Submitted by Alan.Creech on Thu, 2016-03-24 09:19 Bluegrass - 478 Vote Up Down +51 + FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASENews from: Trout Unlimited, Louisville and Lexington ChaptersMarch 16, 2016 Contact:Lee Squires, Louisville Chapter, Ky. TU State Council President - 502-551-5985bonsaiman@twc.com Brad Redmon, EcoGro Project Mgr. - 859-229-3379brad@ecogro.net James Gray, Hatchery Manager - 270-343-3797James_Gray@fws.gov Ky. Trout Unlimited Chapters to Plant Trees at the Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery The two Trout Unlimited chapters in Ky. listed above will be planting approximately 100 trees along the 400 ft. long “Catch & Keep“ section of the newly designed and restored Hatchery Creek channel and wetlands at the Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery located at the Lake Cumberland Dam in Jamestown, Ky. The planting will take place on Saturday, April 9, 2016 at 9:00 EST ( the hatchery is on CST) A rain date is scheduled for Saturday, April 16th. The chapters will pay for the trees and provide the labor to plant them and will work in cooperation with EcoGro, The Friends of the Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery and the Ky. Dept. of Fish & Wildlife. This planting is the final phase of the massive 5,600 ft. Hatchery Creek Design/Build “Catch & Release” Project that is scheduled to open on May 1st. The EcoGro/Ridgewater Team, out of Lexington, Ky., partnered with Stantec Consulting Svcs. and worked to restore and improve the creek channel that drains runoff water from the trout runs at the hatchery and eliminating the massive amount of soil erosion that was entering the Cumberland River from a steep ravine. The goal of this project was to create stream and wetland mitigation credits for the Ky. Dept. of Fish & Wildlife, thereby, eliminating soil eroding into the Cumberland River and creating a self-sustaining trout population at the same time. The new Hatchery Creek was designed to support all stages of a trout’s life cycle, including eggs, fry, adult and spawning adults. In doing this it creates a diverse array of habitats that appeal to trout, other aquatic and terrestrial species and anglers alike. The stream mimics a meandering Western trout stream with riffles, spawning gravel, logs and large boulder hiding places for trout that will help insure their success and survival. Trout Unlimited is pleased to assist with this project and work to foster our mission : “To conserve, protect and restore North America’s coldwater fisheries and their watersheds”