The olive darter is classified as a "vulnerable species", being affected by habitat destruction and siltation, often resulting from damming and impoundment of the rivers or the creation of weirs.

The largest tributaries of the Toccoa and Nottely rivers in Georgia are very similar, having clear, cold water and rocky substrates,[6] ideal conditions for the olive darter.

[3] In general, darters feed opportunistically on immature insects; few taxa are consumed in greater proportions than they were found in the environment.

Human activities, particularly habitat destruction and species introductions, are resulting in increased homogenization of once unique biogeographic regions.

[8] Failure of Best Management Practices (BMPs) for forestry and agriculture, failure to control soil erosion from construction sites and bridge crossings, and increased stormwater runoff from developing urban and industrial areas have degraded the stream quality and pose a significant threat to the olive darters.

Impoundments have reduced available habitat for the olive darter, and remaining free-flowing mountain streams are vulnerable to degradation by excessive inputs of silt and sediment.

Human activities related to land development on a large scale are continually altering the habitat of the olive darter.

The lacks of Best Management Practices as well as construction of dams, road crossings and weirs are anthropogenic barriers[11] that are leading to the destruction of stream habitats.

[12] If below the dam doesn't become a dry stream bed, chances are that it will become genetically isolated as well as cut off from spawning grounds, food, protection and required water flow velocity.