Little River Chapter of Trout Unlimited

The February 27^th LRCTU Meeting will be one of the more significant events for our Chapter this year.  Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) Supervisory Fisheries Biologist, Matt Kulp, will be the featured speaker and will present information regarding the state of the GSMNP fishery.  Matt’s conclusions rely heavily on data gathered by LRCTU volunteers over the past thirty-three (33) years.  

Following Matt’s presentation our Chapter will present a $15,000 donation to the GSMNP Fisheries Department.  This donation would not have been possible without the hard work and contributions of our members.   We will also recognize all LRCTU members who have contributed at least 125 hours of volunteer service through any Chapter sponsored activity since April 2023.  Members with 125 or more hours of service will be presented with the newly minted LRCTU Volunteer Medallion.  Please join us at the February LRCTU meeting to show our appreciation to Matt and his Fisheries Team as well as our LRCTU volunteers.

The Little River Chapter is pleased to announce we will sponsor Avery Mead at the 2025 John Thurman Trout Adventure Camp held at Tremont Institute from June 16 – 21.  Avery will also be awarded a $400 scholarship from our Chapter.  Avery is a resident of Maryville and has participated in Trout in the Classroom.  She is passionate about conservation and has a genuine willingness to share her enthusiasm with others.  She has also demonstrated her fly tying skills at Little River Outfitters along with her father.  

Trout Camp is only possible with the dedicated work of TU volunteers across the state of Tennessee.  Many of you have worked as Trout Camp volunteers in the past and once again your support is needed to make this year’s camp a success.  If you are interested in assisting with Trout Camp, contact Bob Bishop at bishmoose@sbcglobal.net or Sean Avery, TNTU Camp Director, at tutntroutcamp@gmail.com.

The results from the work of our Stream Barrier Survey teams data collection efforts are becoming more evident.   The photos below show the removal of the existing double culvert on Rock Creek along the Cosby Entrance Road.  The double culvert will be replaced with a single open bottom metal arch that will improve aquatic organism passage between Cosby Creek and Rock Creek.

Bob Bishop
President

Newsletter

The LRCTU Board of Directors approved a $15,000 donation to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) Fisheries Department. Over $13,500 of this donation are proceeds from the LRCTU Auction and the remaining amount is from monetary contributions from members. The success of the auction would not have been possible without the support of LRCTU members, local businesses, guides who donated goods and services, volunteers willing to collect and deliver auction items, and members bidding generously. Thanks to everyone for supporting the auction.

Our Chapter is located in an area with numerous opportunities to volunteer for conservation, community science, and youth education projects. Opportunities include assisting the GSMNP Fisheries Department with their work in the national park, Stream Cleanups, Trout in the Classroom, and the John Thurman Trout Adventure Camp. Matt Kulp, GSMNP Supervisory Fisheries Biologist, will be holding the annual Fisheries Department volunteer meeting at the Old Oconaluftee Visitor Center on February 22 at 9:00 a.m. Contact Bernie Maloy (52bazzman@gmail.com), GSMNP Fisheries Volunteer Coordinator for Tennessee, if you are interested in attending this meeting.

The annual Tennessee Coldwater Summit, sponsored by the Tennessee Council of Trout Unlimited, is being held on February 1 at the Concord Yacht Club. This event is open to all Trout Unlimited members. If you are interested in attending this event, please refer to the instructions listed under Volunteer Opportunities discussed later in the Newsletter.

The January Chapter meeting will feature presentations from local teachers who are participating in our Trout in the Classroom program. This will be a great opportunity to learn more about Trout in the Classroom and the positive effect this program has on young people in the local community.

Bob Bishop
President

Newsletter

Congratulations and thank you to everyone who participated in the 2024 LRCTU On-Line Auction Fundraiser. This years auction raised over $14,500, before fees, which is almost four times greater than the amount raised in the initial LRCTU on-line auction held three years ago. At least 80% of the auction proceeds will be donated to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) Fisheries Department. The growth and success of the auction would not have been possible without the support of LRCTU members, local businesses, and guides who donated goods and services, volunteers willing to collect and deliver auction items, and members bidding generously.

The fall Trout in the Classroom (TIC) session concluded with the final trout release of the year on a frosty December morning at the Townsend KOA Campground. The TIC Committee continues to do an outstanding job of organizing and managing this program. LRCTU welcomed two (2) new schools into the program this fall with the addition of Walland Elementary and the Samuel Everett School of Innovation. If you are interested in becoming involved in the TIC program, contact Kim Emery (kim@topshelfedu.com).

It was recently announced that the Rock Creek Double Culvert is being replaced as part of the rehabilitation of the Cosby Entrance Road. Data from the Aquatic Organic Passage (AOP) Stream Barrier Surveys, conducted by LRCTU volunteers, was used to influence the decision to replace this culvert. Additional details regarding replacement of the double culvert with a single open bottom metal arch are provided later in this newsletter.

Bob Bishop
President

Newsletter