Did Hurricane Helene Impact Fish? Biologists Investigate at Douglas Lake
DANDRIDGE, Tenn. ( WATE Seven months following Hurricane Helene, wildlife authorities continue to assess the impact of the storm on the ecosystem in East Tennessee.
Representatives from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) along with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) conducted a fish census at Douglas Lake on Wednesday. This effort aimed to assess whether the storm had affected the lake’s fish population.
The study focused on various sport fish species, with the most prevalent being the largemouth bass. The economy near Douglas Lake significantly relies on fishermen who travel from across the nation to fish in these waters.
"That marina was packed early today; visitors inject significant amounts of currency and U.S. dollars into the local economy through lodging, dining, fuel purchases, and fishing gear," stated TVA Fisheries Biologist Kurt Larkin.
To evaluate the fish population, fisheries biologists employ a technique known as electrofishing.
"Electrical current will enter the water, forming a bubble, and any fish that touches it will be momentarily incapacitated, causing them to rise to the surface where we can collect them using a long-handled dip net," Lakin explained.
Next, biologists identify the fish species before weighing and measuring it.
"We will examine them for diseases and parasites, which provides us with an overview of the current state of the fish population, including their age and size distribution," explained TVA Fisheries Biologist John Justice.
Zoologists similarly examine hook injuries and assess whether the fish matches the typical weight for its species and size. After gathering this information, they input it into a database to contrast it with historical records from previous years.
Tracking the fish population can serve as an indicator of the reservoir’s general well-being. Although the data isn't fully compiled yet, biologists report that things look promising so far.
"It seems the fishery is doing quite well despite all the rain and the effects of the event last fall. Based on our observations so far, the fish appear healthy and abundant," Lakin stated.
Biologists have additional surveys scheduled to finish gathering their data before the summer starts. While conducting these surveys, they keep an eye open for any invasive species, like the Alabama Spotted Bass.
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