SARP: Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership

Cherokee National Forest Project Sites, TN

Rainbow trout were removed from Wolf Creek.

Rhododendrons were thinned to improve access.

Introduction:

Drought and stressed habitat conditions exacerbated natural competition for food and space  between brook trout and rainbow trout in several creeks in the Cherokee National Forest. Both species, popular with anglers, were declining due to drought in recent years. By improving or restoring habitats, and removing rainbow trout from certain areas, both species can more easily thrive in the forest.

Description of Site:

• Four creeks in the Cherokee National Forest: Bill Creek, Little Stony Creek, Clear Fork Creek, Davis Creek, and Wolf Creek.

• Additional work is planned in 2009 on Long Branch.

Problem:

• Dense thickets of rhododendron form dense tangles that block sunlight and prevent access to the streams.
• Structure and pools were lacking in many areas.

• Drought conditions reduced the value of existing habitat, reducing size of existing populations.  Rainbow trout, larger in size, were impacting brook trout populations. 

Strategy:

• Thin rhododendron along banks of Bill Creek, Little Stony Creek, Clear Fork Creek, and Wolf Creek.
• Built habitat structures to create pools. Add wood cover favored by most trout species. Build a barrier to separate the two populations in the same stream.
• Remove rainbow trout by backpack electroshocking from certain areas of streams.
• Use community volunteers (anglers and Boy Scouts) to encourage awareness and responsibility for the trout populations and trout habitat.

Monitoring has begun to determine success of these efforts.