Coosa River - Flora and Fauna Biodiversity Highlights

Flora and Fauna Biodiversity Highlights

In the Middle Coosa River Watershed, 281 occurrences of rare plant and animal species and natural communities have been documented, including 73 occurrences of 23 species that are federal or state protected. Ten conservation targets were chosen: the riverine system, matrix forest communities (oak hickory-pine forest), gray bat (Myotis grisescens), riparian vegetation, mountain longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) forest communities, red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis), critically imperiled aquatic species (fish, mussels, and snails), southern hognose snake (Heterodon simus), caddisflies, and imperiled plants. Maintaining the biodiversity of the Coosa River system is particularly important because it has already lost a significant portion of its aquatic fauna to extinction.

Category Summary Details

(S)=State Status (F)=Federal Status
Aquatic gastropods (snails) 82 species. According to research, 26 of the historically known 82 species of aquatic gastropods living in the Coosa River Basin, are now considered extinct!
  • In 2004, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources researchers discovered two, previously thought to be extinct, snails — The Coosa Elimia and The Teardrop Elmina — in a stretch of the Coosa River below Lake Neely Henry
 Endangered, Threatened, and Rare Species
Amphibians 37 species of amphibians exist in the Coosa River Basin. (9 of the 37 species are considered of "Special Concern" by the Georgia Natural Heritage Program) Endangered, Threatened, and Rare Species
  • Rare Amphibians: Green Salamander is "rare" in Georgia (S)
Fish 87 species representing 17 families (13 of the fish species have been listed for protection by Federal or State agencies as endangered, threatened, or rare.) The lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens), a threatened species and once prevalent in the Coosa River system until the 1960s, is being re-introduced by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

The Alabama Sturgeon, a former resident of the Coosa River below the fall line was placed on the endangered species list in September 2000

 Endangered, Threatened, Rare and Invasive Species
  • Endangered Fish: Blue Shiner (S), Frecklebelly Madtom(S), Freckled Madtom(S), Amber Darter(SF), Conasauga Logperch(SF), Freckled Darter (S), Etowah Darter (F)
  • Threatened Fish: Bluestripe Shiner(S), Holiday (Ellijay) Darter(S), Coldwater Darter(S), Etowah Darter(S), Cherokee Darter(SF), Trispot Darter(S), Goldline Darter(SF), Blue Shiner (F)
  • Rare Fish: Bigeye Chub (S), River Redhorse (S)
Mussels Freshwater Mussels serve as natural filtration systems that help keep the water clean and clear. Georgia has 98 species of mussels laying its claim to the most diverse mussel fauna of the 50 states. Eleven species of these mussels native to the Coosa basin are currently listed or proposed for listing as endangered or threatened. 13 species are now extinct! Alabama has one of the richest and most diverse assemblages of mussels in the world with about 180 species. Approximately two-thirds of North American mussel species have been reported from Alabama. Endangered, Threatened, and Rare Species
Plants

The upper Coosa watershed in northeastern Alabama and north Georgia is home to the majority of the remaining clumps of the endangered Green Pitcherplant.

 Endangered, Threatened, and Rare Species
  • Endangered Plants: Green Pitcherplant (SF)
  • Threatened Plants: Coosa Barbara Buttons (SF), Monkeyface Orchid (S), Little River Water-Plantain (S)
  • Rare Plants: Fraser Loosestrife (S)
Reptiles The southern hognose snake was a candidate species (C2) for listing as either threatened or endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). However, the USFWS discontinued the designation of C2 species as candidates for listing (50 CFR 17; 28 February 1996). The southern hognose snake is considered to be a species of concern, but more biological research and field study are needed to resolve its conservation

status.

 Endangered, Threatened, and Rare Species
  • Rare Reptiles: Southern Hognose Snake (S)
Birds and mammals

The Bald Eagle, once an endangered species now has nesting populations on and in the vicinity of Coosa River impoundments The largest concentration of clusters in Alabama of the Red-cockaded Woodpecker, an endangered species, occurs on lands adjacent to Lake Mitchell under the stewardship of Alabama Power.

 Endangered, Threatened, and Rare Species
  • Endangered Species: Red-cockaded woodpecker (F), Gray Bat (F)
  • Threatened Species: Bald Eagle (F)

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