Trout hatchery renovation to bring more trout, hellbenders to WNC region; feedback sought

ASHEVILLE - As fall fishing begins, the U.S. Forest Service is looking for feedback on a plan that will expand and renovate North Carolina's largest trout hatchery — the Bobby N. Setzer State Fish Hatchery in Transylvania County.

The renovations will increase the efficiency in which the hatchery can produce trout and will improve existing trailheads along the Davidson River in Pisgah National Forest, according to a Forest Service environmental assessment study.

"Cumulative impacts from the Setzer Hatchery renovations will include improved water quality, increased production of trout for the region and potentially increased flow in the sections directly below the dams on Grogan Creek and the Davidson River," the study reads.

The environmental assessment study indicates the renovations may increase the population of the rare hellbender salamander, where proposed "improvements to water quality and sediment transport immediately below the facility could improve habitat for hellbenders."

The hatchery was damaged by Tropical Storm Fred in 2021, which flooded the Davidson River and caused the hatchery to lose around 67% of its trout. The flooding affected the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission's Wildlife Education Center, which was demolished later that year after renovations were proposed.

The renovations aim to replace "dated and failing infrastructure to ensure continued operation of the Setzer Hatchery, increase efficiency of operations" and improve the regions water quality, according to the study.

The proposed renovations would focus on the Davidson River intake, the hatchery building and raceways for the trout, while also providing trailhead renovations that will expand parking spaces for fishing in the Davidson River, alongside providing a new public restroom for visitors.

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will implement delayed harvest trout waters on Oct. 1. On 33 streams, anglers will only be able to fish with artificial lures on a single hook.

Under delayed harvest catch-and-release regulations, no trout can be harvested or possessed from identified waters between Oct. 1 and June 1, 2024.

More stream regulation information is available at ncwildlife.org/Learning/Species/Fish/Trout/Trout-Fishing.

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Low-head dam poses dangers, but not within project scope

When renovations were initially proposed in 2022, a scoping letter outlining the project's goals was accompanied with the opportunity for public feedback. During that time, five of the six comments about the project directly addressed concerns about the Davidson River's low-head dam.

Incidents involving low-head dams led to 111 deaths nationally between 2018 and 2020, according to the National Weather Service. Another 38 deaths were recorded at or near low-head dams in 2021.

Currently, there is no data available that indicates the whether Davidson low-head dam has led to any fatalities.

Kevin Colburn, the national stewardship coordinator for American Whitewater, a nonprofit that focuses on river preservation and promotes paddling safety on rivers and streams, wrote to the Forest Service about the dam in 2022, asking the agency to "put it within the scope of the renovations."

Current plans do not include the removal of the low-head dam, as they are not "within the scope of the plans actions." The U.S. Forest Service sent a statement to the Citizen Times regarding the dam:

"The proposed actions focus on improving and creating efficiencies in ongoing operations associated with the Setzer Hatchery. Removing the hatchery from NFS lands and removal or modification of the diversion dams are not currently within the scope of the proposed actions for this project."

Colburn still believes the dam may pose dangers to river travelers.

"Low-head dams are responsible for approximately 10% of drownings on whitewater rivers for whitewater paddling, so for our community, they're absolutely one of the leading causes of death," he said, referring to the paddling community.

The Davidson River low-head dam serves the function of diverting water to the hatchery and would need to be replaced with a different solution if removed, Colburn said.

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Regardless, Colburn believes the project will benefit all who are interested in the area.

"More than the actual production of fish or fishing in the Southern Appalachians, it's just a really important trailhead; it's a really important river access area," Colburn said. "When I review the analysis, I'll really be looking for 'What does this do for visitors to the Davidson River that are not going to fish, but are going to do all the other things that are unique about it."

The full environmental assessment for the renovations and a location to leave a public comment is available at fs.usda.gov/project/nfsnc/?project=59657. Public comment will be taken until Oct. 17.

Will Hofmann is the Growth and Development Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Got a tip? Email him at WHofmann@citizentimes.com.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Trout fishing in NC? You could see more trout, better streams, soon.