Trout Habitat Team - Georgia Sedimentation Survey Training

Be a part of Southeast TU's Trout Habitat Team by volunteering for the Georgia Sedimentation Survey. We will be hosting a training immediately following the GATU Council Meeting at Fish Camp at Smithgall Woods State Park near Helen. The training will take place on a Forest Service road within 15 - 20 min of the state park. Participants will receive location information prior to the event. Everyone should wear comfortable clothes/shoes for hiking and bring their own water. Mask use is encouraged.

The Sedimentation Survey is based on the Survey123 app. Participants hike priority forest service roads, documenting locations where sediment-laden water can leave the road and, potentially, enter nearby streams. Once they have been trained, volunteers simply need a smart phone and a couple hours of time to go out on their own and document local issues.

Sediment is the #1 polluter of waterways in the state of Georgia. Unnatural increases in sediment reduce habitat for trout and the invertebrates that they depend on, increase the potential for chemicals and other contaminants to get into the water and decreases water quality for aquatic organisms and community drinking water supplies. Data from this effort will help target sediment-reduction actions to the areas causing the biggest impact to the watershed.