Holston River Watershed Focus Area

<font size='3'><font face='Calibri' size='3'><font face='Calibri' size='3'><p align='LEFT'>The Virginia portion of this watershed has more than 30 federally listed threatened and endangered species, the majority of which are freshwater fishes and mussels, and designated critical habitat for some of the species. The watershed also hosts several fisheries species of conservation concern and more than 20 priority migratory bird species (see Service Trust Resources section). This watershed is an important headwater area of the Tennessee River system and is a globally significant area of biodiversity. Our goal is to protect and recover these imperiled aquatic species and maintain and restore the habitats upon which they depend. In accordance with the Imperiled Aquatic Species Conservation Strategy for the Upper Tennessee River Basin (Service 2014), our next steps towards this goal are to propagate and release listed fish and mussel species. We are focusing on reintroducing the yellowfin madtom in the North Fork Holston River reach designated for establishment of a non-essential experimental population; ensuring water quality protections are in place through the review of federally funded and permitted activities, and continuing case work for the Saltville NRDAR. We will continue efforts to collaborate with Service’s Fish and Aquatic Conservation Division to remove fish passage barriers in the Middle Fork Holston watershed, and partner with local conservation organizations to implement streambank stabilization and riparian buffers in the Holston River watershed.</p></font><p>The <font face='Calibri' size='3'><font face='Calibri' size='3'>boundaries defined by the extent of HUCs 06010101 and 06010102; includes the North Fork, South Fork, and Middle Fork Holston River HUCs.</font></font></p><p></p><p></p><p></p></font><p></p></font>