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The Blue Ridge Mountain Chapter (#696)

Trout Unlimited

Trout Unlimited is recognized as America's most effective coldwater conservation organization. Through the support of its 150,000-plus members, TU is involved in a number of initiatives on a national scope directed toward its mission of conserving, protecting and restoring North America’s trout and salmon fisheries and their watersheds.

But much of TU's success is achieved at the grassroots level where the rubber hits the road. Each of TU's 450 local chapters, like the Blue Ridge Mountain group, is involved with coldwater conservation programs geared toward the challenges and opportunities in their own communities. The following are a few of the projects of the local TU chapter:

Conservation

All up and down the Appalachians, Trout Unlimited chapters are at work on a major coldwater conservation initiative called Back-the-Brookie  www.brookie.org  Aimed at preserving Georgia's only native salmonid, much of the effort here is now in the "information gathering" stage since very little data has been compiled on local brook trout populations and the streams where they have survived. DNA analysis is being completed of known brook trout populations to determine if they are of the Southern Appalachian strain, are descendents of Northern brookies that were introduced by hatchery stockings or are a hybrid of the two. A water sampling project of brook trout streams is also underway with Paul Mailman, member of the Blue Ridge Mountain TU chapter, serving as state coordinator. Located near a number of these brook trout streams, chapter members participate by collecting water samples for the data base that is being compiled.

            The Blue Ridge Mountain Chapter participates with the U.S. Forest Service in Volunteer Work Days for Habitat Improvement Projects on streams in the Chattahoochee National Forest. Jim Wentworth, a member of our TU chapter, is Central Zone Biologist with the Forest Service’s Brasstown Ranger District and he coordinates the workdays for our region where TU members help Forest Service personnel with such projects as the installation and maintenance of in-stream structures. See the Calendar of Events link on the homepage for a list of work projects scheduled for this year.

            Another chapter member, Larry Golsen, is local coordinator of the Georgia Adopt-A-Stream program http://www.riversalive.org/aas.htm . Several chapter members have completed the required training to become Adopt-A-Stream monitors and as such, are keeping an eye on their favorite local waterways and providing information about them to be included in the statewide data base. Any member interested in becoming an Adopt-A-Stream member can learn the details from Larry.

Education

The Blue Ridge Mountain Chapter of TU is presently working with local science teachers Jeff Weaver and Tony Tickler in a Trout in the Classroom (TIC) http://www.tu.org/site/pp.asp?c=7dJEKTNuFmG&b=404755  project in a local school. This Trout Unlimited program is hailed for its success in involving students in a range of educational subjects while fostering a better understanding of the environment. At present, the Blue Ridge Mountain chapter-sponsored Trout in the Classroom is in its second year in Fannin County. As the program progresses, students participating in Trout in the Classroom are seeing practical, hands-on applications for some of their classroom chemistry, biology, math, etc while building an appreciation for our coldwater fish and the local ecosystem.

Also in the area of youth education, the Blue Ridge Mountain Chapter is pleased to nominate two local youth for a week at Georgia Trout Unlimited Trout Camp http://64.30.174.36/gatu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20&Itemid=42 each summer. Georgia Trout Camp is open to boys and girls 12-15 years old. While at Trout Camp, participants will learn and practice the sport of flyfishing under the tutelage of some of Georgia’s most experienced anglers, study sound conservation practices and be outfitted with some neat fishing gear while enjoying a fun and rewarding experience.

Monthly Meetings are normally held the second Saturday of each month at the community building at the Kiwanis Fairgrounds located at the corner of Austin and Jones Streets in Blue Ridge beginning at 9:00 a.m. (occasionally meetings are held at other times or places for on-site programs). Meetings are held on Saturday mornings to accommodate both our full-time residents and our many “weekenders” who are forced to split their time between the city and the mountains. In addition to attending to the business of the chapter, monthly meetings feature a program presented by an expert in an area of interest to local TU members. Guests are always welcomed at meetings. Check the home page for details on the next meeting.

The local chapter keeps its members and other interested persons informed about its activities through “Up The Creek,” a monthly e-newsletter. If you’re a chapter member and aren’t receiving the newsletter via email or are interested in local TU activities and would like to “subscribe” to “Up The Creek,” please let us know through the “Contact Us” link on this web page. Also, the chapter maintains a Yahoo user group for email communications among members. If you would like to be included in the Yahoo group, email us to let us know.

Not All Work

While the local TU chapter takes conservation of our trout and the streams where they live seriously, there’s time for some play too. Chapter members get together on a regular basis for group fishing outings ranging from hitting a local stream on a Saturday morning to long-weekend camping trips to more distant locations like Cataloochee.

The Chapter's big social event of the year is the "High Country Boil" where members, spouses and guests get together for some good food, fun and fellowship.

Membership

When new members join TU, the national office assigns them to one of the 450 chapters based on Zip codes. The Zip code areas for the Blue Ridge Mountain Chapter include Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens and Murray counties and a couple of other places (like Sugar Hill and Kennesaw addresses) that we aren’t sure how got placed in our area. However, anyone joining TU can select the chapter they want to be affiliated with and we’re fortunate to have a number of members from the metro-Atlanta area and from Florida and other places as members of our chapter because they have property in North Georgia or have a special interest in the streams in this area and want to be part of the TU chapter that’s on the scene. Not trying to “poach” members from other chapters’ areas, but we welcome all who share our interest in preserving and protecting the streams in this area of North Georgia no matter what their Zip code is. To join TU, go to the link on our hope page -- Just be sure you indicate Chapter #696 on your membership application.

            If you would like to learn more about the local chapter, you're invited to attend the next meeting where guests are always welcome, get in touch with us by using the “Contact Us” bottom on the home page, or personally contact any of these chapter officers:

Chapter Officers/Contacts

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