TRB ECOLOGY 101 & PRIDE OF PLACE

We've all seen the pictures and heard the thrilling stories of the great buffalo stampedes of the old West. Those involved the massive, furry, four-legged critters that once dominated the Great Plains. But the Buffalo we're talking about today swim in Tellico Reservoir except for a few days in early April each year. That's when thousands of buffalo fish make their spawning runs into nearby Citico Creek. The dark-colored fish quickly turn the creek into a frenzy of splashing water. The fishing's not bad either, as Wild Side Guide Alan Griggs shows us. From show 2504. Visit our website at www.WildSideTV.com to learn more.

Southern Appalachian Brook Trout are a geographically isolated strain of Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) that are facing a realistic possibility of disappearing. They are a valuable indicator species and the decline in brook trout populations is a reflection of the degradation of our beautiful streams. They are the only native trout (technically a char) to the Eastern United States. Because of the introduction of invasive Rainbow Trout (from the Western US) through state fish stocking programs, they are being out competed and brook trout populations are being even further reduced. Do your part where and however you can to help conserve what little remaining pure Southern Appalachian Brook Trout populations exist. Thank you for taking the time to watch this video and support BlueBlood. If you enjoyed, please share and there are plenty more videos to come!

In 2015 I stayed stationary in Tennessee, snorkeling and filming the rich aquatic life of this states many beautiful rivers. This clip is a short snapshot into the many hours of footage I have captured. A longer documentary will be compiled of my work in 2016 including brook trout, stone nest building, colorful darters, and many other interesting species and behaviors. Thank you for watching, please do your part to protect your local rivers and more importantly, grab a mask and see whats really going on below!

This is a collection of some clips of some of some of the fish species I have observed and filmed while snorkeling in several rivers in Southern Appalachia. The diversity that can be found below the surface of these rivers and others throughout North America is unreal and it is truly a privilege to observe first hand. A fish species list is included at the end. Get below the surface and see what you're missing! This is just the beginning of BlueBlood and I hope to film and share more of what I see. Stay tuned for more projects documenting the beauty of inland North America, underwater. Thank you for watching and please share if you enjoyed this clip!

A short preview of our forthcoming film on the vibrant yet little-known life of Southern Appalachian Rivers. Support this project at www.hiddenrivers.org www.hiddenrivers.org | www.freshwatersillustrated.org

Born deep in Georgia's Cohutta Wilderness, the Conasauga River flows north through Tennessee, before heading back south on its way to the Mobile Bay. This state scenic river gets its name from a Cherokee word loosely translated as "sparkling waters." While much of the Conasauga lives up to that namesake, parts of its waters no longer sparkle. Like many streams, the Conasauga has suffered at the hands of man. Pollutants now muddy much of the lower section of the river. But work is being done to change that. Wild Side Guide Ken Tucker takes us to this river of contradictions, where work is being done by the TWRA and others to both manage and protect this natural jewel, home to more than 90 fish species and 25 mussel species. From show 2609. Visit our website at www.WildSideTV.com to learn more.

The Wild Side of Tennessee is full of little creatures that blend into their surroundings, unseen by most. Yet they play very important roles in keeping the balance of nature just right. In this case, we're talking about the green salamander, an animal that makes its home in just a few select places. High on the Cumberland Plateau, deep in the woods, nestled back in the narrow cracks of ages-old rock outcrops is where you'll find this tiny creature. While the green salamander is known for its shyness, Wild Side Guide Alan Griggs shows us how one biology student is discovering just how fascinating it really is. From show 2507. Visit our website at www.tnwildside.com to learn more.

At this point, the buffalo, Ictiobus spp. (Probably mixed crowd!) along with some nice big silver redhorse, Moxostoma anisurum, were milling around the creek in pretty good numbers. No spawning events were seen and the schools appeared to me primarily males....just waiting on the females to arrive! This spectacular event takes place in early April every year in Citico Creek and other numerous other streams in our area. Citico Creek is located on the Cherokee National Forest and is perhaps one of the nicest medium-sized streams in the southern Appalachians!

For a little more than 10 years, Conservation Fisheries has been working to re-establish spotfin chub into the Tellico River in eastern Tennessee. These spectacular, turquoise minnows (only the males develop this color and only during summertime spawning), are highly specialized and closely associated with clean, current swept, bedrock habitats. During spawning season, the males become very territorial and stake out crevices in the rocks where the females will ultimately deposit the eggs. While males vigorously defend these territories, they do not provide any direct care to the eggs and larvae. The spotfin chub is federally threatened.