Since 1986, biologists from several state and federal agencies (National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, UT, TVA, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency) have cooperated to restore the Smoky madtom catfish, yellowfin madtom catfish, spotfin chub, and duskytail darter to Abrams Creek. UT graduates J.R. Shute, Peggy Shute, and Patrick Rakes lead the effort. All are former students of Dr. David Etnier, UT ichthyologist and aquatic biologist.

Disturbed by dwindling numbers of the East Tennessee native fish, the agencies had asked Etnier and his students to study the problem in detail. They found that all four species require similar environmental conditions to thrive: free-flowing water and a stream bottom plentiful in nesting rocks. The fish make nests and lay their eggs under rocks or in rock crevices and live and feed near the bottoms of streams.

Damming, which drastically reduces current and causes collection of silt at stream bottoms, has greatly reduced viable habitat for the Smoky madtom, yellowfin madtom, spotfin chub, and duskytail darter. So these species are being re-introduced at a site that is likely to remain untouched by industry: Abrams Creek in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

J.R. Shute and Patrick Rakes are co-coordinators of Conservation Fisheries Inc., a fish hatchery in Halls, Tennessee, just north of Knoxville. To insure an adequate supply of fish for release into Abrams Creek, each species is reared in captivity. Rakes, J.R. Shute, and Peggy Shute, a biologist with TVA, release young fish along Abrams Creek at regular intervals during late summer and early fall. Surveys along the creek indicate that all four species are beginning to re-populate.

In terms of everyday living, the loss of these fish may not mean much. But, the biologists argue, Tennessee is home to the largest variety of freshwater fish in the United States. To lose any part of this treasure trove, they say, takes some of the sparkle out of our streams. -- Vicki Slagle Johns