Native Species

The Savannah River Basin hosts over 75 species of rare plants and animals, including the striking swallow-tailed kite, the rocky shoals spider lily, and the wild cocoa tree. Rare plants such as bottle-brush buckeye, false rue anemone, and relict trillium thrive on river bluffs near Augusta.

The basin is home to 108 fish species from 36 families, and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources annually stocks approximately 203,200 catchable trout across 14 streams.

Eighteen species in the basin are federally listed, including 5 classified as threatened and 13 as endangered. Additionally, 55 species are either state-listed or considered of special concern.

SPECIES IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Atlantic Sturgeon

Shortnose Sturgeon

As part of our Fishable Waters initiatives, we're sharing education and awareness pieces about two remarkable, endangered Savannah River fish species: Atlantic and Shortnose Sturgeon. Both call the Savannah River home when they're not hanging out in the Atlantic Ocean or coastal waterways. They are anadromous fish, which means they come upstream from the coast to spawn and hatch in the river channel or ideally, in our rocky shoals. These river monsters have been around for millions of years, thriving until overfishing, pollution, and habitat loss led to their decline.

Report Sturgeon sightings to NOAA Fisheries!
If you find a stranded, injured, or dead sturgeon, please report it to NOAA Fisheries at (978) 281-9328 or in the Southeast at (844) STURG-911 or (844) 788-7491, or send an email at [email protected].