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Projects May Discolor Davidson River Temporarily RALEIGH, N.C. (May 26, 2006) – Visitors to the Davidson River over the next few weeks may see discolored water due to two maintenance and enhancement projects that will ultimately benefit wildlife and area anglers. Maintenance on the water intake system at the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s Bobby N. Setzer State Fish Hatchery in Transylvania County may discolor the water downstream from the hatchery. Repairs should be completed by early June. “From time to time, sediment builds up and clogs the intake structure, and this requires periodic maintenance,” said Scott Loftis, watershed enhancement coordinator with the Wildlife Resources Commission. “Modifications to the channel at the intake structure should reduce maintenance costs, which in turn, reduce our costs when producing trout. It also helps us provide better water quality to the hatchery facility and healthier hatchery trout for stocking in our mountain streams.” The discolored water will have no effect on the fish. This section of the Davidson River (headwaters to Avery Creek) is Catch-and-Release, Artificial-Fly-Only trout waters, therefore all catches must be returned to the river. A stream restoration project being conducted by the U.S.
Forest Service may discolor the water downstream from the Sycamore Flats recreation
area. This project, expected to be complete by early June, is restoring
stream banks and the riparian area from damages resulting from the floods.
According to the U.S. Forest Service, the project will improve the habitats
for coldwater trout and other aquatic species, as well as improve recreational
experiences.
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