"Another chronic problem on the Clinch is coal fines (that is, particulates which are contaminants) entering the river. The coal mining, both deep and strip mining, going on in the headwaters of the Clinch is an obvious concern. The nearby Pound River has been destroyed by coal mining waste entering the river. The potential exists for the same thing to happen to the Clinch unless there is strict enforcement of mining regulations."

Also, Neves reports that a "black water event" took place on the Clinch in June of 2004. This means that a tributary of the river ran black with sediment coming from a mining operation -- heavily polluted water which entered the Clinch. Timbering operations taking place in the watershed, which is very mountainous, are causing more sedimentation.

Jay Eiche, former president and current member of the PRSC, observed a fish kill on the North Fork of the Shenandoah in April. Other individuals along the North Fork also witnessed fish kills during the spring. Many of the dead fish were smallmouths and redbreast sunfish. Later in the spring, Eiche noted that the number of bass and panfish was reduced and that a number of fish present had lesions. In May, a DGIF and Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) shocking expedition observed an "unusually large number -- 25 to 40 percent -- of smallmouth bass and redbreast sunfish with lesions." Lesions sometimes occur because of bacterial or fungal infections.

Fans of the upper James River spent much of the year fighting a proposed quarry on an important tributary, Catawba Creek in Botetourt County. Roanoke sportsman Duane Richards is among those opposed to the quarry.

"Placing a new quarry along the watershed will and can only have a negative impact on the James River, and its trophy smallmouth for many miles downstream," says Richards. "Negative effects of the quarry include dewatering and run-off problems in surrounding waterways . . .

"Smallmouth bass have started to rebound from all the ill effects from past industry upstream. This rebound has taken years for us to begin to see positive impact. Let us not go back in time."

VDGIF biologist Dan Wilson offers this update on Philpott and Smith Mountain.

"Philpott smallies are down from 9 fish per hour of electrofishing in 2001 to 5 fish per hour in 2004," he says. "This is not unexpected, due to the increasing largemouth bass population. As the numbers of largemouth increase, smallmouth bass tend to decrease.

"Smith Mountain Lake's smallmouth numbers decreased slightly from 3.2 (2003) and 3.7 (2002) per hour to 2.1 per hour in 2004. However, the sizes increased in 2004. The changes were minor enough to not really make a broad-based diagnosis that the population is changing much. A creel survey was conducted at Smith Mountain from March 15-October 31, 2003. An estimated 10,319 smallmouths were caught (compared to 73,297 largemouths) during the survey with a 94 percent release rate for smallies."

Wilson said the Smith Mountain size breakdown was as follows: sub-12-inch fish (37%), 12- to 14-inch fish (34%), 15- to 18-inch fish (28%), and 18-inch fish (1%).

VDGIF biologist John Copeland reports the latest on Claytor Lake.

"Claytor's steep and rocky shorelines make it a good place for smallmouth bass to prosper," he said. "In 2003, Claytor Lake produced 25 smallmouth bass certificates (more than 5 pounds or over 20 inches). This production ranked Claytor Lake as the top reservoir in the state for trophy smallmouths. Smallmouth bass are more numerous in the middle and lower lake areas (from the mouth of PeakCreek downstream).

"Age structure of the smallmouth bass population indicated that successful spawning occurred from 1992 through 2002, with the exception of 1995. Smallmouth bass up to age 11 were collected. The dominant age-classes were the 1998, 1999, and 2000 ones."

RIVER KEEPER CONCEPT
River keepers are individuals who watch over streams and keep abreast of pollution threats -- hopefully before they become too serious. Ed Merrifield is the new river keeper for the Potomac and gives one of the reasons that this program is needed.

"Waiting for the next big fish kill, algae bloom, eye, ear, and skin infections, or drinking water problem isn't good enough," he said.

Merrifield's contact information is listed at the end of this story. We are living in the Information Age, and, therefore, it should not be surprising that an organization, the Virginia Canal & Navigation Society (VCNS), has published a series of river atlases designed for historians, anglers, paddlers, and anyone who enjoys floating our rivers. Already publications exist on the James, Rivanna, Maury, Rappahannock and Rapidan, Shenandoah, and New among others. Publications are in preparation for the Roanoke, Potomac, and the Holston, Clinch, and Pound rivers, among others. In my opinion, the greatest virtue of these atlases -- and I own a number of them -- is that they detail the presence of rapids and possible danger points. This information helps floaters from veteran anglers to novice paddlers, such as scout and church groups, to enjoy safe excursions. For more information, consult the Web site for the VCNS listed at the end of this article.

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