Riparian Buffer Proposal for Conserving Fish Populations within the New River Valley

Abstract

In recent years, aquatic ecosystems around the world have been facing widespread losses of biodiversity and major disruptions to ecological stability (Dudgeon & Strayer, 2024). These impacts are especially evident in fish populations, which serve as key indicators of environmental health. For instance, marine fish populations have been experiencing rapid declines, with 230 populations showing a median reduction of 83% in population size compared to historic levels (Hutchings et al., 2004). These declines can be linked to pollution as chemical pollutants are absorbed into fish skin and impair fertility and growth (All About Fishing, 2025). Locally, the presence of fish species in the New River Valley (NRV) has also been declining in conjunction with increasing levels of pollution, which has had widespread effects on wildlife, recreation, and the economy in the New River Valley. Candy darter and smallmouth bass population numbers have further decreased over the last couple of years due to recent events such as Hurricane Helene and other high-water flooding events that introduce harmful polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which are commercially banned man-made organic chemicals, from landfills and industrial waste plants and fecal coliform bacteria from livestock farms and waste plants through runoff (Geology and Ecology of National Parks, n.d.). Currently, restoration projects in the New River Valley focus on preventing stormwater runoff near the source. Their efforts include rain gardens and porous pavement that allow water to filter into the ground before entering a body of water (Piney Creek Watershed Plan, 2012). However, stormwater runoff continues to enter streams, lakes, and rivers in the NRV, necessitating a solution that prevents runoff near these bodies of water. We propose a riparian buffer solution of creeping phlox, partridge berry, and winterberry suited to the steep slopes leading into Claytor Lake and the New River for runoff mitigation and fish conservation.