Upper Chattahoochee Chapter #436 - Trout Unlimited
www.ucctu.org
December 2015


Trout Unlimited has been closely following developments regarding the proposed Glades Reservoir above Lake Lanier. This reservoir would divert water from Lake Lanier and inundate 18 miles of streams and 40 acres of wetlands at a cost estimated at $130M. Bill Lott's article in this Newsline provides additional sources of information about this boondoggle as well as who to contact at the U.S. Corps of Engineers to express our concerns. Please take a moment to email your thoughts about this project to the Corps of Engineers by February 15. It is an opportunity to make a difference in conserving precious water resources.

In an ongoing effort to engage women and youth in TU and conservation activities, TU has announced that you can add family members for the duration of your TU membership for free! Just go to www.tu.org/familymembership and add family members. You will need your TU ID number to complete. This is a great way to get women and youth involved at no cost.


Wishing you all the very best through the holiday season,
Sincerely,
Jim
Jim Harvey
President
Upper Chattahoochee Chapter #436 - Trout Unlimited

UCCTU News
Fishing - Spring 2016 Trip to South Holston River

June 9, 10 and 11th

R and R Fly Fishing
South Holston River Fly Shop


First Come -- First Served
The three houses available are described below. Your TOTAL "per bed fee" is ONLY $115 for the trip -- that includes two or three nights and a special dinner! Call 404-309-1368 or email Brad Cruickshank  with your reservation request and let him know which home is your first choice. Rooms/Beds will be assigned as reservations are made. The rooms/beds are described on the Holston Castaways website 
Holston Castaways .

Don't delay! Reservations for the Holston Castaways homes are limited to 15 . After that, if you want to go, you'll have to find other accommodations. There are other lodges nearby and several campgrounds.

Future emails from will list those who have reserved a spot and which home they've been assigned to. We'll also talk about guide services available in the area. If you want a guide for one or more days you are encouraged to book early since June is a prime month on the South Holston and other nearby rivers and streams.

Maps and Directions

Directions to Holston Castaways


Directions to South Holston River

If you have more questions please email Ken Mock at programs@ucctu.org or call Ken at 404./725.3979



Our January Speaker: Riverkeeper Jason Ulseth
On the Hooch - Annual Review of Riverkeeper Actions

We're starting off 2016 as we did in 2015 with an annual review of our favorite local river - The Chattahoochee. Jason Ulseth, Riverkeeper for the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper organization, will discuss current water quality conditions and actions taken within the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area and will provide us with updates on a variety of issues facing the river in 2016 and beyond. 

Jason joined the Chattahoochee River (CRK) in 2007 as the organization's Technical Programs Director. He came to CRK after serving nearly five years with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division and Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Jason assumed the role of Riverkeeper in January of last year and serves as the group's lead river protection advocate and spokesperson. 

Jason is an expert in storm water management and is a Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control and a Georgia certified Design Professional and Trainer. He is certified by the state as an Adopt-A-Stream Trainer and is serving his second term on DNR's Adopt-A-Stream Advisory Board. Come out of winter hibernation and join us at our first chapter meeting of 2016!

More information about Chattahoochee Riverkeeper

If you are interested in speaking at future UCCTU meetings contact Ken Mock, Programs Chair at  programs@ucctu.org
Advocacy
Proposed Glades Reservoir - Public Comment Period

The Deadline is February 15th, for public comment on the draft of the Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Glades Reservoir within Lake Lanier's headwaters. The Glades Reservoir would not add a "new" source of water. It would divert water from the existing Lake Lanier. According to the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, the proposed reservoir has already cost Hall County taxpayers $15 million with actual construction estimated at $130 million.
Glades Reservoir as proposed would according to the applicant destroy approximately 18 linear miles of streams and 40 acres of wetlands to create a 850 acre impoundment. No information is provided regarding mitigation to offset these impacts. At a minimum, additional study is needed to assess Glades impact on Lanier's operation. To comment on this Proposed Glades Reservoir Environmental Impact Statement, email the Corps of Engineers Savannah District at richard.w.morgan@usace.army.mil . Additional facts on this proposed project can be found at http://www.chattahoochee.org the web site for Chattahoochee Riverkeeper.

