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Home , Appalachian elktoe, Cheoah River, Fontana Lake, Hiwassee River, Little Tennessee River, Nantahala River

RIVER LITTLE BASIN T he Little Basin contains famed trout streams, the world-renowned National Park, a staggering diversity of aquatic wildlife and sparkling, clear rivers that squeeze through forested picture-perfect gorges. Va profile: The basin is named for the Little Tennessee Total miles of River, which flows north into streams and rivers: 2,565 Tenn from . Its major tributaries include the Cullasaja, Nantahala, Tuckasegee and Municipalities Cheoah rivers. Major lakes in the basin are within basin: 9

Fontana, Santeetlah, Nantahala and Glenville. The Counties concrete dam that impounds is the highest in the eastern at 480 within basin: 6

feet. The flows into the Tennessee River once it crosses the North Size: 1,797 Carolina-Tennessee border, and it eventually flows to the Gulf of Mexico. square miles

Population: Water quality in the basin is generally excellent. Over half the land in the basin is publicly 79,493 owned, and 89 percent of the land is forested. Most of the basin’s population lives in and (2000 U.S. Census) around Franklin, Sylva and , a reservation that is home to the entire Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, which numbers 12,500. Macon County, which includes the towns of Franklin and Highlands, is the basin’s fastest-growing county.

The upper Little Tennessee River meanders through pastures and farmland before reaching Emory Dam below Franklin. In the 25 miles downstream of Lake Emory, the river bends from north to west, becoming rocky, swift and wild as it rushes between the Cowee and Nantahala mountains through the Little Tennessee River Gorge. The gorge contains a rich, expansive and undis turbed mountain forest with such rare plant as mountain camellia and wild petunia. BILL LEA BILL LEA The river otter was reintro- duced into the basin in 1992 (above); Little Tennessee River (left) The Sound of Wilderness In autumn, an urgent wailing fills the Cata loochee Valley in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is the mating call of the elk, a sound that has been absent from the Southern Appa- lachian Mountains for more than 100 years. The population was decimated by overhunting and loss of habitat. Between 2001 and 2002, 52 elk were re-introduced into the area by the National Park Service. The elk have become one of the park's most popu- lar attractions. September, when the mating season begins, is prime time for viewing and listening. The male's "bugling" can be heard from a mile away, attracting females and challenging other bulls in the vicinity. Males use their antlers to intimidate their competition, though encounters are largely ritualistic and involve little physical contact. A male elk may weigh up to 700 pounds, stand as tall as 5 feet at the shoulder and have antlers that span 5 feet across. Early morning and late evening are the best times to view elk (from a safe distance). For driving directions, visit http://www.nps.gov/grsm/gsmsite/home/. MIKE DUNN

S.G. TILLEY Numerous picturesque gorges are found through- The rare sala- out the river basin. The Cullasaja Gorge on mander occurs in the the National Forest Scenic Byway is a spectac - floodplain. ular sight with several waterfalls visible from the road. Late afternoon sun produces rainbows at Bridal Veil Fal ls, a waterfall you can drive underneath. A few miles from there, you can walk under Dry Falls. The Nantahala Gorge is a geologically striking gorge with straight sides—the steepest valley wall is nearly 1,100 feet high. The area is known for its exciting whitewater rafting adventures.

The originates in Panthertown Valley, which has BILL LEA U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE been called “the Yosemite of the East.” The broad, flat valley is Dry Falls, Cullasaja flanked by the bare, curved faces of granite cliffs. The Tuckasegee’s Gorge, Nantahala headwater creeks in Panthertown Valley include 20 miles of native National Forest (above); brook-trout streams that are classified as Outstanding Resource (right) Waters by the state. Closer to the community of Tuckasegee, other headwater creeks tumble into the river at the Bonas Defeat Gorge, which features steep cliffs and distinctive, water-sculpted rocks. A 250- foot waterfall cascades nearby on Flat Creek.

