Overmountain Chapter Trout Unlimited
Some of Our Past Projects.
Hampton Creek Fencing (2024)
We’re excited to share that we received an $8,000 grant from the TCTU Conservation Grant Program to help fund fencing at Hampton Creek Cove. The new fence will keep cattle out of the stream, helping to reduce erosion and sediment buildup in the creek.
This is a great step forward in protecting the health of the water and improving habitat for brook trout and other wildlife.
Tailwater Temp Monitors (2024)
After a couple of years of collecting temperature data by hand using Bluetooth monitors, we officially upgraded to cellular temperature monitors! These new devices automatically send data every hour, and you can now view it directly from our website—no more wading into rivers with a phone in hand.
This project was made possible through a great partnership with the Blue Ridge Guide Association. Together, we installed temperature monitors on the upper, middle, and lower sections of both the South Holston and Watauga Rivers. This real-time data helps us better understand river conditions and supports our ongoing conservation efforts to protect cold water fisheries.
Tailwater Temp Monitors (2022)
Over the past year, we have heard several concerns about the lower water flows on the South Holston River causing warmer water on the lower stretches of the river. OMTU installed temperature monitors on the upper, middle, and lower portions of the South Holston and Watauga Rivers. These monitors gave us valuable information regarding the water temperaturs of the rivers. The data was collected once per month via bluetooth.
Bill Beazell Boat Ramp (2022)
OMTU donated $4000 to purchase materials for the construction of the Lovers Lane Boat Ramp. The old boat ramp made it difficult to put your boat in and and out of the water. This project was a joint effort between TWRA, TVA, City of Elizabethton, and Carter County. Because of our donation we were given naming rights to the ramp and decided to name it after Bill Beazell.
Trash Trout Installations (2022)
Many thanks to the 14 volunteers from Ashville Green Works, The Watauga Riverkeepers, The Overmountain Chapter of Trout Unlimited, and the Roan Mountain Recreation Foundation who helped install Trash Trouts on the Doe River in Roan Mountain and on Buffalo Creek in Elizabethton on Thursday 3/31. An information panel was also installed in Roan Mountain telling about the Trash Trout and about the legacy of Todd Burleson. These two devices will collect plastic that is floating in the streams. The Watauga Riverkeepers will empty the traps on a routine basis. This is just one more way to help clean up our local streams and rivers.
Community Science in NE Tenn (2020-22)
We we received a grant from the Tennessee Trout Unlimited (TU) Chapter Grants Program (TCGP). Part of this project was to conduct Stream Habitat Assessments on 40 local streams. Jeff Wright, SE Project Coordinator from TU conducted some training to show participants what needed to be done in the field. From there small groups of the trainees went out to conduct the surveys on the streams. These surveys will be feed to the USFS to help determine which streams in our area could us additional habitat forming wood debris. Based on the findings of our surveys, OMTU will work with USFS resources to add additional woody debris to the streams.
Right Prong Rock Creek (2021)
People built a small dam below a culvert that TWRA wanted to use as a rainbow trout barrier. A small group of OMTU volunteers removed the rocks and the tarp holding the pool to help ensure rainbow trout aren’t getting into that culvert and up to the Brook Trout waters.
Doe River Fishing Trail (2018-20)
OMTU worked with County and State officials to put in a series of parking lots and access trails along the upper Doe River gorge. This is a beautiful section of river and we wanted to get more people access to enjoy it..
Rocky Fork Water Quality (2019-20)
OMTU, in partnership with Cherokee Chapter TU, Friends of Rocky Fork, East Tennessee State University, and Rocky Fork State Park, launched a project to monitor water quality in Rocky Fork Creek. The state park was looking to build a visitor's center and develop better roads and trails. This project was vital to identifying and mitigating impacts to the creek as these activities occurred. OMTU volunteers collected water samples a few times a year at the park. We then installed two water quality monitors to continuously monitor the water.
Hampton Creek Cattle Crossing (2018)
This project consisted of installing a gravel cattle crossing on Hampton Creek to help eliminate some of the mud and settlement that gets into the creek. OMTU partnered with TWRA and the Nature Conservancy to complete this project. OMTU received money from the Tennessee Conservation Grant Program to help pay for some of this project.
Blevins Road Handicap Dock (2018)
OMTU partnered with TVA and TWRA to install a handicapped fishing dock on the Watauga River at the Blevins Road boat ramp. This platform gives handicapped and mobile limited individuals to the chance to get closer to the water and more easily fish this area of the river. OMTU received money from the Tennessee Conservation Grant Program to help pay for this project.
Briar Creek Culvert (2017)
We worked to install a new culvert over Briar Creek (just off Cherokee Road) that will enable native brook trout to move into higher water where the habitat is more suitable to their livelihood. OMTU donated $10,000 towards the purchase of the culvert. We are also provided labor to help rebuild the stream bed after the culvert was installed.
Hampton Creek
At Hampton Creek we helped to install a barrier to separate the rainbow trout downstream from the brook trout upstream.
Watauga Bluffs
With this project we installed a public access area on the Quality Trout Fishing section of the Watauga River. This is currently the only public access on the entire length of the Quality Trout Fishing section. As follow-p to this project we provide manpower to maintain the parking area and trail and we also clean up trash along this section of the river.
Buffalo Creek
An Embrace-A-Stream grant of $7,160 was awarded to the Chapter in April 2002 to install stream bank stabilization and habitat improvement on Buffalo Creek. Two hundred feet of affected stream bank, J-hook jetties and armored toe-protection were installed. Trees were planted by the Elizabethton High School Ecology Club under the leadership of Gary Barrigar, Science Teacher. The Club also placed tree shelters to protect them from animal and weed eater damage.
North Indian Creek
An Embrace-A-Stream grant of $7,160 was awarded to the Chapter in April 2002 to install stream bank stabilization and habitat improvement on Buffalo Creek. Two hundred feet of affected stream bank, J-hook jetties and armored toe-protection were installed. Trees were planted by the Elizabethton High School Ecology Club under the leadership of Gary Barrigar, Science Teacher. The Club also placed tree shelters to protect them from animal and weed eater damage.
Hampton Creek
An Embrace-A-Stream grant of $4240 was awarded to the Chapter in March 1997 to restore native brook trout population in this unique state natural area of Roan Mountain. The funds were used to build a fish passage barrier to separate brook trout and rainbow trout populations. The second phase of the project was to remove rainbow trout above the barrier and stock brook trout back in the stream.
Laurel Fork Creek
An Embrace-A-Stream grant of $3350 was awarded to the Chapter in May 1994. The project objectives were: 1) placement of 16 fish habitat improvement structures, 2) sediment traps at trail/creek crossings, 3) permanent road closure to prevent illegal use and damage at stream crossings, 4) tree planting along the banks, 5) population monitoring station maintenance, and 6) population/structure use monitoring. A sign was placed along the trail in the project area with information about brown trout and the EAS project. A bulletin board was placed in the campground downstream displaying the Laurel Fork Creek ecosystem and the EAS project.
