September 9th, at Manual’s Tavern at 7 PM •
Speaker: John Lee Thomson and Josh Stafford
Topic: John and Josh will share information about a Morgan Falls study project they are conducting this fall and take questions from members.
Bio: John Lee Thomson is the Region 2 Fisheries Management Supervisor (Region Fisheries Manager) for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Wildlife Resources Division (WRD). Operating out of the Northeast Region Office in Gainesville, Georgia, Thomson has dedicated nearly 20 years of service to protecting, managing, and enhancing the state’s aquatic resources and sport fishing opportunities. In his role as the Region 2 Fisheries Management Supervisor, Thomson oversees the conservation and sportfish management of north Georgia’s premier water bodies. His key responsibilities include:
- Regional Oversight: directing fisheries management operations across northeast Georgia, including major reservoirs, warm water rivers, and cold water trout streams
- Supervision of Trout Program: including trout stocking and wild trout management
- Habitat Conservation and Improvements: oversees the coordination of projects with government agencies, utility companies, conservation groups, and angler clubs to improve fish habitat in large public reservoirs, small impoundments (state parks), and trout streams
Before rising to Regional Supervisor, Thomson served many years as Georgia’s Statewide Trout Stocking Coordinator. His tenure is marked by major milestones in Georgia’s angling community:
- Trout Stocking Program: coordinated the operation of four trout hatcheries (3 WRD and 1 USFWS) with an annual goal to stock one million catchable trout across 25 north Georgia counties
- Increased the average size of stocked trout – directed a strategic shift that increased average hatchery stocker sizes from 9 inches to 10 inches, while scaling up trophy-tier fish to 14 inches.
- Hatchery Infrastructure: supervised the modernization and structural renovation of the critical Lake Burton Trout Hatchery.
Bio: GA DNR fisheries biologist Josh Stafford grew up enjoying the great outdoors. Josh got his undergraduate degree in environmental studies from Montreat College (just outside of Asheville, NC).
After graduation, he went on to work numerous seasonal natural resource jobs in New York, Idaho, California, and Tennessee. This work ranged from trapping and tagging weasels to surveying for spawning salmon in the redwoods on the northern California coast.
Once Josh figured out he wanted to work with fish the rest of his career, he pursued a masters degree at Mississippi State University. His project researched seasonal movements of invasive silver carp to better understand how their spread could be deterred. Upon graduating from MSU, Josh started as a fisheries biologist with GA DNR where he manages fisheries in several North Georgia reservoirs and a large portion of the Chattahoochee River.
When he is not working, you can find him pursuing one of his passions, which include fishing, mountain biking, trail running, and backpacking.