In addition to its beauty, the Little Tennessee River system has an attri - bute that makes it unique among Blue Ridge rivers. With the recent reintroduction of river otters, most streams in the basin now retain their full complement of native aquatic . This includes many species of freshwater creatures that have disappeared from other streams. Its seven rare mussel species make the “Little T” one of the two most signif - icant mussel sites in the state (the Tar-Pamlico River Basin is the other).

KEVIN ADAMS View of Panthertown The Appalachian elktoe and the littlewing pearlymussel, both federally listed as endangered Valley from Salt Rock, species, are found in the basin. The sicklefin redhorse, a rare sucker fish, is a candidate for Nantahala National Forest listing. The 2-foot-long fish is olive green with a striking, crimson tail and a distinctive, sickle- shaped fin on its back. It lives nowhere else except a few clean stretches of river in the Little Tennessee and basins. Dams and built to provide hydropower, control and water supply are threats to the survival of some native species of mussels and fish. These structures alter stream dynamics, dis- WAYNE VAN DEVENDER rupting the movement of fish species that depend on cool, rocky, fast-flowing rivers.

A recent set of agreements between environ - mental agencies, conservation groups and the company that operates several dams in the river basin (Alcoa Inc.) has led to the repair Hellbender of two disconnected streams. In exchange for

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The Carolina northern flying squirrel, which is found in the Little Ten- nessee River Basin, is on the Endangered Species List. Other basin residents on the list include the spruce-fir moss spider and two bat species, the gray myotis and Indiana myotis. BILL LEA Cullasaja Falls in autumn (far left); trout fishing (above); Gorge (left)

LITTLE TENNESSEE RIVER BASIN

GEORGE HUMPHRIES BILL LEA You may have noticed this and many other conservation measures, the federal government renewed Alcoa’s license Little Tennessee River to operate these dams. One of the restored paths is a 9-mile stretch of the Cheoah River that Basin signs posted along had been dry for 75 years. The water in these streams is being manipulated to mimic natural highways. These were flows—both high and low. In an unprecedented action, the company also agreed to design and created through a part- operate systems to transport four endangered fish species—the spotfin chub, yellowfin madtom, nership between the Office of Environmental smoky madtom and duskytail darter—between disconnected tributaries and work with state Education and the N.C. and federal agencies throughout the region to help these fish populations recover. The stream Department of Trans- flows will also be re-designed to improve fishing, whitewater recreation and other activities. portation with funding from the Federal Trans- The basin lays claim to one of the most prized natural areas in North America—the Great portation Enhancement Smoky Mountains National Park. The North Carolina portion of the park (the rest is in Program. Signs in each of Tennessee) lies almost entirely within the basin. The park has international significance due the state's 17 river basins call attention to basin to its wildlife diversity. It boasts the greatest diversity of amphibians in North America: 30 boundaries and promote species of salamanders and 12 species of toads and frogs. Some of the most famous trout stewardship of public streams in the state are found in the park, including Hazel, Forney, Deep and Noland creeks. waters.

Another important and scenic natural area is Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, which shelters an impressive stand of virgin tulip poplars and hemlocks. This cathedral-like cove forest contains 400-year-old trees —many of them soaring to 150 feet tall. Some of the trees have trunks 20 feet in circumference. The tree canopy shades the mosses and lichens that blanket the forest floor, and it provides refuge to a host of warblers and other “neotropical” migratory songbirds that pass through in spring and fall.

Habitat degradation is the biggest threat to water quality in the Little Tennessee River Basin. When land is disturbed, eroded sediment washes into streams, muddying the water and Sunrise over the Great Smoky Mountains. BILL LEA harming aquatic organisms and their habitat. Bound to these sediments are fertilizers, pesticides and other pollutants. Historically, soil washed primarily from fields, pastures and roads. In the past 25 years, however, a growing population and accompanying land development have escalated runoff. Population in the basin is expected to increase by a third by 2020. Wise, efficient land-management practices will be necessary to protect streams and rivers.

