While the drought's impact is lessening in some areas of the state — primarily areas in the west and northwestern parts of the state — the weather phenomenon continues to rage as a top-of-the-charts, "D4 (exceptional)" drought in south-central Tennessee, including Bedford County.
As a result, the supply of water to the Normandy Hatchery has been reduced. And, as luck would have it, Normandy Hatchery was to have played a large role (defined by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency as a "critical role") in this year's winter trout stocking.
As a result, TWRA has changed the stocking dates for nearly every location where trought will be stocked this winter. In general, the agency says, the stocking dates will be bumped up and the fish stocked earlier. The dates for many locations remain in limbo.
This month, only the scheduled Dec. 14 stocking at Nice Mill in Smyrna, the Dec. 19 stocking at Cane Creek Park in Cookeville, and the Dec. 21 stocking at Harpeth River in Franklin are unchanged. All other dates have changed.
On Dec. 11, TWRA plans to stock trout at Cameron Brown Lake in Germantown, Collierville City Park, Martin City Pond, Reelfoot Packing Site in Union City, McKenzie City Park, Barlett City Park Lakes and Munford City Park.
On Dec. 13, Stone Bridge Park in Fayetteville, West Fork Red River at Billy Dunlap Park in Clarksville and Springfield City Greenway will be stocked.
On Dec. 20, East Fork Shoal Creek in Lawrenceburg and J.D. Buckner Park in Dickson will be stocked.
The scheduled stocking at Cumberland Mountain State Park in Crossville has been cancelled due to lake maintenance.
In January, TWRA will stock Kingston Springs Park on the 17th, Duck River at Fishermen's Park and at Riverside Dam on the 18th, Cane Creek Park in Cookeville on the 23rd, Harpeth River in Franklin on the 25th and Shelby Park Lake in Nashville on the 31st.
A number of other scheduled stockings for January have yet to be determined, including Lake Junior in Chattanooga, J. Percy Priest Tailwater in Nashville, Oneida City Park, Athens Rec Park, Nice Mill in Smryna, Lake Graham in Jackson, Cameron Brown Lake in Germantown, McKenzie City Park, Martin City Pond, Reelfoot Packing Site in Union City, Collierville City Park, Munford City Park and Bartlett City Park Lakes.
In February, J. Percy Priest Tailwaters in Nashville will be stocked on the 1st, the Springfield City Greenway will be stocked on the 6th, West Fork Red River at Billy Dunlap Park in Clarksville will be stocked on the 7th, as will Stone Bridge Park in Fayetteville, Lake Junior in Chattanooga will be stocked on the 13th, Pickett Lake at Pickett State Park near Jamestown will be stocked on the 14th, as will J.D. Buckner Lake in Dickson, Marrowbone Lake in Joelton will be stocked on the 15th, East Fork Shoal Creek in Lawrenceburg will be stocked on the 21st, and Harpeth River in Franklin will be stocked on the 22nd.
In March, the J. Percy Priest Tailwaters in Nashville will be stocked on the 7th, Nice Mill in Smyrna will be stocked on the 14th, Kingston Springs Park will be stocked on the 20th, Duck River at Fishermen's Park and Riverside Dam will be stocked on the 21st and Harpeth River in Franklin will be stocked on the 28th.
The dates are subject to change. Updated stocking schedules can be found on TWRA's website by clicking here.
