A Tuckasegee River flow study for fishing will be conducted Oct. 16-20 as part of Duke Power’s relicensing for their 11 hydropower facilities on the Tuckasegee, Nantahala, Hiawassee and Little Tennessee rivers.

The North Carolina Wildlife and Resources Commission, Trout Unlimited, other state and federal agencies and local anglers are assisting with the study.

The purpose is to collect information to determine what effect various stream flows have on the quality of fishing in the Tuckasegee. Participants are encouraged to use a variety of fishing gear and methods including fly, bait and spin or casting lures.

Five reaches of the river are being studied:

° East Fork — powerhouse to mainstream.
° West Fork — powerhouse to mainstream.
° Mainstream — forks to Wayehutta Creek.
° Mainstream — Cullowhee dam to N.C. 116 bridge at Webster.
° Mainstream — Barkers Creek to Camp Creek.

Dates have been selected to allow anglers to participate in one or more reach. Participants can choose any dates and reaches, but they must commit to all flows. There will be three releases plus base flow for reaches 3, 4 and 5 ( two-day commitment for these reaches) and one release plus base flow for reaches 1 and 2 (half day commitment.)

The dates are Oct. 16-17 for reach 5; Oct. 18 for reaches 1 and 2 and Oct. 19-20 for reaches 3 and 4.
There will be orientation, safety and logistics meetings for all studies. The meeting for the Oct. 16-17 dates will be Oct. 16 at The Outpost/High Country Outfitters located on U.S. 74 across from Barker’s Creek Bridge. The meeting will be at 8 a.m.

For the Oct. 18 release, anglers will be expected to meet at 2 p.m. at Ken’s Grocery and Shell Station on N.C. 107 near the confluence of the East and West forks. The Oct. 19 meeting will also be at Ken’s at 2 p.m.

The study involves fishing on different sections of the river at different flow levels. After each flow level, participants will be asked to evaluate specific characteristics of the river and the overall quality of the fishing experience using a survey questionnaire. There will also be a second questionnaire after the study asking anglers to compare the different flow levels.

The study and the questionnaires are designed to collect objective information about various aspects of the different flows being tested. It is essential that responses to survey questions be as objective as possible.

To find out more about the study, interested parties may contact Bunny Johns, Duke Power consultant, at 828.488.8539; email bunnyjohns@yahoo.com or Chris Goudreau of N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission at 828.652.3279; email goudrecj@wnclink.com.

 

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The Smoky Mountain News