Multiple conservation activities are helping maintain the rural, scenic landscapes and ecological resources within the basin. Conservation groups—with help from state trust funds, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and private donations—joined together to protect 26 miles of the Little Tennessee River between Franklin and Fontana Lake and 37 miles of tribut ary streams with the purchase of a 4,468-acre piece of land called the Needmore Tract. This area has been called the “Noah’s ark” of the Blue Ridge region because of its rich biological diversity— it shelters 57 species of fish and many rare and threatened species of freshwater mussels. Biologists hope the pristine streams here may one day be an important source for replenishing species lost or threatened in waterways throughout the Southeast. Managed by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, the tract preserves a con tinuous stretch of land between the Nantahala and Cowee mountains used as pathways by bears and other wildlife. Additionally, it contains some of the most significant Cherokee Indian archaeological sites in the country. Long-time uses of the land—such as camping, hiking, fishing, hunting and agriculture—will be preserved.

A variety of skills, knowledge and talents is necessary to address water quality issues, which is why it’s important for many different people, organizations and agencies to pool their resources to protect a community’s natural resources. To learn more about how you can help, see the contact list on the back page.

State of North Carolina: Governor Michael F. Easley • North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources: Secretary William G. Ross Jr. • Office of Environmental Education: Director Lisa Tolley, Project Manager Rachel Golden • Editor Carla Burgess • Designer Kimberly KC Schott, Red Gate Design • Special Thanks North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission • Date: 2007 • 10,000 copies of this public document were printed at a cost of $1,462 or $0.15 per copy. • This publication was funded through the Clean Water Act’s Section 319 Grant Program. • In the coming years, some river basin boundaries will change if the state moves forward with plans to modify them to coincide with federal maps. The Cape Fear, White Oak, Chowan, Pasquotank, Tar-Pamlico and Neuse basins would be the most significantly altered. Printed on recycled paper Mt. Hardison 6134'

HIKING & BIKING s 6643' t a i n SWAIN 5 o u n k y M 2 r e a t S m o a r k Waterrock G a l P 15 Knob N a t i o n 9 23 Fontana 6292' L i t t l e Lake 6 B 11 a l 10 22 JACKSON s a m GRAHAM Bryson Sylva 8 T City u Santeetlah 16 c M k 17 Lake a o Robbinsville T s u CHEROKEE 3 e e n in the Little Tennessee River Basin n g t a N n e 12 Wayah i a e e 1 n n s Bald s t

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l e i The Little Tennessee River Basin offers many opportunities to enjoy and explore a v Nantahala e r

nature through walking, hiking and biking. This list includes places for easy to Lake 14 21 Franklin M

moderate activity. Sometimes the steepness of terrain may limit easy activity Standing o MACON

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except at an overlook or on a short path. Many sites include views of streams, t a

