Marine biologists in East Tennessee examine fish counts for the first time since Hurricane Helene

Marine biologists with the Tennessee Valley Authority have begun to survey fish populations in Douglas Lake in Dandridge Tennessee for the first time since Hurricane Helene debris covered a large number of East Tennessee waterways seven months ago The material they collect could illustrate the impact that excessive debris has had on the sport fish population The findings will be compared to similar surveys on Douglas Lake over the last years Fewer fish in the lake or fish with deformities parasites or injuries would be red flags going into spawning season Scientists shocked the water around their research boat which tensed the muscles of all the fish within a four-foot radius of the boat Once the fish floated to the top they were examined for defects measured and weighed All fish were distributed back into the water after the investigation POPULAR NORTH CAROLINA DESTINATIONS STILL WORKING TO RECOVER FROM HURRICANE HELENE I think here over the next scant weeks we will really be able to see what if any impacts there have been Lyn Williams TVA Fisheries and Aquatic Monitoring Manager mentioned You know judging off the preceding day things look within normal range We'll see if that's what the complete facts says or not Structures in the water like debris give fish a place to lay eggs hunt and feed TVA Fisheries Biologist Kevin Parr commented a disruption in shoreline habitat might force fish to find a new place to congregate It might move the fish around but fish can move They're not going anywhere They might go deep or go offshore Parr mentioned According to the Jefferson County Tourism Department about of the tourism in the area comes from sport fishing Skylar Hamilton explained it brings in hundreds of thousands of dollars a year We have other events of discipline We have festivals We have a lot of other things in Jefferson County but the lake is our bread and butter Hamilton reported NORTH CAROLINA TOWN DESTROYED BY HURRICANE HELENE HOPING TO WELCOME TOURISTS BACKMost fishing tournaments scheduled on Douglas Lake promptly after Hurricane Helene were rescheduled until this spring which put a dent in last year's revenue Cleanup on Douglas Lake is about complete More than cubic yards of debris across miles of shoreline have been removed CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPThe Tennessee Urgency Management Agency estimates that million cubic yards of debris have been removed from all Tennessee waterways in the last seven months