Introduction

By GIL ARNOLD

The Southeastern United States experienced record heat and drought conditions during 2007. Reservoirs such as Falls Lake in Raleigh fell to record lows. Water flows in mountain streams such as Little River in the Smoky Mountains fell dramatically.

Many wildlife officials and anglers have expressed concern about the impact of heat and drought on trout in the Southeast. Several studies since the 1990s have predicted that rising water temperatures will make some Southeastern streams no longer habitable for trout.

This paper summarizes those earlier findings and presents data from 2007 on trout populations, climate change, and the possible correlation between the two. There are many anecdotal reports on fish kills and generally poor fishing in 2007. A major goal and challenge is to locate scientific findings based on clear data and objective criteria.