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Middle Oconee River Outreach


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#1 Michael Wolfe

Michael Wolfe
  • Board of Directors
  • North Georgia, Oconee River Drainage

Posted 23 May 2015 - 06:09 PM

Just a short report about a a recent outreach opportunity that we had down here in Georgia.  The Georgia River Network puts together a series of paddles to get people out on the water to enjoy and appreciate our rivers.  NANFA Georgia has participated for the last couple of years.  Usually, by setting up an aquarium at their lunch stop and giving a short talk about the fishes of the river that they are spending the day on.

 

Last weekend we were on the Middle Oconee River here in Athens, GA.  I was joined by Jeff Walsh and John and Karen Duktig from here in Georgia, Doug Dame from Florida and Matt Knepley from SC.  We parked at the back door of State Botanical Gardens if Georgia and bushwacked our way to the river and set up our aquarium on a sandbar.

 

We found a total of eleven species including our two state endemic Cyprinella species.

Gambusia

Bluehead Chub

Altamaha Shiner (state listed, but abundant at this location)

altamaha.jpg

Ocmulgee Shiner

ocmulgee.jpg

Bluegill Sunfish

Redbreast Sunfish

Bass (juvenile)

Snail Bullhead Catfish

Pickerel (guesses welcome, only the second one I have ever seen in this part of Georgia)

Esox.jpg

Turquoise Darter

Blackbanded Darter (I mean were were still in Georgia)

blackbanded.jpg

 

The NANFAns had fun...

three%2Bhelpers.jpg

...and lots of paddlers seemed interested in the fishes.

talking3.jpg


Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin

#2 mattknepley

mattknepley
  • NANFA Member
  • Smack-dab between the Savannah and the Saluda.

Posted 24 May 2015 - 05:40 AM

I have to say Michael does NANFA proud at these endeavors. We NANFAns all had a good time, and Michael engaged a large number of river riders. So much so that a rep from a local nature center asked Michael if he'd be willing to do a similar talk at one of their upcoming events. The two Cyprinellas were a real treat, and it was a pleasure to meet a couple more NANFAns face to face.

Great job putting it all together, Michael. Thank you!
Matt Knepley
"No thanks, a third of a gopher would merely arouse my appetite..."

#3 Isaac Szabo

Isaac Szabo
  • NANFA Member
  • Marble Falls, AR

Posted 24 May 2015 - 09:53 AM

Good work guys, and nice photos!

#4 Casper

Casper
  • NANFA Fellow
  • Chattanooga, TN alongside South Chickamauga Creek, just upstream of the mighty Tennessee River.

Posted 24 May 2015 - 07:37 PM

Excellent Michael and hats off to those fine folks who assisted you.  Nifty tank photos as well, i like those top 2 shiners especially.

Doug Dame on the left, on the right Jeff Walsh and in the middle appears to be a postman who enjoys GoldFish & freshwater.

Michael... you look in fine form behind the table with all those attentive faces lookin' at you.


Casper Cox
Chattanooga, near the TN Divide on BlueFishRidge overlooking South Chickamauga Creek.



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