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NANFA Regional Outreach Program Casper Cox June 30, 2001 Field Trip to Big South Fork of the New River, Scott County, TN July 21-22, 2001 snorkeling trip to the Conasauga and Tellico Rivers April 2002 Tennessee River Gorge trip
Q&A with Casper Cox NANFA: Can you tell us about your background and interests, and why you volunteered to be a regional representative? Casper: I was introduced to NANFA several years ago... probably about 1996. Prior to that I had discovered that I could snorkel the clear mountain streams near my home here in Chattanooga. I was quite amazed. The intensity and proliferation of life in the water was overwhelming, incredible. In desiring to learn more I found John Quinn's book "Our Native Fishes" at the local library, which provided a great introduction and education into what I was seeing. At this time I began my first attempts at setting up aquariums to further observe the fish I had seen while snorkeling. This is an ongoing education... I do now know this... it is quite impossible to replicate in a box of glass what is experienced while immersed in their habitat! The internet provided another opportunity to learn of these fish as I found an obscure site on AOL that had a small native fish site. This is when I first heard of NANFA. I quickly subscribed... sending in my dues and gleaning info from the American Currents I began to receive. I began to discover others folks who shared the same intensity and quest for knowledge. I made a few phone calls and even visited distant NANFA members while traveling. I joined the email list and posted questions and received responses. Having heard that a possible St. Louis NANFA gathering had been cancelled I ever so slightly volunteered to host a conference here in my hometown. Wow! Lots of work resulted in this quiet overture but was I ever pleased! It was attended by David Etnier & Scott Metee, both authors of the wonderful state fish books I had recently acquired. What a treasure! I was amazed at their quick joy and desire to come and to share their knowledge and time with us. One of David's students, Ed Scott, spoke on his work with Snail Darters and his TVA work. The wonderful Tennessee Aquarium gave us all free passes and a cool behind the scenes tour of their facilities. What a time we had! Moon Pies, Cokes and Little Debbies were provided by my hometown's bakeries and bottlers. So many folks were eager to share in this undertaking that it was a delight in organizing it. Saturday was spent at the beautiful Conasauga River... the place I had first discovered a snorkeler's below the surface view. And not to forget the other wonderful speakers at the "98 FishHeads" conference... Pat Rakes of CFI spoke on their work and the endangered Barren's Top Minnow and Peter Unmack spoke and shared slides of Arizona fish. So many wonderful activities, fish, experiences and friendships have occurred since and as a wonderful benefit of the conference. I was asked to be Tennessee's Regional Rep and since no one else spoke up I volunteered. Though originally lacking much knowledge of my home's native fish, I have now become somewhat adept at my immediate region and am quite willing to share this. I have organized several regional forays for NANFA members and participated in field surveys with UTC, TWRA and TVA. Many opportunities are available if you make your interests known. Different fish still wait to be observed, identified and studied. What a great activity and ongoing experience. Tennessee is a beautiful state and probably has the highest diversity of North American fishes. My home is in Chattanooga which is located near the southeastern corner of the state. Many NANFA members spend a lot of time in these waters exploring new sites and revisiting favorites. Snorkling is been my prefered method of experiencing this amazing celebration of life. Contact me if your interested in getting wet! Have snorkel, will travel! NANFA: Please describe the boundaries of your region. Casper: Tennessee is a long state stretching about 500 miles from East to West. My home is in Chattanooga near the SE corner of TN. I prefer to think of my area as the Eastern half of the state. Many of our activities are involved with the Georgia and Alabama regional members, which together we call NANFA's Tennessee Valley alliance (although I don't think it merits another region, as TN, GA and AL representatives and members all contribute well to this common ground. ) I would however like to see someone represent West Tennessee, but at this time know of no one to suggest. NANFA: What regional activities have you been involved
in? My home adjoins a wildlife refuge, with South Chickamauga Creek flowing through it. I would like to create an informative sign for the site next to the swinging bridge that crosses the creek. Many visitors could observe the informative sign and be made aware of the amazing diversity of fishes within the creek, including many colorful darters including the locally well known Snail Darter. Graphics of riparian zones, plants, maps, history, environmental issues, and trash and pollution hazards would accompany colorful photographs of the creek's inhabitants. Lots of work indeed! I can produce the sign but it would take a lot of knowledge, text/copy and photographs to assemble the correct data for the final production. I see it as a 4x8 1 sided panel sign with a small roof over it, constructed of stained redwood, cedar or PT pine. I certainly could produce, assemble and install it. Getting the info together is the time consuming and difficult problem. Time and expense would be substantial. NANFA: That all sounds wonderful. Thanks Casper! |