GEORGIA'S PROTECTED FISHES: THE NEED FOR BASIN·WIDE MANAGEMENT Byron J. Freeman AUTHOR' Assistant Research Scientist, Institute of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602. REFERENCE: Proceedings of the 1993 Georgia Water Resources Conference, held April 20 and 21, 1993, at The University of Georgia, Kathryn J. Hatcher, Editor, Institute of Natural Resources, The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia. Abstract. The occurrence of multiple state and federal protected species in the same waterseds in Georgia, points out a need for a basin wide approach to managing water quality and water use. Many of these species are endemic to the upper Coosa River system in North Georgia, adja. cent to the rapidly growing metro-Atlanta area. Land-use management decisions, especially in this region of Georgia, should address the potential conflicts between biodiversity issues and projects which can impact water quality, as part of a long range planning strategy in order to maximize maintenance of natural environments as well as insure the continued availability of high quality water sources. INTRODUCTION The State of Georgia recently recognized 55 fishes and 9 freshwater mussels as protected species, as defined by the Georgia Protected Wildlife Act. Six of these fishes are federally listed as threatened or endangered, and 8 more are either proposed for listing or are being reviewed for listing. Many of these jeopardized animals represent endangered faunal assemblages, evidenced by co-occurrence of listed species in particular basins or sections of rivers. A comprehensive, basin wide approach to faunal protection and eventual species recovery offers the best strategy for maintaining what remains of the diverse, southeastern aquatic fauna, as opposed to re- actionary piecemeal efforts that occur in the face of individual threats. We generally recognize the existence of sensitive species only when habitat deterioration or fragmentation has occurred to such a degree that some species can no longer maintain viable populations. Species most often become endangered because their habitat becomes endan- gered. Jeopardized faunal assemblages are in trouble because of jeopardy to the ecosystem in which their habitats occur. Water resource managers will increasingly find themselves challenged by the collision between the constant quest for additional water sources and the need to maintain functioning ecosystems and landscapes - not only for protected species, but for clean air and water, recreation, commercially valuable wildlife and other natural resources. Endangered species serve as indicators of dysfunction- ing ecosystems and disturbed landscapes. This particularly applies to riverine species, because the quality of their habitat may suffer from disturbances occurring far upstream or from the accumulated effects of poor man- agement practices throughout the basin. Although all components of aquatic communities are potentiallyvulner- able to habitat deterioration, fishes are most often the focus of species protection efforts. This primarily reflects how little we know about diversity and distribution of freshwater invertebrates relative to fishes. Nonetheless, characteristics of local fish assemblages arguably integrate many aspects of stream community well-being (Karr et al., 1986). This paper discusses the greatest threats to Georgia's protected fishes, and uses the Etowah River fauna to illustrate the necessity of evaluating project impacts in the context of overall basin development. THE ETOWAH RIVER EXAMPLE The Etowah River system in northwest Georgia provides a good case study of the challenges resource managers and planners are likely to encounter over the next 10 years. The system traverses a landscape currently dominated by farmland and woodlands, although it is adjacent to the rapidly growing metro-Atlanta area. The upper Etowah system, above Allatoona Reservoir, contains populations of federally listed, proposed and candidate species, as well as state-protected species. Many of these species no longer occur downstream from Allatoona Reservoir, and together represent an isolated, remnant fauna, presumably once more widespread in the Coosa River system in Alabama and Georgia. The amber darter Percina antesella, federally listed as endangered, lives in shoal habitat in the mainstem Etowah and some larger tributaries. The frecklebelly madtom Noturus munitus, the freckled darter Percina lenticula, and the rock darter Etheostoma rupestre, all status review species, also occupy Etowah River shoals. The Etowah 293