LOS TU volunteers assist NPS Fisheries personnel in Great Smoky Mountains National Park with large stream sampling. Sampling is carried out on a representative group of large stream systems in the park.

Volunteers net fish and carry buckets as an electrofishing team moves upstream, shocking fish within a sample site. Fish are safely removed, weighed, measured and counted, and returned to the stream. The resulting data give Fisheries scientists an excellent snapshot of species and habitat diversity. Data are also compared to historical data from US Fish & Wildlife surveys. These comparisons illustrate longterm health of the stream on such indicators as water quality and fish density.

LOS volunteers have assisted in sampling on Cataloochee Creek, and may assist on Abrams Creek in the future. Volunteers are always welcome; prior experience is not necessary. Itıs a great way to learn more about reading the water.