Left Prong Hampton Creek Brook Trout Restoration

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[#cc9966][font "Comic Sans MS"][size 2] The purpose of the Left Prong Hampton Creek project is to aid in returning a viable population of native brook trout to this stream. The watershed encompasses some 750 acres administered by the Tennessee Department of Environnment and Conservation (TDEC) and managed by the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC). Hampton Cove is a unique natural area in the Roan Mountain Massif which permits limited agricultural use while managing for significant natural elements.[/size][/font][/#cc9966] [#cc9966][font "Comic Sans MS"][size 2] The Hampton Cove State Natural Area represents the largest non-federal component of the globally significant Highlands of Roan Conservation Initiative.This includes more than 20,000 acres of the Roan Mountain Massif. The natural area adjacent to National Forest land represents nearly all of the non-federal land in this watershed. Very few brook trout streams occur on non-federal land at the present time. This project represents the first of its kind on a State Natural Area and on non-federal land. [/size][/font][/#cc9966] [#cc9966][font "Comic Sans MS"][size 2] In 1997, the Overmoutain Chapter of Trout Unlimited submitted an Embrace-a-Stream proposal for brook trout restoration in Left Prong Hampton Creek. They were awarded the grant in 1997, and construction of a rainbow trout migration barrier began shortly thereafter. [/size][/font][/#cc9966] [#cc9966][font "Comic Sans MS"][size 2] Locust logs from the surrounding area were used to construct a splash-board below a road culvert. This eliminated any pooling and would hopefully stop any immigration of rainbow trout upstream into the renovation area. [/size][/font][/#cc9966] [#cc9966][font "Comic Sans MS"][size 2] The development and implementation of the project resulted in the formation of several new partnerships. These partners included the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), SAHC, USDA Forest Service (FS), and the National Park Service (NPS).[/size][/font][/#cc9966] [#cc9966][font "Comic Sans MS"][size 2]The barrier was completed in early summer 1997 and plans were made to evaluate its effectiveness in preventing rainbow trout movement upstream........[/size][/font][/#cc9966] [#cc9966][font "Comic Sans MS"][size 2]In order to evaluate the barrier's effectiveness, rainbow trout were collected from an area upstream of the barrier with backpack electrofishing gear during the summer of 1997 ........[/size][/font][/#cc9966] [#cc9966][font "Comic Sans MS"][size 2]The collected rainbow trout were individually marked with an adipose fin clip, weighed and measured. This would allow easy identification of any rainbow trout than might negotiate the barrier once moved.........[/size][/font][/#cc9966] [#cc9966][font "Comic Sans MS"][size 2]Collected rainbow trout were moved below the barrier where they were stocked into a resident population of rainbow trout. The tendency for displaced rainbow trout to move is quite high especially when introduced into an established population. This was the basic concept behind the marking and moving of the rainbow trout. We were hopeful that it would give us an indication of the barrier's effectiveness......... [/size][/font][/#cc9966] [#cc9966][font "Comic Sans MS"][size 2]In January 1998, the worst flood in recent history hit the Doe River watershed causing severe damage to property and loss of life. The barrier at Hampton Cove was destroyed, requiring re-construction during April 1998. Shortly thereafter, another rainbow trout mark and move experiment was performed in order to test the new structure.......... [/size][/font][/#cc9966] [#cc9966][font "Comic Sans MS"][size 2]Evaluation of the mark and move experiment indicated that the barrier was functioning properly, as none of the marked rainbow were collected above the barrier..........[/size][/font][/#cc9966] [#cc9966][font "Comic Sans MS"][size 2]Between October 1998 and July 2000, six removals in all or selected reaches of the treatment area have been made. As a result, 2,324 rainbow trout were removed from the 1,878 m (1.2 mi) treatment area........[/size][/font][/#cc9966] [#cc9966][font "Comic Sans MS"][size 2]Soon after the last removal in 1999, 273 southern Appalachain brook trout of various sizes were collected and released into the renovated section of Left Prong Hampton Creek........ [/size][/font][/#cc9966] [#cc9966][font "Comic Sans MS"][size 2]Currently, we are planning to re-sample the treatment zone in July 2000 to check on the transplanted brook trout and to remove any remaining rainbow trout. [/size][/font][/#cc9966] [#cc9966][font "Comic Sans MS"][size 2]We returned in July 2000 to assess the condition of the transplanted brook trout and to remove any additional rainbow trout. During our survey of the restoration zone, we collected over 500 brook trout and removed 6 additional rainbow trout. There appeared to have been good reproduction and dispersal from the transplanted brook trout during 1999-2000. [/size][/font][/#cc9966] [#cc9966][font "Comic Sans MS"][size 2]
[/size][/font][/#cc9966] [#cc9966][font "Comic Sans MS"][size 2]More recently during a survey on March 19, 2001 we documented good brook trout reproduction and no rainbow trout in the restoration zone. This re-assured us that our barrier modifications are performing as expected. [/size][/font][/#cc9966]
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