Minutes of January Council Meeting

The Winston County Natural Resources Council met at the U. S. Forest Service Office in Double Springs on January 20, 2011.  Present were Elrand Denson, Stephanie Love, Jeremy McDonald, Jim Hughes, Chris Wright, Johnna Franks, Allison Cochran, John Creed, LaVerne Matheson, Mike Henshaw, James Burnett, Carl Godsey, and Tom Counts.  Chris Wright, chairman, called the meeting to order.

Payne Creek Demonstration Area

Jeremy McDonald requested that the council fund the bus transportation for a Junior Ranger Program to be held at the Payne Creek Demonstration Area on February 18th.  Approximately 80 Double Springs Elementary School students will participate in the program.  The Junior Ranger Program will feature five learning stations and a hike down to Payne Creek.  Lunch will be furnished by the school, and the council will cover the approximate $130 fee for the bus transportation.  John Creed said that next year we might want to include this in a request to the Winston County Commission to cover this program from Forest Service payments to the commission.

Johnna Franks, Treasurer, stated that the balance in the treasury was $7,254.42.

The Arbor Week Tree Sale will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, February 22nd at the Forestry Commission Office.  Some of the plants available will include blueberries, muscadines, and Japanese maples.  More information on the plants available will be posted on the WCNRC blog as it becomes available.

This year, the council is considering landowner and logger classes emphasizing safety.  Johnna suggested CPR classes that would satisfy loggers' requirement for Professional Logging Manager CEU points and their requirement to be CPR certified.  Other safety subjects could be taught as well.

Allison mentioned that a Hardwood Field Day was being planned on the Bankhead National Forest for April, and the date will be announced later. 

The National Wild Turkey Federation is seeking partners to hold a longleaf pine workshop in North Alabama, and has funds available to help offset the cost of the program.

Allison said the Pulling Together Initiative was not funded, but that the proposal could be submitted to other funding agencies.

The next Bankhead Liaison Panel meeting will be held on February 10th in Moulton.  The meeting place and time will be announced later.

LaVerne Matheson said that Winston County Smith Lake Advocacy Inc. is organizing a Slough Cleanup on April 30th.  They will have three locations for volunteers to bring the bagged debris from the cleanup.  No styrofoam will be accepted at this clean up since most of that has been picked up during previous clean ups.  LaVerne voiced concern about soil erosion during the heavy rainfall and snow events of this winter.  Shoreline developments and roads were special areas of concern.

Elrand Denson said that FERC re-licensing for Alabama Power would be looking into shoreline issues on the lake.

Chris Wright said that the sign-up for the next prescribed burning and mulching program would open up in May.

Allison gave the council an update on the Rush Darter fish which is being considered for the Federal Endangered Species List .  The Fish and Wildlife Service may list this species this summer, and may designate critical habitat when and if it is listed.

Tom Counts noted that there had been a fatal hunting accident in Madison County.  He said that a hunter fell out of a 40 foot high tree stand.

Mike Henshaw and Allison Cochran gave a short demonstration of Google Maps and Google Earth being used to map natural resource features such as water bodies, property lines, and landmarks.

John Creed reported that he'd seen a single Bald Eagle at Corinth Recreation Area on Smith Lake.