Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: North Carolina
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

In the Yadkin – Pee Dee River Basin in South Carolina and North Carolina, the extent of fish migrations has been greatly reduced by the presence of dams. Habitat loss due to dam construction is one of the factors contributing to declines of anadromous fish species along the Atlantic Coast. At present, there are no facilities for fish passage at Yadkin-Pee Dee dams, but options are being explored. The primary objective of this study is to characterize and evaluate the suitability of fish habitat upstream of dams on the Yadkin - Pee Dee River. Our focal species will be anadromous American shad Alosa sapidissima, with potential generalization to other species. Characterizing the suitability of habitat above the Yadkin – Pee Dee Hydroelectric Project dams is an important step in guiding diadromous fish passage and restoration efforts.