

channelization, altered stream flows and other modifications. These changes in land use 

frequently cause accelerated erosion that covers streambeds with silt and reduces 

foraging and spawning success of aquatic species. Additional small-stream habitat has 

been inundated by water-supply reservoirs built to support the burgeoning human 

population. 

While many of the mainstem aquatic species (such as the Etowah and amber darters) 

appear to be fairly stable, their range is limited to acceptable habitat in the Upper Etowah 

due to the presence of Allatoona Dam, a multi-purpose facility that evenly splits the river 

system. It is likely that unmanaged development along Etowah tributaries will lead to 

degradation of habitat and water quality in the mainstem and the further imperilment of 

these species. 

Reports 

Stressors to Imperiled Fishes in the Etowah Basin: Mechanisms, Sources and 

http://www.etowahhcp.org/background/region.htm 1/2 
3/23/2015 

For more information: 

Eric Prowell, Hydrologist 

Etowah HCP- About the Etowah region 

Management under the Etowah Aquatic HCP, Seth Wenger and Mary Freeman, 

February 1 2007 (PDF) 

Etowah River Basin Stressors Analysis, July 5 2002, Byron Freeman, Seth Wenger, 

Sarah McClurg and Carrie Straight; prepared for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. (PDF, 

6.5 MB) 

Etowah River Basin: A Study of Environmental Attitudes: Executive Summary, 

January 2003, A.L. Burruss Institute, Kennesaw State University, prepared for the 

Etowah Aquatic HCP (PDF, 14KB) 

USFWS, Georgia Ecological Services 

105 West Park Drive, Suite D. 

Athens GA 30606 

(706) 613-9493 

Eric_Prowell@fws.gov 

http://www.etowahhcp.org/background/region.htm 212 
3/23/2015 Etowah HCP- Imperiled species ofthe Etowah 

© 

aquatic habitat conservation p 

b c roun 

background 

etowah aquatic HCP 

overview 

about the etowah 

about the species 

amber darter 

bridled darter 

Cherokee darter 

Coosa chub 

Coosa madtom 

Etowah darter 

freckled darter 

holiday darters 

about esa & hcps 

maps 

faqs 

press 

pi nnin proce r arch pclici ' ocum A 

about the imperiled aquatic species of the 

etowah 

Ten imperiled aquatic species (nine fishes, three of 

which are federally listed as endangered or threatened, 

and a caddisfly) are known to inhabit the Etowah 

basin, and five others (mussels) are believed 

extirpated. 

The Etowah Aquatic HCP is proposed to formally cover 

the three federally listed fish species. The other six fish 

species are not proposed to be formally covered by the 

HCP but will benefit from the avoidance, minimization 

and mitigation measures in ways very similar to the 

listed species. The Etowah Aquatic HCP can serve as an 

appropriate basis for an HCP for these six species Etowah darter (Etheostoma etowahae) 

should they be listed in the future. 

The amber darter (Percina antesella) and the Etowah 

darter (Etheostoma etowahae) are federally listed as 

endangered, while the Cherokee darter (Etheostoma 

scottt) is listed as threatened; both the Etowah and Cherokee darter (Etheostoma scotti) 

Cherokee darters are endemic to the Etowah. The 

Coosa madtom (Noturus munitus), freckled darter 

(Percina lenticula), holiday darter (Etheostoma 

brevirostrum) and bridled darter (Percina sp. cf. 

macrocephala) are state-listed in Georgia and likely to 

be considered candidates for federal listing. 

Holiday darter (Etheostoma 

brevi rostrum) 

In addition, the holiday darters of the Etowah are 

believed to be two separate species, each endemic to a 

subwatershed of the Etowah. The Coosa madtom of 

the Upper Coosa is currently being described as a 

separate species. An undescribed species of Coosa chub 

(Macrhybopsis sp. cf. aestivalis) is also believed to be 

endemic to the Coosa; some of its best remaining 

habitat is in the Etowah River. 

Imperiled fish species of the Etowah basin 

Scientific Name 

Percina antesella 

Etheostoma etowahae 

Etheostoma scotti 

Noturus sp. cf. munitus 

Etheostoma sp. cf. 

Common Name 

amber darter 

Etowah darter 

Cherokee darter 

Coosa madtom 

holiday darter 

Status* 

Fed. E 

Fed. E 

Fed. T 

GA E/ Likely candidate 

GAT/ Likely candidate 

http://www.etowahhcp.org/background/species.htm 1/2 
3/23/2015 

For more information: 

Eric Prowell, Hydrologist 

Etowah HCP- Imperiled species ofthe Etowah 

brevirostrum A 

Etheostoma sp. cf. holiday darter 

brevirostrum B 

Percina kusha, formerly bridled darter 

Percina sp. cf. macrocephala 

Percina lenticula freckled darter 

Macrhybopsis sp. cf. aestivalis Coosa chub 

GAT/ Likely candidate 

GA Rare/Likely candidate 

GA E/ Likely candidate 

Likely candidate 

* Fed.=Federally listed, GA=Georgia/state listed, E=Endangered, T=Threatened, Likely 

candidate= likely to become a candidate for federal listing 

Federally listed mussel species formerly known from the Etowah and possibly extirpated 

include the upland combshell (Epioblasma metastriata), southern clubshell (Pieurobema 

decisum), finelined pocketbook (Lampsilis altilis), triangular kidneyshell (ptychobranchus 

greent) and Alabama moccasinshell (Medionidus acutissimus). 

Brachycentrus etowahensis is an endemic species of caddisfly that is likely to become a 

candidate for federal listing. It is apparently restricted only to the Piedmont portion of the 

Etowah River mainstem above Canton Georgia and a small reach of the Hiwassee River in 

Polk County, Tennessee. The population reported from the Little Tennessee River is 

apparently extirpated. The Etowah River harbors the largest population known. 

Other imperiled aquatic species in the Etowah basin, including mussels 

believed extirpated 

Scientific Name Common Name Status* 

Epiob/asma metastriata upland combshell Fed. E 

Pleurobema decisum southern clubshell Fed. E 

Lam psi/is altilis finelined pocketbook Fed. T 

ptychobranchus greeni triangular kidneyshell Fed. E 

Medionidus acutissimus Alabama moccasinshell Fed. T 

Brachycentrus etowahensis Etowah caddisfly Likely candidate 

* Fed.=Federally listed, GA=Georgia/state listed, E=Endangered, T=Threatened, Likely 

candidate= likely to become a candidate for federal listing 

USFWS, Georgia Ecological Services 

105 West Park Drive, Suite D. 

Athens GA 30606 

(706) 613-9493 

Eric_Prowell@fws.gov 

http://www.etowahhcp.org/backgroundlspecies.htm 212