Fish and crayfish density and count data for Peeks Creek, Macon County, NC, USA 2005-2014, 2019, and 2022 following a catastrophic debris flow, as well as six reference streams

We followed the process of recovery of the fish and crayfish assemblage in Peeks Creek, a high-gradient second order stream in the Little Tennessee River watershed of North Carolina, after a debris flow devastated the channel and its riparian zone. After 15 years, the fish assemblage had recovered, and the channel and riparian zone had stabilized. Of the three major components of the fish assemblage, Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum)), a strong swimmer, reappeared in year 1. Longnose Dace (Rhinichthys cataractae (Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes)) reappeared in year 3. Mottled Sculpin (Cottus bairdii Girard), a weak swimmer, did not become established until year 6 and only resumed expected abundance in year 9. Appalachian Brook Crayfish (Cambarus bartonii cavatus Hay) numbers recovered quickly, though only one individual was found the year following the debris flow. Unassisted natural recovery occurred after a costly engineered restoration project had been rejected and arguably represents the preferable solution. However, recovery of the fish assemblage may not have been achieved if the stream flowed directly into an impoundment or low gradient river that lacked the source of species for recolonization, or if the stream had been located above a barrier to upstream movement.