07-06-2004, 01:04 AM
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][/font][font "Comic Sans MS"]For several years, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) and Cherokee Lake Users Association (CLUA) have discussed with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers a proposal for creating a crappie nursery impoundment on Shields Creek in Cherokee Reservoir. The purpose of the project is to provide optimum spawning conditions in the Shields Creek embayment even when the reservoir has low water levels during the spring. [/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"]High and relatively constant water levels during the spring spawning season typically result in good crappie reproduction in Cherokee Reservoir. During periods of drought, however, crappie spawning success rates drop markedly. Multiple years of drought during the 1980’s and late 1990’s have resulted in low crappie populations in Cherokee Reservoir. [/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"]This project would allow TWRA to more consistently and successfully raise fingerling crappie in the nursery impoundment for release into the reservoir and ultimately improve the population of this species. CLUA would contribute $170,000 for dam construction. No state or federal money is allocated for construction of the project. [/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"]TWRA has received a license to construct the small dam to hold water in Shields Creek at a constant level for about 6 to 8 months during the spring and summer each year. The earth-filled structure would be located about 175 feet north of U.S. Highway 11W in the Shields Creek Embayment west of Bean Station, Grainger County. [/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"]The dam would capture drainage from a 2280-acre watershed and normal pool would be at elevation 1067 msl. At this elevation, the dam would impound 45 surface-acres of water. The project, including the proposed TVA licensed-area, would involve use of approximately 62 acres of public land and 8574 feet of TVA shoreline. An emergency spillway would be at elevation 1069 msl. The project also involves the construction of an access road and gravel boat ramp above the dam on the west side of the embayment. The dam will require 9948 cubic yards of material and would be approximately 750 feet long, 100 feet wide, and 21 feet high. [/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"]TWRA will operate and maintain the facility (i.e., dam, access road, and gravel ramp) after construction. To allow time for the impoundment to fill even during dry spring weather, the gate valve in the dam would be closed on March 1 each year. This closure date may be subject to minor change, if TWRA’s monitoring suggests that weather conditions makes the impoundment difficult to fill. The gate valve is proposed to remain closed until approximately September 15. The Shields Creek impoundment will provide a stable pool beginning about the end of March; and, unless the main reservoir overtops the dam, will provide a summer-long growing season for the young crappie. [/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"]Regardless of Cherokee Reservoir’s pool elevation, when stable pool is established in Shields Creek impoundment, brood fish would be released into it. Following the spring spawn and a summer of growth, on September 15, the gate valve would be opened and young crappie would be released into the main reservoir. During the late summer, fall and most of the winter, the gate valve would remain open and Shields Creek impoundment would be operated like the main reservoir. TWRA will stock the nursery impoundment with crappie brood fish, monitor the spawn and water quality, and then release the fingerlings into the main reservoir at the appropriate time. TWRA will also be responsible for long-term operation and maintenance of the dam and gravel boat ramp. [/font] [center] [/center] [center][font "Comic Sans MS"][size 4]Reference [/size][/font][/center] [left][font "Comic Sans MS"]TVA. 2003. SHIELDS CREEK CRAPPIE IMPOUNDMENT. Proposed license agreement and Section 26a Approval to Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) for a portion of Shields Creek Embayment TVA tract XCK-337R opposite Holston River Mile 70.1, right bank Cherokee Reservoir, Grainger County, Tennessee. [/font][/left] [center][font "Comic Sans MS"]![[Image: image001.jpg]](http://www.tnfish.org/ShieldsCreek/image001.jpg)
[/font][/center] [center][font "Comic Sans MS"]![[Image: image003.jpg]](http://www.tnfish.org/ShieldsCreek/image003.jpg)
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][/font][font "Comic Sans MS"]For several years, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) and Cherokee Lake Users Association (CLUA) have discussed with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers a proposal for creating a crappie nursery impoundment on Shields Creek in Cherokee Reservoir. The purpose of the project is to provide optimum spawning conditions in the Shields Creek embayment even when the reservoir has low water levels during the spring. [/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"]High and relatively constant water levels during the spring spawning season typically result in good crappie reproduction in Cherokee Reservoir. During periods of drought, however, crappie spawning success rates drop markedly. Multiple years of drought during the 1980’s and late 1990’s have resulted in low crappie populations in Cherokee Reservoir. [/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"]This project would allow TWRA to more consistently and successfully raise fingerling crappie in the nursery impoundment for release into the reservoir and ultimately improve the population of this species. CLUA would contribute $170,000 for dam construction. No state or federal money is allocated for construction of the project. [/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"]TWRA has received a license to construct the small dam to hold water in Shields Creek at a constant level for about 6 to 8 months during the spring and summer each year. The earth-filled structure would be located about 175 feet north of U.S. Highway 11W in the Shields Creek Embayment west of Bean Station, Grainger County. [/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"]The dam would capture drainage from a 2280-acre watershed and normal pool would be at elevation 1067 msl. At this elevation, the dam would impound 45 surface-acres of water. The project, including the proposed TVA licensed-area, would involve use of approximately 62 acres of public land and 8574 feet of TVA shoreline. An emergency spillway would be at elevation 1069 msl. The project also involves the construction of an access road and gravel boat ramp above the dam on the west side of the embayment. The dam will require 9948 cubic yards of material and would be approximately 750 feet long, 100 feet wide, and 21 feet high. [/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"]TWRA will operate and maintain the facility (i.e., dam, access road, and gravel ramp) after construction. To allow time for the impoundment to fill even during dry spring weather, the gate valve in the dam would be closed on March 1 each year. This closure date may be subject to minor change, if TWRA’s monitoring suggests that weather conditions makes the impoundment difficult to fill. The gate valve is proposed to remain closed until approximately September 15. The Shields Creek impoundment will provide a stable pool beginning about the end of March; and, unless the main reservoir overtops the dam, will provide a summer-long growing season for the young crappie. [/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"]Regardless of Cherokee Reservoir’s pool elevation, when stable pool is established in Shields Creek impoundment, brood fish would be released into it. Following the spring spawn and a summer of growth, on September 15, the gate valve would be opened and young crappie would be released into the main reservoir. During the late summer, fall and most of the winter, the gate valve would remain open and Shields Creek impoundment would be operated like the main reservoir. TWRA will stock the nursery impoundment with crappie brood fish, monitor the spawn and water quality, and then release the fingerlings into the main reservoir at the appropriate time. TWRA will also be responsible for long-term operation and maintenance of the dam and gravel boat ramp. [/font] [center] [/center] [center][font "Comic Sans MS"][size 4]Reference [/size][/font][/center] [left][font "Comic Sans MS"]TVA. 2003. SHIELDS CREEK CRAPPIE IMPOUNDMENT. Proposed license agreement and Section 26a Approval to Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) for a portion of Shields Creek Embayment TVA tract XCK-337R opposite Holston River Mile 70.1, right bank Cherokee Reservoir, Grainger County, Tennessee. [/font][/left] [center][font "Comic Sans MS"]
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