WALHALLA – Every year, the SC Department of Natural Resources stocks trout in a remote inland river: rainbow, brown and east stream.
But the Chattooga River, which comprises more than 20 kilometers from the northernmost border between South Carolina and Georgia, it is not an easy place to reach. A “wild and scenic” river was declared by the US Forest Service decades ago, and after that happened, several accesses to the waterway through old logging roads were closed.
That’s where the helicopters come in.
The bottom of the “Bambi bucket” opens to launch a shipment of trout into the Chattooga River. aylor Main / SCDNR / Supplied
Every year, at that time, wildlife officials with the help of the Forest Service use a helicopter that is normally a firefighting tool to get there.
Instead of pouring water to extinguish the flames, the vessel raises an orange basket full of fish to the most difficult stretches of the stream. The bottom of the “Bambi basket” is synchronized, and the helicopter pilot can release the line that keeps it closed so that fish and water can splash in the stream below.
“It’s an incredible design with all the moving parts that works so well,” said Dan Rankin, chief DNR trout biologist.
A load in the basket can take 300 to 400 larger fish, Rankin said. Loads of smaller fry that are not yet adults can reach 1,000 per drop.
The trip requires a skillful touch, as the pilot has to carefully maneuver the basket hanging several meters below the helicopter, over pines, hemlocks and oaks and, finally, on top of Chattooga. The annual falls support popular fly fishing spots at Burrells Ford Campground and close to Highway 28. Fishermen who choose other locations on the river must walk there.
It is not uncommon to use creative means to get fish to overcome obstacles. A “salmon cannon” that became an Internet sensation in 2019 is also crucial in allowing these fish to breed when dams are on the way, The Seattle Times reported. In South Carolina, there is a fish elevator to move some species through the hydroelectric dams of Santee Cooper.
The orange “Bambi bucket” hangs several meters below a helicopter, full of trout bound for the Chattooga River. The helicopter pilot must carefully maneuver over heavily forested areas to reach the waterway. Taylor Main / SCDNR / Provided
In this case, there is no blocking for the fish – there simply isn’t enough being spawned in some parts of the river to support fishing, Rankin said.
The agency has a lot of experience in hatching fish at its nearby facilities in Walhalla, which have been growing trout since 1930. But, as in agriculture, “you have good years and bad years,” Rankin said.
A future threat to all trout species is the warming potential of the cold water streams they frequent. Rankin called the rise in temperatures due to climate change “a major concern” for trout, which does best in waters with a temperature of 70 degrees or colder.
Trout grown in an hatchery in Walhalla, SC, is destined for the Chatooga River. Taylor Main / SCDNR / Provided
While research is still being conducted on threats to fish, a 2016 US Geological Survey study found that in warmer waters, brown trout, which is not native to the eastern United States, outperformed brook trout.
For the time being, DNR will continue its stockpile program, which is also supported by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the non-profit organization Trout Unlimited. Rankin, himself a fisherman, said the program supports fishing in one of the state’s most pristine areas.
The Chattooga River is “just a special place to be,” said Rankin.
Talk to Chloe Johnson at 843-735-9985. Follow her on Twitter @_ChloeAJ.