Little River Chapter of Trout Unlimited

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

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) was selected by the National Park Trust as one of only five national parks to host a fly fishing event for US military veterans and their families this year.  This event was held Saturday, November 16 at Tremont Institute and included participants from Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing (PHWFF) and the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS).   At the request of the National Park Service, the Little River Chapter of Trout Unlimited (LRCTU) provided nine volunteers to assist with this event.  Although fishing conditions may not have been ideal, it was a great day on the water with our veterans who have done so much to protect our nation.  There were no less than seventeen service men and women fishing Middle Prong of Little River on Saturday.  I’m sure most of the people driving Tremont Road yesterday did not realize the sacrifices the fishermen they were observing have made for our country.  Saturday was a great reminder that fishing is so much more than about catching fish.  

LRCTU had another group of volunteers working in GSMNP this Saturday supporting collection of water samples for acid deposition studies.  There are not many Trout Unlimited Chapters that would have been able to support two events of this magnitude on a single day.  Thank you to all our volunteers and the members who support them.

The 4^th Annual LRCTU On-Line Auction will be held from November 23 thru December 8.  At least 80% of the auction proceeds will be donated to the GSMNP Fisheries Department.  Additional details regarding the auction are provided later in this newsletter. The December Chapter Meeting will feature a display of most auction items as well as a trivia contest with prizes.

Bob Bishop
President

Newsletter