Legislative Action Needed - Stream buffers

Your help is needed !!! As pointed out in a recent Georgia Supreme Court decision in Turner v. Ga River Network, legislative action is needed to correct a problem with the current stream buffer regulations and how they are implemented by the EPD. If areas of streams do not currently have "wrested vegetation" the EPD does not have to require a 25 foot buffer in that area. Often wrested vegetation is missing in the most sensitive areas of our streams.
This is true even along the Chattahoochee. There is a simple solution and that is to pass legislation that states that where "wrested vegetation" is not present the Army Corp Of Engineers definition of a streams high water mark will be used to determine the start of the 25 foot buffer. State Legislators need to know that this Revision to the Erosion and Sedimentation Act is needed urgently. This is where your help is needed. Please contact your State Legislators requesting that they take action to correct this problem. More information and facts on this topic are available on the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper and Georgia River Network web sites.

http://www.chattahoochee.org

http://www.garivers.org

 
If you are interested in getting more involved in Advocacy contact Advocacy/Conservation Chairman Bill Lott at  conservation@ucctu.org
Conservation
Adopt-A-Stream

Good News ! Both Bob Schmitt and Bill Lott have been certified as Adopt A Stream trainers for Chemical and Bacterial water testing. This will be helpful in arranging classes for UCCTU members to get certified and
annually re-certified in the AAS stream testing program. Currently, UCCTU does testing at 3 different local streams. The streams are tested for pH, temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, and E.coli which are all key indicators of healthy conditions for humans and fish.

In January, we plan to schedule a class for members interested in participating in the stream monitoring program. As soon as the class location, date and time are confirmed, we will post the the information the UCCTU Facebook page.

If you are interested in attending a Adopt-Stream workshop contact Bill Lott at  conservation@ucctu.org

More information about Georgia Adopt-A-Stream program
Fundraising
UCCTU welcomes long time TU member Denny Desmond as our new Fundraising Chairman. Denny brings lots of experience recently serving in our community as Development Director Fundraising and Chairman of North Fulton Habitat for Humanity.

Many thanks to Jack Killorin for doing an outstanding job as Fundraising Chairman.   

You can contact Denny Desmond, Fundraising Chairman at  fundraising@ucctu.org  
Membership
Jack Killorin has stepped forward to be our Membership Chairman. 

The Best Holiday Gift Ever

There are membership catagories for all ages that will make the perfect gift this year.
For a youngster is under the age of 13,  click here to give them a gift Stream Explorers membership ($12), benefits including:
  • Four issues of Stream Explorers magazine
  • Stream Explorers sticker
  • 16-month 2015/2016 wall calendar
  • Official TU membership card
If your young adult is between the ages of 13 and 18,  click here to give them a TU teen membership ($14), benefits including:
  • Four issues of TROUT magazine
  • TU Teen sticker
  • 16-month 2015/2016 wall calendar
  • Official TU membership card
  • Invitation to TU Teen events like regional summer camps and the opportunity to apply to the national leadership conference, the TU Teen Summit!
For Adults, Families and other Membership categories, click here.
Be sure to select Upper Chattahoochee, #436 as your local chapter and the best of the Holidays to you all and Tight Lines in the New Year.

Many thanks to Tom Hayes for doing an outstanding job as Membership Chairman.   

You can contact Jack Killorin at  membership@ucctu.org  
Volunteer Opportunities
 
Please let Jack Killorin know which events you would like to volunteer for at membership@ucctu.org

News Bites
Break ins at Paces Mill

It has been reported that several cars were broken into and fishing items stolen at the Paces Mill parking lot on Saturday afternoon, October 24.  This unfortunate incident is a reminder for us all to be vigilant when parking to fish in the metro area, or anywhere else.  Evidently fly fishers are sometimes targeted in areas such as Paces Mill, so keep rod tubes and other fishing evidence out of sight when you leave the vehicle.  Don't try to be a hero by confronting thieves; have the phone number of local police and be ready to call to report any incidents you witness.     
 
Hopefully, none of us will ever experience a break-in, but it behooves us to take precautions to help prevent such misfortune.



Don't forget to pay your UCCTU Voluntary Dues  Here

Contact Fulton County's Georgia DNR Officer Mark Puig if you see any poaching or violations while your fishing next time.
Ranger Hotline: 800-241-4113
Cell: 404-997-3214
Email:  Mark.Puig@DNR.STATE.GA.US

Check out the new Chapter Website at  ucctu.tu.org and leave comments in the Shout Out box. 
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Jay Atkins getting some pointers from chapter President Jim Harvey.
 
 
Upper Chattahoochee Trout Unlimited | | president@ucctu.org
30 Golf Circle, NE
Atlanta, GA 30309