Georgia

Overview

In the mountainous north of Georgia, wild brook trout hold on in the headwaters of the Little Tennessee, Chattooga, and Chattahoochee river systems. The Chattahoochee tailwater, far to the south, offers the most southerly large and consistent wild trout fishery in the East.

Threats & Opportunities

Modeling suggests that Georgia’s freestone trout waters are at risk from rising temperatures due to climate change. Increasingly powerful and frequent storms are causing extreme erosion and sedimentation. Headwaters offer many clusters of brook trout refuges at elevations of 1,700 feet and above, many of which are on public land and present protection and restoration opportunities.

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What we're accomplishing

Mobilizing to address tropical storm damage across the national forest.

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, we are working with the Forest Service to not only address and repair storm damage but also identify vulnerable infrastructure and prioritize sites for preemptive remediation. Preparing for storms that are becoming more frequent and severe as the climate changes will help reduce future damage.

Reconnecting segmented streams to expand trout habitat and protect infrastructure from flooding.

In Georgia’s mountains, many streams are segmented by barriers, including small dams and perched, undersized culverts. We have prioritized the most problematic aquatic organism passage (AOP) barriers for mitigation. An AOP project completed on Mulkey Creek reconnected miles of habitat for trout, salamanders and other aquatic species. In partnership with the Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Georgia Department of Natural Resources and Atlanta Botanical Garden, we also restored a headwater bog, one of the rarest habitat types in Georgia.

Formulating long-term plans for restoration.

We helped develop a Watershed Restoration Action Plan (WRAP) for the West Fork Chattooga River watershed that identified and prioritized projects to improve watershed health. Following the plan’s development, we began implementing priority aquatic organism passage projects in the watershed. Continuing our focus on watershed health, we are also working with the U.S. Forest Service to address sedimentation caused by poor road and streambank conditions in the headwaters of the Toccoa River watershed.

Leveraging partnerships to advance science-based protection and restoration.

We supported research by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources investigating brook trout genetics. The development of a modern genetic baseline will allow biologists to compare brook trout populations within the state and across the species’ native range. This understanding will help inform current and future conservation efforts for this sensitive species in Georgia and beyond.

How You Can Help

Find your local chapter

Get connected and make a difference for priority waters in your community.

Find your chapter

Help us look for fish passage barriers and restore Georgia’s trout waters.

VOLUNTEER

Learn more about how we’re caring for and recovering Priority Waters in Georgia and across the country

Georgia Conservation Team

Anthony Spagna

Trout Unlimited Engineer
anthony.spagna@tu.org

View our Staff Directory at tu.org

EXPLORE THE MAP

1 road decommissioned

32 assessments of isolated brook trout

Priority Waters

Chattahoochee River Watershed

With high-elevation headwaters and a large tailwater below Lake Lanier, the Chattahoochee offers diverse trout fisheries that are appealing in different ways. In addition to larger headwaters systems, the rugged mountains of North Georgia feature hundreds of miles of tiny mountain streams that are a blueline hunter’s dream. Much farther downstream, the Chattahoochee River tailwater deserves its reputation as one of the East’s premiere tailwaters.
Hiwassee Headwaters

Covering 37,000 acres west of Blue Ridge, the Cohutta Wilderness is home to the headwaters of the Hiwassee system, which includes both the Toccoa and Nottely rivers, as well as many smaller streams.
Chattooga / Savannah Headwaters

The headwaters of the Chattooga and Savannah rivers are located in the corner of Northeast Georgia, as well as neighboring South Carolina and North Carolina. The area includes plenty of small mountain streams filled with eager native brook trout, along with wild rainbows and browns.
Little Tennessee Headwaters

Originating in the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Chattahoochee National Forest, the Little Tennessee flows northward past Dillard, Ga., before crossing into North Carolina. The headwaters, including many small tributaries, feature multiple brook trout catchments, providing excellent resilience to warming temperatures.