Abstract

Stream habitats are sensitive, and the threat of habitat loss and disturbance from storms can have a great effect on the species within the stream. When an extreme flooding event happens in an area that doesn’t normally experience them, it may significantly change the habitat. I analyzed data from before and after Tropical Storm Helene in the Upper French Broad River watershed in Transylvania County, NC, to evaluate potential changes in water chemistry, canopy cover, embeddedness, substrate, flow, and depth. I found significant post-storm changes in the sediment makeup of the streambed, with declines in the number of larger rocks and buildup of fine sediment nearly a year after the hurricane, though there were no significant changes in water chemistry. Some sites with slow flow before the storm saw significant increases in flow velocity, which could affect aquatic life. The high winds and flooding also affected the riparian zone, as percent canopy cover was significantly lower post-Helene. I also documented site-specific changes in embeddedness, flow, and depth, indicating a variety of different flooding impacts based on the site topography. This could shift populations of aquatic organisms into other areas and create new habitats. Our study will aid managers and conservationists in understanding the likely habitat changes in case powerful storms hit the mountains again in the future.

Keywords

Habitat, Substrate, Flooding, Hurricane, Sedimentation, Tropical Storm, Streams, Watershed, Erosion

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