Steve Fry, Don Denney, Dick Geiger and John Reinhardt of Trout Unlimited
The Tennessee Chapter of the American Fisheries Society recognized local conservationists during a special awards banquet at its annual state meeting held Thursday as part of a two-day event scheduled in Chattanooga.
The evening presentation was held at the Tennessee Aquarium and featured members from multiple disciplines related to fisheries management, including scientists, educators and water quality professionals such as TWRA and the University of Tennessee.
The Tennessee Council of Trout Unlimited was given an award for the outstanding efforts made by their eight local chapters in supporting the AFS mission.
Project examples from Trout Unlimited can be found across the state and include “Trout in the Classroom,” “Project Healing Waters,” litter cleanups, fish survey, the state license tag program and countless volunteer hours that AFS spokesman noted “have supplemented grant requests and programming to bring millions of dollars in funding that affects our region and environment.”
Dr. Anna George, of the Tennessee Aquarium, was also awarded as fisheries specialist of the year. The American Fisheries Society is the world’s oldest and largest organization dedicated to strengthening the fisheries profession, advancing fisheries science, conserving fisheries resources, and was established in 1870. For more information, go to http://sdafs.org/tnafs/.
The Tennessee Council of Trout Unlimited local chapters include: Appalachian, Cherokee, Clinch River, Cumberland, Great Smoky Mountains, Hiwassee, Overmountain, Delta, and Little River. The Appalachian Chapter of Trout Unlimited is based out of Chattanooga and is regularly involved on clean water initiatives for both Hamilton County and the Tellico River and Hiwassee River watershed areas. See http://appalachiantu.org/ for more information.