Giving Back – Tennessee Tri-Fly

2022 & 2023

In 2022 each angler contributed $1000 toward protecting trout habitat and cleaning up the rivers. The Over Mountain TU chapter selected two projects over two years.

One project involved a cattle watering system and signage on Hampton Creek which is a tributary of Doe River. A second project involved supporting the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, which purchased 52 acres of land on Tom Branch that feeds the Doe River, which dumps into the Watauga River. These efforts will keep clean water going into our watershed and help protect rivers that most people fish. Rhett Butler, the Over Mountain TU Chapter President oversaw these good works.

2024

The TTF partnered with the Over Mountain TU Chapter and the Blue Ridge Guide Association (BRGA) as an organization. Each angler gave $500.

Over Mountain TU

Jeff Wright (southeast TU project manager) and Ryan Turgeon were involved the planning. Two passive trash collectors have been installed on the Watauga tributaries. These float and are about the size of a pontoon boat. They get cleaned out by the river keeper or a public entity. There is one on the Buffalo Creek and also one on the Doe. OMTU would like to put another on Stoney Creek. They are able to measure the pounds of trash collected annually. The TU Chapter and TTF each contribute funding.

BRGA

2022 was their first year as an organization, mostly getting organized. 2023 saw real progress. Over 50 guides are members. Many of the TTF guides are members of BRGA and some are in the leadership. Dues pay for most of their expenses. BRGA has elevated its voice and has worked in partnership with other organizations. The proposal for 2024 was to install temperature gauges on the Watauga and the South Holston.

Updates - November 2024

The BRGA installed the temperature gauges in 6 locations on the Watauga and the South Holston. Lower, middle and upper. These gauges provide automatic data feeds on water temperature, which are important to trout health. They provide a reliable data source for the TVA and help build the relationship between the two organizations.

Many thanks to BRGA for removing the gauges before Helene hit. There was no damage to the gauges and all are back in operation. The cost for each gauge was $1,347. TTF provided $3,000. BRGA and OverMountain TU made up the difference.

The Over Mountain TU Chapter got a late start due to difficulties in receiving our checks. It turns out the US Postal Service isn’t very reliable in Elizabethton. We did get the checks re-issued and all have been cashed. We have developed a better solution for next year - they will pick up the checks at the lodge.

OMTU is using Asheville Greenworks to make the trash traps and install them (see a sample photo below). Thankfully, they are back in business again after some damage from Helene. The location on Stoney Creek has been finalized. The traps take 6-7 weeks to be installed. Ryan Turgeon says they are targeting installation by 2024 year end.