Permitted biologists at GES, in coordination with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, as well as Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, performed a presence/absence survey for the state-listed
streamside salamander (Ambystoma barbouri), sooty darter (Etheostoma olivaceum), and redband darter (Etheostoma luteovinctum).

Dip nets and seine nets were utilized starting downstream and working upstream to captured fish and salamander species within Mayes Creek and the unnamed tributary. Photos and associated data were recorded for each species caught. A total of 82 fish and 4 crayfish were captured within Mayes Creek. Fish species included 52 creek chubs (Semotilus atromaculatus), 16 fantail darters (Etheostoma flabellare), 11 northern sunfish (Lepomis peltastes), and 3 banded sculpins (Cottus carolinae).

Crayfish species included 3 saddle crayfish (Orconectes durelli) and 1 cavespring crayfish (Cambarus tenebrosus). No fish were captured within the unnamed stream, however 2 crayfish [1 cavespring crayfish and 1 twospot crayfish (Cambarus graysoni)] were captured. No streamside salamanders, sooty darters, or redband darters were captured during the survey, thus satisfying requirements at both the state and federal level.