Researchers at ORNL are joining with other agencies to monitor the health of a mountain river and possibly head off detrimental effects of upriver development. Little River, which flows out of the Great Smoky Mountains, is considered a relatively pristine stream despite growth of a resort area along its banks. This summer ORNL researchers have teamed with the Tennessee Valley Authority, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation to briefly immobilize fish in the stream at a location below most of the new development. The ORNL researchers then assess the health of the fish. Over time, the fish will serve as an early-warning indicator on any stresses to their ecosystem, and measures may be taken in time to stem the damage. Also, Little River, because of its relatively clean state, is serving as a benchmark for other, more threatened or damaged streams.
