Partners for Trout is comprised of Eastatoee Valley landowners, the Foothills Resource Conservation and Development Council (RC&D), SC Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), Trout Unlimited, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Oconee, Pickens, and Greenville Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD’s), U.S. Forest Service, and USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

Partners for Trout developed a resource plan to accomplish three major objectives—1) conserving, enhancing, and restoring cold-water trout habitat and fish stocks with high priority given to Eastern Brook Trout populations; 2) developing and maintaining increased recreational trout fishing facilities and access and; 3) promoting public education of the value and benefits of SC’s trout fishery and conservation measures that protect it. 

One practice installed to combat erosion was the Cross-Vane (see figure A, page 1), which decreases velocity and stream power, while increasing the energy in the center of the channel. The Cross-Vane is a carefully calculated structure with each rock placed at a specific angle in relation to the current and the bank. The structures were placed at strategic locations along the water body in an effort to centralize the current. Each structure was placed according to a specific elevation at the point where most of the energy occurred. The J-Hook is a gently sloping structure of natural materials located on the outside of stream bends. The structure helps reduce bank erosion by decreasing velocity and stress to the streamside. The hook also creates a pool area that dissipates energy and provides excellent fish habitat. Other techniques included whole-tree revetments which use bundles of cabled trees to stabilize curves within the stream and protect the streambank from excessive erosion. Willow limbs were also planted in hopes of creating live cover along the bank. Root wads stabilize the bank and provide protection for fish and wildlife habitat.  Tree cover is also a key solution to this natural resource concern, because once established, the canopy will naturally lower water temperature, thus increasing dissolved oxygen and providing vegetation and cover for wildlife