Catawba Riverkeeper Non-profit

 

Channel Catfish

Domain: Eukaryota

Kingdom: Animalia - are multicellular, eukaryotic organisms that consume organic material, breathe oxygen, and can move and reproduce sexually.

Phylum: Chordata  - Five distinct physical features: notochord, a hollow dorsal nerve cord, an endostyle or thyroid, pharyngeal slits, and a post-anal tail.

Class: Actinopterygii—Ray-finned fish are bony fish that comprise more than half of all living vertebrate species. They have lightly built fins made of webbings of skin supported by thin, bony spines.

Order: Siliriformes  - Catfish, Diverse group named for prominent barbels.

      Superorder: Ostariophysi, second largest superorder of fish. Characteristics include an alarm substance and a Weberian apparatus.

  
Family: Ictaluridae  - Native to North America, an important food source that contains around 51 species.

Genus:  Ictalurus  - North American freshwater catfishes.

 
Species: I. punctatus  - Most populated and most fished catfish species in North America. Posses keen senses of smell and taste.

 

 

 

 

Source:

Channel catfish. (2024, July 9). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channel_catfish

Ostariophysi. (2024, March 27). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostariophysi

Dendrology of LKN

 

Online Resources for Species Identification

 Since I have started diving deeper into Lake Norman's biodiversity and more specifically, what makes its waters unsafe the topic of Algae seems to be the driving factor.I have come across two websites that can help dive further into Algae research and one not very helpful. 

Global algae database 

aka https://www.algaebase.org/

-  Thinking this would be perfect to find out more information about Lyngbya Cyanobacteria, a blue-green algae that causes unsafe conditions for swimming on Lake Norman and other waters I was surprised that it doesn't show up. But this doesn't mean it can't be helpful to others.

&

Plant Directory   

aka https://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/lyngbya-species/

- Center for Aquatic and invasive plants list based out of University of Florida. Thankfully or not so thankfully this toxic bacteria is worldwide so I was able to look at this Flordia based directory and learn more about Lyngbya Cyanobacteria and this directory is full of other invasive species so it is likely you will be able to find more information on your invasive plants and animals since usually they have spread to multiple locations. 

&

NC Algae Blooms 

aka https://www.deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/water-sciences/algal-blooms

 - Available on phone, tablet or computer you are able to report and track algae blooms in North Carolina.Attached is a screenshot of reports made on or around Lake Norman, with the most recent report being 7/2/2024. Also provided are a list of Regional offices in your location that you can contact about your findings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Invasive Zebra Mussels

 

Web Soil Survey

 

As a beginner using the Web Soil Survey tool was tricky for my study area since Lake Norman is in four separate counties. Thankfully, the site separated each county, and they were all included when I ran a report. This made it much easier, so I did not have to look up each one individually. I suggest a smaller area of study and one on land so that you can get more information. It is a lot of information (if available) and can easily be overwhelming but it can be a very helpful tool.

 

 

FINDINGS: 

 

I obtained specific data on erosion levels and flooding potential from the Web Soil Survey tool. In Catawba County, 1 out of 15 areas is severely eroded. In Iredell County, 13 out of 46 were labeled mildly eroded, and 5 out of the 46 were labeled under rarely flooded to frequently flooded. Lincoln County had 2 out of 24 as flooded potential and 7 out of the 24 as mildly eroded, and lastly, in Mecklenburg County, 2 out of 26 were mildly eroded, and 1 out of 26 were frequently flooded (websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov, n.d.). The proximity of residential neighborhoods to the shoreline and each other significantly contributes to the shoreline’s erosion through stormwater runoff. To combat this, a regulation established in 2001 states a 50-foot buffer zone for all upcoming development, where vegetation must be preserved to help prevent further erosion and pollution (Lake Norman, 2024). 

 

 LKN SOIL:

"The lake is mainly underlain by interfingered igneous and metamorphic bedrock. The bottom of the lake consists of various clay and plastic soils. These mechanically engineered soils are maintained and constructed with artificial enforcing, which adds a stabilization factor, and solidifies the lake so it will not break down and wear away. Clay soil contains a high percentage of particles that becomes sticky when wet, and therefore holds together better.^[4]

Lake Norman lies atop two geologic belts, the Charlotte belt and the Inner Piedmont belt.^[5] The Charlotte belt is made up of igneous rock that is 300 to 500 million years old. Igneous rocks are used in construction, hence why the lake was built on top of them. The Inner Piedmont belt is the most metamorphosed belt, and contains deformed metamorphosed volcanic and sedimentary rocks approximately 500 to 700 million years old. The lake is built on the Catawba River, and is underlain by inceptisol soils, which are found in river floodplains. The soil is made of brown forest soil deposits and includes a wide variety of dissimilar soil characteristics. In North Carolina, inceptisols cover almost the whole state, except areas around the east coast"  (Lake Norman, 2024).

