2018 Science & Management Winner
Little River Chapter of Trout Unlimited
Trout Unlimited is well know for their effort to protect and improve cold water fisheries and the Little River Chapter (LRTU) in Tennessee has been doing exceptional work at delivering this mission at the local level. LRTU members have been assisting with fisheries management activities and collecting water quality data in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park since 1993 accumulating over 14,000 hours of service.The Chapter created a great volunteer program that focuses on water quality monitoring, fundraising, project implementation, and educational events.
LRTU volunteers have helped:
- Restore Southern Appalachian Brook Trout (25.8 miles)
- Collect over 6,500 water samples - data is used to inform air and water policy to protect the Park ecosystem. This effort has lead to 12 streams being listed by the state as impaired.
- Collect 254 fish tissue samples from 17 Park sited to evaluate mercury levels in fish
- Pick up 800 bags of trash during annual litter pickups