The Clinch River Chapter has joined with TVA and TWRA to implement a biomonitoring program on the Clinch River tailwater. The goal of this program is to determine the effects of Clinch tailwater conditions e.g., flows, dissolved oxygen, temperature, silt) on aquatic macroinvertebrate and fish populations during a long-term period of varying climatic conditions.

Components of the program include:

	Periodic monitoring of permanent macroinvertebrate sampling stations including measurement of silt
	Periodic monitoring of fish populations and fishing pressure
	Continuous monitoring of flows, dissolved oxygen and temperature
	Annual redd surveys
	Annual trout fry electroshocking surveys

The Clinch tailwater during the 1980s through the mid-1990s was arguably the finest trout fishery east of the Mississippi River. Before TVA implemented its Reservoir Releases Improvement Program in the early 1980s, the Clinch was a mediocre fishery.

TWRA recently concluded a five-year study that has produced excellent information that should be helpful in gaining a better understanding of the Clinch fishery. A long-term biomonitoring program could build on this study by providing TWRA with information to identify and evaluate problems; help inform and educate the public; and provide the basis for implenting science-based management decisions.

Understanding the effects and interaction of key variables such as flow, DO, temperature, and silt on trout and aquatic macroinvertebrate populations will provide information that will enable TWRA to further enhance and protect this valuable coldwater resource.  This project has the potential to make a significant contribution to our understanding of cold tailwaters and continue to build on the outstanding work completed by TWRA and TVA. Such a program might be unique in so far as trout tailwaters are concerned. Trout Unlimited is not aware of a similar program on a cold tailwater.