The class discussion of Lake Tahoe today reminded me of some of my very favorite trout waters here in the Appalachians. I prefer to fish for small brook trout that like to reside in the small cold and pristine headw3aters of the mountains. The brook is the only native trout in North Carolina. Stocked trout are much more aggressive and have driven the brook out in lower water stream. This stock regime coupled with the increased sedimentation and thermal pollution the brook trout habitat is rapidly declining.
Two weeks ago I decided I needed to go fishing and as I set out to climb through the rhodendren and mountain laurel thickets on my hands and knees in search of m y favorite stream. Once o got there things were different. The stream bed was full of sediment and the once moss covered rocks were covered with a slimy film. I was furious! I then remembered about the proposed development that is located upslope. Had it been that long ago that I had been to this stream. I walked a few hundred yards upstream and found more of the same sedimentation and nutrient loading. Usually trout dart from ever pool and riffle in this stream, but today they were no existent. I decided to look at some bugs in the stream to get a better idea of the damage. As I kicked over and few rock I discovered that all I could find were bivalves and other species that were consistent with poor water quality. What a disgrace.