Wildlife Commission, State Parks Partner to Conserve Endangered Fish in Mayo River

Staff from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) and the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation reintroduced the Roanoke logperch to Mayo River State Park in early November, kickstarting a joint effort that helps conserve the endangered darter and other aquatic species in the Dan River Basin. Fingerling logperch, Percina rex, were released at the state park's Anglin Mill access in Rockingham County. Found only in North Carolina and Virginia and nowhere else in the world, the species has been listed as federally endangered since 1989.

In October, the two state agencies signed an agreement that allows NCWRC and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) access to 18 miles of habitat within Mayo River State Park to monitor the reintroduced logperch. These efforts are part of a larger landmark agreement between the NCWRC and USFWS, signed in 2022, that allows the Commission to conduct conservation and restoration work of 21 aquatic priority species in North Carolina.

"The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is excited to partner with the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation to reintroduce the Roanoke logperch," said NCWRC's Assistant Chief of Inland Fisheries Division Rachael Hoch. "Through a permit issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, we can partner with non-federal landowners by enrolling properties for inclusion in the Safe Harbor Agreement for the Roanoke logperch."

NCWRC first reintroduced the logperch into the Mayo last year, upstream of the Washington Mill dam, through a partnership with the Piedmont Land Conservancy. Dams are the primary culprits of the species' decline as they fragment populations; water quality issues also contribute to their habitat loss.

"The Mayo River is home to rich wildlife, and the protection of an important aquatic habitat has been at the foremost of our work to operate and expand Mayo River State Park," said State Parks Deputy Director of Operations Kathy Capps. "We are grateful to our parent agency, the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, for recognizing the key role that state parks play as wildlife preserves and paving the way for this agreement with NCWRC."

In 1989, the Roanoke logperch was found only in 14 streams in the Chowan, Dan, and Roanoke rivers. Prior to 2007, it was not known to occur in North Carolina. Through efforts to survey and restore the fish, the species' range has more than doubled in the last 35 years. Earlier this year, the USFWS proposed the delisting of the species from both the federal and state endangered lists.

The Roanoke logperch released earlier this month were spawned by Conservation Fisheries in Knoxville, Tennessee, and transferred to the NCWRC Conservation Aquaculture Center in Marion, N.C., where they were grown to stockable size.

"The Dan River Basin is one of the most diverse places in the state for aquatic species," said TR Russ, Foothills Aquatic Wildlife Diversity Coordinator. "The reintroduction of Roanoke logperch into the Mayo River above Avalon Dam returns this species, once lost, back into this diverse and special place."

The Roanoke logperch grows to 6-8 inches long, making them larger than most other darters and earning them the nickname "king of the darters." Their lifespan is about 6.5 years.

"We are thrilled that our state parks can contribute to the full recovery of the Roanoke logperch," said State Parks Natural Regional Biologist Manager Jimmy Dodson. "While most people recognize parks as places of recreation, they are first and foremost home to the flora and fauna of North Carolina. We want to emphasize to our visitors that this species is protected and should not be collected without appropriate permissions."

About the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission
Since 1947, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has been dedicated to the conservation and sustainability of the state's fish and wildlife resources through research, scientific management, wise use and public input. NCWRC is the state regulatory agency responsible for the enforcement of fishing, hunting, trapping and boating laws and provides programs and opportunities for wildlife-related educational, recreational and sporting activities.

About North Carolina State Parks
North Carolina State Parks manages more than 262,000 acres of iconic landscape within North Carolina's state parks, state recreation areas and state natural areas. It administers the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, including its local grants program, as well as a state trails program, North Carolina Natural and Scenic Rivers and more, all with a mission dedicated to conservation, recreation and education. The state parks system welcomes more than 19 million visitors annually.

About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina - its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.

The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.