Abstract:
The muskellunge are native to the French Broad and Little Tennessee river systems, but by the 1950s they were almost gone. This decline was caused by chemical pollution and siltation from timber operations, agriculture, and land development. Improvements in water quality by 1970 allowed for the reintroduction of 1,500 “muskies†into the French Broad River and 500 into the Little Tennessee. Wooten discusses the program and its results.