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,
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Sincerely,
Jim
Jim Harvey
President
Upper Chattahoochee Chapter #436 - Trout Unlimited
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Fishing - Spring 2016 Trip to South Holston River |
June 9, 10 and 11th
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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
If you have more questions please email Ken Mock at
programs@ucctu.org or call Ken at 404./725.3979
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Our January Speaker: Riverkeeper Jason Ulseth
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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!
If you are interested in speaking at future UCCTU meetings contact Ken Mock, Programs Chair at
programs@ucctu.org
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Advocacy
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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
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Conservation
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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.
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Fundraising
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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.
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Membership
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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.
- Four issues of Stream Explorers magazine
- Stream Explorers sticker
- 16-month 2015/2016 wall calendar
- Official TU membership card
- 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.
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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.
Check out the new Chapter Website at
ucctu.tu.org and leave comments in the Shout Out box.
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Select for Calendar view
December 27
- No December Mtg
January 9 -
January 26 - Chapter Mtg
February 4 - UCCTU Board Mtg
February 13 -
February 23 - Chapter Mtg
March 12 -
March 23 - Chapter Mtg
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Reg Catzvjiz
Alexander Gilbert
Carter Hall
William Roseiii
Ron Witcher
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Must Read Articles, Blogs..... |
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Backcasts
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Fall Fishing Trip - Cherokee, North Carolina - November 5 - 8, 2015
Fishing Dayz - Cochran Shoals - December 6, 2015
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Upper Chattahoochee Trout Unlimited | |
president@ucctu.org
30 Golf Circle, NE
Atlanta, GA 30309
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