Little River Chapter of Trout Unlimited

The Little River Chapter logged 3,457 volunteer hours during the past year which is a 90% increase in volunteer hours from the previous year. Maybe more impressive than the overall total is 53 members participated in one or more volunteer activities including GSMNP Fisheries Projects, Trout in the Classroom, and Stream Clean-Ups. LRCTU members provided 71% (1,469 hours) of the total volunteer effort contributed to the Fisheries Department of GSMNP which supports our charter to conserve, protect and restore the cold water fisheries and their watersheds in and around the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Thank you for your commitment to our volunteer efforts which are at the very heart of the Little River Chapter.

Bob Bishop

MAY 25 @ BLUETIK TAVERN IN MARYVILLE

Social hour starts at 6:00, program starts at 7:00, business meeting following Ordering from the menu will be in the meeting room from 6:15 to 6:30. After 6:30 you will need to order any food at the bar. Adult beverages must be ordered and paid at the bar.

Bill Stiver, Supervisory Wildlife Biologist at Great Smoky Mountains National Park will be speaking about the Smoky Mountains BearWise® Community Task Force. BearWise® is an education program that provides sound information and smart solutions that help homeowners, businesses and communities coexist with black bears (bearwise.org).

May 2023 Newsletter

The April Little River Chapter Meeting is our annual business meeting, but also includes a feature presentation by Larry Everett from the Water Resource Knoxville Environmental Field Office.   The business portion of the meeting will be limited to election of officers and board members, a financial summary, and a brief overview of our Chapter’s Annual Report to Trout Unlimited National.  The number of volunteer hours logged during the past year will be revealed and the total is impressive.  You will learn some interesting information about the Little River Chapter by attending this meeting.  The point is, do not avoid the meeting because of the word “business.”

LRCTU member Jimmy Jones was featured in the March edition of “On The Fly South” in an article entitled “Tying for the Smokies.”   The fly shown below was pictured in the article and has yet to be named.  You will have the opportunity to name this fly at the April Chapter meeting.  Check out his article at https://ontheflysouth.com/jimmy-jones/.

Bob Bishop
President

April Newsletter

The Little River Chapter was well represented, with over 20 members in attendance, at the GSMNP Fisheries Department annual volunteers meeting at the Twin Creeks Science Center.  Matt Kulp presented results of the ongoing acid deposition study as well as volunteer opportunities thru January 2024.  If you are interested in additional information about volunteering with the Fisheries Department, contact Richard Barnes at canceleer1@gmail.com.  While there, the Chapter presented the Fisheries Department with a check for $10,000, representing funds from the auction, volunteer contributions, and the Chapter. 

The Stream Barrier Survey Teams are back in full force now that the weather has improved and stream flows are more manageable.  The teams are on track to complete surveys of all Phase I sites by the end of April.  For further information on this project, contact Bernie Maloy at 52bazzman@gmail.com.  

The LRCTU Board of Directors is continuing development of the Volunteer Recognition Program.  Details of this program should be available at the April Chapter meeting.  Please remember to enter all your volunteer hours, beginning in January 2023, using the link provided on our Chapter website (lrctu.org).

Bob Bishop
President

March 2023 Newsletter