Fish funds strategically provided by Fish and Aquatic Conservation is being used in tandem with the Hatchery Friend's group volunteers to deliver the most important and efficient targeted restoration support possible. After several years of storms that have claimed a number of trees at Dale Hollow National Fish Hatchery, there was already a lot of lingering work to be done like replanting new trees, rebuilding the hatchery perimeter fence, rebuilding 6 picnic tables and public use benches, upgrading the hatchery fishing pier, shoring up the creek bank, filling erosion pits, and adding safety rip rap.
Recently two large trees fell on the fishing pier down at the creek. They took out the front rail and front facing foundation joists. Market repair estimate to process/remove downed trees, remove 5 dead trees, and do a partial rebuild of the fishing pier $20-30k.
Causes:
- Heavy rains
- Soft soil
- Rotten/shallow roots
Repair & cost savings plan:
- Local company for $2500 worth of hazard tree felling
- Move the downed trees & limbs using station equipment and personnel when there is an expected break in the rain next week. Just agreed to the local tree guy who is gonna meet here Tuesday afternoon and do thousands of dollars of work for hundreds of bucks (savings because of a friends group personal friendship).
- Fishing pier repairs exceed station staff capabilities because of the degradation and safety issues noted in the maintenance memo earlier this year. The station plan is to evaluate the damage further once the trees are removed and build a patch temporary repair, or close the structure structure
Something temporarily or permanently constructed, built, or placed; and constructed of natural or manufactured parts including, but not limited to, a building, shed, cabin, porch, bridge, walkway, stair steps, sign, landing, platform, dock, rack, fence, telecommunication device, antennae, fish cleaning table, satellite dish/mount, or well head.
Learn more about structure if support underlayment is compromised enough to be a safety concern.
DM planning:
- The station is optimistic about being able to implement a patch repair to the pier, but we should probably consider a timeline for the previous repair/upgrade proposa. Some good planning could get a decent fix/upgrade if modest funds become available. The previous repair/upgrade submittal seemed like an effective long-term plan
- Trees at the creek will continue to be an issue, the current plan is to take down the worst trees when vital. There are an additional 22 virginia pines that are at end of life, but the station needs to make progress on finding a way to replace/replant trees before we strip the creek bare of cover – so we are stuck with a continual safety and damage repair issue as we work on low cost possibilities. If larger funds become available, a faster, more comprehensive action plan is possible.
Actions Taken
- With a lot of help for Roy Sinclair, from the Hatchery Friends group, we were able to remove the 5 dead and dangerous trees for a fraction of the projected costs.
- We are in process of developing a flooring replacement strategy for the fishing pier using materials that will still allow mobility access without being subject to rot (aiming for surplus aluminum planking if we can find it)
- We built a temporary, heavy duty guard rail 18" back from the edge of the pier's broken end joist to allow continued safe visitor access without completely shutting down the structure
- We submitted the following proposal to Tennessee Tech that just got distributed to key personnel in the ag department. Depending on the action results from this proposal, we may also contact UT, TN dept of Ag, or maybe some local non-profits/companies.
To: Tennessee Tech
From: Thomas Reeves, Hatchery Manager
Subject: Planning help request and possible partnership
June, 13, 2024
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has a long partnership with Tennessee Tech related to educational opportunities and occasional research programs. The hatchery has a visitor creek area with heavy fish stocking, trails, picnic areas, and shade trees that have made the area remarkable for decades.
Aging trees and recent storms have taken their toll over the last few years and the hatchery is looking for recovery help planting native trees in their open fields and as replacement for storm damage and hoped this might be a good opportunity to collaborate on a neat area that could use some expertise.
Would you be willing/interested in reviewing the site to explore restoration and 2024/2025 project potential?
Potential areas of interest:
- Re-planting trees near the creek – evergreen, native, must be able to endure wet river-connected soil. We are not sure of the trees, configuration, support, or sources.
- Planting/supporting native evergreens over 15 acres of open field. Planning or group effort possible?
- Other options: Developing nature trails, native gardens, education systems?
- Communications (possible): outreach events, US Fish & Wildlife Service National quarterly reports, Department of Interior news articles, hatchery website, congressional representative, state government, local news
Between the partnerships, volunteers, and a lot of hard work, the fish funds help create the basis of a decently large scale recovery effort at Dale Hollow. There is still a lot of work to do and great need for funding, but the team is going to keep grinding away at finding solutions to restore a community treasure.