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e rivers, creeks, lakes, wetlands and waterfalls. Remember that some trails are s multi-use, serving pedestrians, bicyclists, equestrians and other recreational users. 19 r ● hiking ● hiking and biking N.C. ● HIKING ● bartramtrail.org/maps.htm ● 80 miles from High- lands area to Cheoah Bald, east of Robbinsville. Laurel Falls Trail ● http://www.franklin- 1 Balsam Lake chamber.com/ ● .5-mile trail with footbridge http://www.cs.unca.edu/nfsnc/ ● 1.2 13 Rufus Morgan Trail across creek. miles of trails (half are wheelchair-accessible). http://www.franklin- chamber.com/visitorInformation/recreation 19 Tessentee Farm 2 Bradley Fork Trail Map/index.asp ● 1-mile loop trail. ● http://sherpaguides.com/tennessee/appalachian http://ltlt.org/tessentee farm.html 64 acres ● Stroll among old-growth oak forest, bottom - _trail/side_trails_great_smoky_mtn_np.html 14 Shot Pouch Trail land wetlands and Tessentee Creek. ● 4.25-mile streamside trail. http://www.franklin-chamber.com/ ● 1.5- mile trail visits grassy clearing, passes a small 20 Wayah Bald Lookout Tower 3 Cheoah Trail waterfall and ends with view of Franklin Valley  ● http://www.main.nc.us/graham/hiking/cheoah. http://www.franklin-chamber.com/ .3- and Cowee and Fishhawk mountains. html ● 2.3-mile loop above . mile, wheelchair-accessible path to stone tower. 15 Smokemont Nature Trail ● HIKING and BIKING ● 4 Cliffside Lake Trails http://sherpaguides.com/north_carolina/ http://www.unca.edu/nfsnc ● Seven short mountains/smoky_mountains/oconaluftee_ 21 Little Tennessee River Greenway trails from .5 to 1.5 miles each. http://www.littletennessee.org/links.html vis_center.html ● 1-mile loop. ● 4-mile trail with river views and bridges; 5 Clingman’s Dome Spruce-Fir Trail 16 Snowbird Loop Nature Trail http://www.nps.gov/grsm/gsmsite/peaks.html paved sections are wheelchair-accessible. http://www.main.nc.us/graham/hiking/ ● .5-mile trail. snowloop.html ● .5-mile loop following Snow - 22 Nantahala River Trail http://www.ncrail-trails.org/MAPKEYS.HTM 6 Deep Creek Loop bird Creek. ● http://www.greatsmokies.com/hiking.html# .5-mile trail in Nantahala Gorge crosses a 17 Southwestern Community College ● 4.4-mile trail with views of waterfall. 125-foot bridge over the Nantahala River. http://www.southwesterncc.edu/info/walking- 23 Trail/ 7 Highlands Botanical Garden trail/about.htm ● 1.87-mile loop through  http://www.wcu.edu/hbs ● 11 acres ● Trails woods with a view of the Tuckasegee River. Oconaluftee Visitors Center along natural areas, lake and wetlands. http://sherpaguides.com/north_carolina/ 18 Standing Indian Trails mountains/smoky_mountains/oconaluftee 8 Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest Kimsey Creek Trail ● http://www.webehiking. _vis_center.html ● 1.5-mile trail following the http://www.cs.unca.edu/nfsnc/recreation/ com/kimseycrktrail.html ● 3.7-mile trail. river; level enough for wheelchairs. recreate.htm ● 3,800 acres ● 2 miles of loops through an ancient forest with towering trees. 9 Kephart Prong Trail http://sherpaguides.com/north_carolina/ mountains/smoky_mountains/oconaluftee_ vis_center.html ● 2-mile trail starts at bridge over Oconaluftee River and traces creek. 10 Lewellyn Cove Nature Walk http://www.main.nc.us/graham/hiking/ lewellyn.html ● .75-mile loop with creek views. 11 Noland Creek Trail http://www.greatsmokies.com/hiking.html# ● 6-mile, gently graded trail. 12 North Carolina Bartram Trail (shown with red dashed line) http://www.nc  = some trails designated as wheelchair accessible Mt. Hardison 6134'

PADDLING Clingmans Dome 6643' i n s n t a SWAIN M o u S m o k y r k Waterrock G r e a t l P a a t i o n a Knob N 6292' L i t t l Fontana e Lake B a 4 5 l s JACKSON a m 11 GRAHAM Bryson Sylva T City u Santeetlah c M k Lake a o s u Robbinsville T e n in the Little Tennessee River Basin CHEROKEE e t n g a Wayah N n e 3 i a e e 1 n Bald n s 2 s t 5342' a s 8 h e 12 10 a R e 6 The Little Tennessee River Basin offers many opportunities for easy to moderate l i v Nantahala a e r paddling on picturesque lakes and rivers. The places included here offer public Lake 9 M Franklin

o access areas maintained by state, federal or local governments. Privately operated Standing u MACON

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Indian Mtn. t R marinas and boat docks may also be available. This list does not include locations for a

