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Catawba River: "Blue Ribbon" Tailrace Fishery of the Southeast??

by Squeak Smith

For many years, TU members statewide have pondered the question: What
potential does the Catawba River have as a tailrace fishery?
Several groups working cooperatively on the issue are now seriously
addressing that question. Specifically, Duke Power, NCWRC, the
Foothills Conservancy, US Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Burke County,
McDowell County, the City of Morganton, NRCS, NCTU and others have
joined forces to tackle the river's major limiting factor -SILTATION!

Recent NCWRC and Duke Power sampling studies estimate Muddy Creek is
currently depositing over 30,000 tons of silt per year directly into the
Catawba River, with over 80% of the siltation coming from the North
Muddy Creek tributary. Stream studies have identified 10-12 specific
sites causing the majority of the siltation. We are currently
establishing project priorities for site-specific activities with local
landowners and the above mentioned project cooperators.

The Foothills Conservancy will provide administrative oversight to the
initial $150,000 project, funded by grants from the USF&W Foundation,
Duke Power, NCWRC, NCTU and others determined to significantly reduce
siltation entering the Catawba River from Muddy Creek. Administrative
and organizational meetings have been ongoing since June 98, with an
official project start date of 1 Jan 99. This project represents the
first step toward a comprehensive process aimed at addressing WQ,
fisheries, and FERC issues throughout the entire Catawba watershed.

The Rocky River Chapter and other chapters statewide have shown a keen
interested in making the Catawba River a significant tailrace fishery.
Now is your chance to get involved. As your NCTU WQ Chairman, I am
soliciting donations from chapters to provide matching grant monies, to
be used in conjunction with in-kind labor from TU volunteers statewide
for the project. We are currently $13,000 short of full funding for the
project and I am exploring with TU National the potential of a matching
grant to fully fund this initial phase. I am attempting to raise $6,500
locally from chapters interested in making this a reality. Your
chapter's monetary participation now, and volunteer labor in the near
future, are critical factors in making the Catawba River the "Blue
Ribbon" tailrace fishery of the Southeast.

Please call Squeak Smith NRB Director SE Region IV (828) 584-2848 or
E-mail: illusion@bluenet.net with questions/comments/suggestions.

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