Trout waters open this weekend
Hatchery Supported Trout Waters will open at 7 a.m. Saturday, April 3, with the season running through Feb. 28 of next year.
Hatchery Supported Trout Waters are marked by green-and-white signs and have been closed for the past month so that N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission staff can stock them with trout. Staff will continue stocking certain streams through August some monthly, and some heavily fished waters more frequently.
Over the next six months, staff will stock nearly 787,000 trout 96 percent averaging 10 inches in length and 4 percent exceeding 14 inches.
These waters are open to public fishing, but the land around them is often privately owned. The Wildlife Commission encourages anglers to respect the property they’re fishing on and remember that landowners can take away access if they feel their property is being misused.
Road closures extended in Greenbrier Ramsey Prong Bridge is in need of replacement, but supply delays are extending the project’s timeline. NPS photo
A delay in supplies for the Ramsey Prong Bridge replacement project is causing an extended closure for Ramsey Prong Road and Greenbrier Road in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The roads closed in January and were expected to reopen March 26. However, there has been a delay in the availability of steel beams needed to complete the project. The closure pertains to pedestrians as well as to motorists.
“With the spring wildflower season upon us, we understand that many people will be disappointed in this delayed opening,” said Superintendent Cassius Cash. “For the safety of pedestrians and efficiency of operations, we cannot allow visitors to walk through the construction zone to access the popular trails in this area. The crews are working hard to have the site reopened in time for people to still enjo
Another view on childhood poverty
To the Editor:
In last week’s edition of The Smoky Mountain News the editor gave us his thoughts of the bill in Congress to address childhood poverty by giving middle-income and low-income families $300 or $250 per child per month (until the child reaches 18 years of age in the original plan).
Since then Congress passed the bill with a modified plan that will increase the child tax credit from what it is currently but the plan will terminate after one year. The editor is a supporter of the increased child tax credit plan and the continuation of it indefinitely.
Group reservation system takes effect at Whiteoak Sink A photographer frames a close-up shot in Whiteoak Sink. NPS photo
A trial reservation system for group access to the Whiteoak Sink area in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will go into effect for the 2021 wildflower season, April 12-30.
Group leaders can make reservations at www.recreation.gov for a special park use permit to access the area with groups of eight to 12 people. Leaders can reserve a morning permit for access from 7 to 10 a.m. or an afternoon permit with access from 2 to 5 p.m. A fee of $50 is required for each permit, along with a $6 reservation fee, and these payments can be made online at the time of the reservation. Group leaders may reserve two permits per season.
Debit/Credit Card options available.
At our inception 20 years ago, we chose to be different. Unlike other news organizations, we made the decision to provide in-depth, regional reporting free to anyone who wanted access to it. We don’t plan to change that model. Support from our readers will help us maintain and strengthen the editorial independence that is crucial to our mission to help make Western North Carolina a better place to call home. If you are able, please support The Smoky Mountain News.
The Smoky Mountain News is a wholly private corporation. Reader contributions support the journalistic mission of SMN to remain independent. Your support of SMN does not constitute a charitable donation. If you have a question about contributing to SMN, please contact us.