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s whitewater adventure. Information about this activity, wildly popular on the basin's e many rivers and gorges, is readily available from tourism bureaus and outfitters. r

1 Balsam Lake http://www.cs.unca.edu/nfsnc/recreation/ Little Tennessee recreate.htm ● 8 acres River Greenway 2 Bear Creek Lake* http://www.jimporter.org/lakes/ncarolina/ bearcreek/ ● 475 acres 3 Cedar Cliff Lake* http://www.jimporter.org/lakes/ncarolina/ bearcreek/ ● 146 acres 4 Cheoah Lake* 633 acres 5 Fontana Lake* http://www.tva.gov/sites/fontana.htm ● 10,640 acres GEORGE JAMES 6 Glenville Lake* http://www.highlandsinfo.com/daytrips/ lakeglenville.htm ● 1,462 acres 7 Lake http://www.highlandschamber.org/ ● 150 acres 8 Tanasee Creek Lake http://www.jimporter.org/lakes/ncarolina/ bearcreek/ ● 40 acres 9 Little Tennessee River Greenway http://www.littletennessee.org/links.html ● Calm 2-mile section from Tassee Bridge to Suli Marsh. 10 Nantahala Lake* http://www.theblueridgehighlander.com/lakes _in_the_mountains/north_carolina/lake_ nantahala.html ● 1,606 acres 11 Santeetlah Lake* http://www.grahamcountytravel.com/activities _santeetlah.html ● 2,849 acres 12 Wolf Creek Lake* http://www.jimporter.org/lakes/ncarolina/ bearcreek/ ● 193 acres *Denotes site with public access points maintained by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. For directions to boat ramps, visit www.ncwildlife.org and click on Boating/Waterways, then Maps/Location. WHERE What makes the Little Tennessee River Basin so special? See for yourself. Visit these SHOULD? Environmental Education Centers to discover more about your ecological address: I GO ● Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont ● Great Smoky Mountains: Mountain Farm Museum/Parks as Classrooms ● Highlands Nature Center ● Macon County Environmental Education Resource Center ● SOAR (Success Oriented Achievement Realized) For more information about Environmental Education Centers in North Carolina, call the Office of Environmental Education at (919) 733-0711, or check out the Web site at http://www.eenorthcarolina.org. Fontana Lake BILL LEA

HOW You can gain a sense of community pride by learning more and helping to protect streams, rivers CAN? and lakes in the Little Tennessee River Basin. The contacts listed below can help you do just that. I HELP Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy North Carolina Stream Watch http://www.carolinamountain.org/ http://www.ncwater.org/Education_and_Technical_ (828) 697-5777 Assistance/Stream_Watch (919) 715-5433 Land Trust for the Little Tennessee http://ltlt.org/ Partners of Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness (828) 524-2711 http://www.joycekilmerslickrock.com/

Little Tennessee River Basinwide Plan* Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/basinwide http://www.appalachian.org/ (828) 253-0095 Little Tennessee River Greenway http://www.littletennessee.org/links.html Watershed Association of the Tuckasegee River (828) 369-8488 http://www.watrnc.org/index.shtml (828) 488-8418 Little Tennessee Watershed Association http://www.littletennesseewatershed.org/ Alliance (828) 369-6402 http://www.wnca.org/

Macon Tomorrow Upper Cullasaja Watershed Association Inc. http://www.macontomorrow.org/ http://seris.info/watershedorgs/orgs/uppercullasaja.html (828) 526-9938, ext. 23 N.C. Soil and Water Conservation Districts http://www.enr.state.nc.us/DSWC (919) 733-2302

*Basinwide water quality planning is a nonregulatory, watershed-based approach to restoring and protecting the quality of North Carolina’s surface waters. The N.C. Division of Water Quality welcomes community input. To order additional brochures on any of North Carolina’s 17 river basins, a general river basin booklet or a poster, call the N.C. Office of Environmental Education at (919) 733-0711, or order online at http://www.eenorthcarolina.org. ▼