The sicklefin redhorse was targeted for reintroduction in Cherokee several years ago, with juvenile fish getting released into the Oconaluftee River above Ela Dam. But many of those small fish flopped downstream over the dam when the water ran high, never to return to tribal waters.

The new program involves moving 10 adult fish from the Tuckasegee River back to tribal waters, after implanting them with radio-tracking devices to better understand the species’ movement patterns, habitat use and reproductive ecology. 

 “We will be tracking the fish with a specialized radio receiver and antenna to locate the fish on a weekly basis and taking detailed measurements to evaluate the results of the restoration efforts,” said Mike LaVoie, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Fisheries and Wildlife Management program manager. “We plan to adapt future restoration strategies for the fish from information gained from this study.”

The sicklefin, which was not recognized by the scientific community as a separate species until 1992, had been eliminated from about 50 percent of the Little Tennessee and Hiwassee watersheds due to habitat degradation and fragmentation from dams. 

Once important to the Cherokee diet, the Sicklefin Redhorse can grow to 25 inches in length. The fish were either stewed or roasted and were a rich seasonal component in Cherokee subsistence.

“The Sicklefin Redhorse sustained our Cherokee people through many long winters as a primary source of protein, and now it’s our responsibility to ensure its survival,” said Principal Chief Michell Hicks. “Ultimately, our objective is to ensure that this fish and its relationship with Cherokee culture is both restored and maintained for future generations.”

The species reintroduction has been a joint effort of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The new Sicklefin Redhorse program represents another Eastern Band effort to preserve and restore Western North Carolina’s eco-system. The tribe recently began reintroducing white tail deer onto tribal lands to rebuild a population once depleted by the fur trade and hunting.