 

 

 

 

 Sources:

Lake Norman. (2024, June 9). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Norman

 

Websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov. (n.d.). Retrieved June 28, 2024, from https://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/App/HomePage.htm

LKN Climate Tools

 2005-2011 Lake Norman Water Temperature 

Annual Weather Averages for LKN (data collected 2012-2021) 

LKN Monthly Climate Averages 

 Current Climate and Water temp for LKN

Graph(s) of LKN Water Temp. (past and present)  

 

Since my focus is on Lake Norman’s pollution and its effects, I decided to look at how the lake’s climate plays a part. The first significant pollutant in this lake is bacteria, specifically Lyngbya, which thrives in warmer temperatures and optimal sunlight (Lyngbya et al.). The second major pollutant is stormwater, with nonpoint and point sources included (Quality of Streams and Lakes, n.d.), brought to the waterways through rainfall. These tools show Lake Norman’s weather, water temperatures, and precipitation levels over the years. Using these tools, I can see the number of times stormwater has polluted the lake by the precipitation levels. I can see how often Lyngbya has had optimal growth conditions from the weather and water temperatures.

 

 

 

 

Source:

 

Lyngbya Factsheet. (n.d.). lnmc.org. Retrieved June 27, 2024, from https://lnmc.org/wp-content/uploads/Lyngbya-Factsheet.pdf

Quality of Streams and Lakes. (n.d.). City of Charlotte. https://www.charlottenc.gov/Services/Stormwater/Surface-Water-Quality/Quality-of-Streams

 

LKN using Google MyMaps

Using Google's MyMaps was reasonably straightforward. I have never used this tool before and am not very knowledgeable about technology, so I found it very user-friendly. Having lived around Lake Norman and worked for three of the parks on the Lake, I found it easy to pinpoint locations. This tool lets you color code and/or add symbols to your points, so you don’t have to guess which points are related. You can make your map as straightforward or complex as you wish; it is up to the user.

Ecology Slideshow

Map

 

Why Lake Norman?

 I chose Lake Norman as my study area due to the mysterious rumors surrounding it that I heard while working as a Park Ranger in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina (NC). I heard from fellow park rangers and locals alike how dangerous and gross the waters of Lake Norman are. Lake Norman is NC’s largest manufactured fresh body of water, spanning four counties, and its shoreline is 520 miles (Norman, 2023). Being manufactured, I would think that it was started on “untouched land,” but it turns out there are ruins of ghost towns under Lake Norman, and aside from the taller buildings and re-location of gravesites, most of the towns were left standing as the lake was filled (Leah, 2023). This made me wonder what else is in the lake and what is causing such high levels of pollution that locals do not think it is safe to swim in it. Another question is, what bio-diversity is in a lake such as this? How does this lake benefit and hurt the ecosystems around it? What, if anything, is being done to conserve the lake?

I plan to answer these questions and more throughout this blog. 

 

 

  Sources:

 

           Digital image of Lake Norman. Campbell, D., & Campbell, D. (2017, September 22). The History of Lake Norman. Our State. https://www.ourstate.com/the-history-of-lake-norman/

 

Leah, H. (2023, June 8). Flooded history: Enormous NC lake hides multiple ghost towns, legendary monster. WRAL.com. https://www.wral.com/story/lake-norman-nc-ghost-town-monster-normie/20899100/

 

 Norman, V. L. (2023, September 21). The History of Lake Norman. https://www.visitlakenorman.org/blog/post/diving-in-history-of-lake-norman/

The importance of biodiversity locally, regionally, nationally and internationally

 

 Biodiversity is the building block of an ecosystem life. The more biodiversity there is, the more animals, plants, and microorganisms there are. This provides the tools needed for cleaner air and water and helps reduce climate change. Not only is it helpful for the environment, but it is also helpful for humans. Both locally and regionally, biodiversity helps with habitats for the native species, better soil and crops for the community, and less pollution in the soil, which means cleaner water for drinking. Nationally and internationally, better crops mean reduced food insecurity, healthy soil and vegetation taking in more CO2, and better economic opportunities (e.g., agriculture, forestry) (Biodiversity and Health, 2015).

 

 

Source:

 

 

Biodiversity and Health. (2015, June 3). https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/biodiversity-and-health

What is Biodiversity?

  Biodiversity explains the diversity within one specific spiecies (e.g., bacteria and other microorganisms, fungi, plants, and animals) within an ecosystem as well as the diversity in the ecosystem as a whole. "Biodiversity is a key indicator of the health of an ecosystem" (Biodiversity 101, 2024). To measure biodiversity scientist survey and monitor species, habitats and the interactions between them and collect data about population sizes and trends, distribution and habitat use, and impacts of management or other human activities. (What Is Biodiversity? Why Is It Important? | AMNH, n.d.).

Source: 

Biodiversity 101. (2024, May 9). https://www.nrdc.org/stories/biodiversity-101 

What is Biodiversity? Why Is It Important? | AMNH. (n.d.). American Museum of Natural History. https://www.amnh.org/research/center-for-biodiversity-conservation/what-is-biodiversity