May Council Meeting Minutes

The Winston County Natural Resources Council met at the U. S. Forest Service Office in Double Springs on May 17, 2012.  Present were John Creed, LaVerne Matheson, Allison Cochran, Johnna Franks, Chris Wright, Mike Henshaw, and James Burnett.

• Johnna reported that the balance in the treasury was $7,813.38.  She also successfully applied for a $500 grant from the Alabama Forests Forever Foundation to support the Winston County FAWN program.  Those grant funds have been deposited in the treasury.
• Chris said that grants to landowners were available from the Gopher Tortoise Grant Program for constructing feral swine traps.  Allison noted that the EQIP program has an incentive program for building feral swine traps as well.  
• Four new cogongrass infestations were located in the Natural Bridge Area.  Chris said that the AFC has marked the spots and will report them to the Alabama Department of Transportation for treatment.
• The council agreed to give $200 to the Winston County 4-H Shooting Sports Team.  This team has won the State Shotgun competition and will travel to Nebraska to the National 4-H Shotgun Competition.  
• The Council's next meeting will be a field trip to Raymond Burnett's Quail Farm, on Thursday, June 21, near Addison.  James Burnett has worked to set up this field trip next month.  The informal tour will begin at 9:00 a.m at the farm.  Anyone wishing to carpool to the farm should meet at the U. S. Forest Service office at 8:00 a.m. and we will depart shortly after 8:00.
• The Youth Fishing Derby will be held on Saturday, June 9, at 8:30 a.m., at the Black Warrior Work Center.  The main attraction is the catfish, but this year's program will also feature a Wild Turkey Federation program for youth.  
• Matt Brock is the new wildlife biologist on the Black Warrior Wildlife Management Area.
• Council discussed possible Helene Mosley Treasure Forest Award nominations.
• Johnna and Chris told the council about tentative plans for a logger training workshop tentatively planned for August.
• Council members recognized LaVerne and Allison for the National Award that they received in Washington, D. C. recently.

Mike Henshaw, Secretary

Bankhead National Forest Hosts Birding Boot Camp

A partnership between the Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources and the National Forests in Alabama brought a "Birding Boot Camp" to Bankhead National Forest last week.  Eric Soehren, Wildlife Biologist for ADCNR's State Lands and Natural Heritage Program, led a short course for north Alabama wildlife biologists, technicians, and volunteer birdwatchers.  The course is held in preparation for upcoming breeding bird surveys conducted on National Forests and Wildlife Management Areas in the state.  Eric, a leader in Alabama bird conservation and an exceptional birder, provides a course that refreshes bird surveyors on bird identification, particularly bird songs.  Over the three day course, nine participants visited many sites on Bankhead observing birds and practicing bird song identification. 

Data from bird surveys are used to monitor trends in bird populations, identify needed conservation actions, and to monitor response of bird communities to forest management over the long term and across the region.

Participants in Birding Boot Camp



Cerulean Warbler on Bankhead National Forest.  credit Eric Soehren

 A highlight of the "birding boot camp" course was the chance to observe the cerulean warbler on Bankhead.  The cerulean warbler is a bird of conservation concern that breeds on Bankhead and very few other places in Alabama.  It requires large contiguous tracts of mature deciduous forests for breeding.  It is a neotropical migratory bird that winters in the Andes Mountains.

Anyone interested in birdwatching on the Bankhead National Forest should contact the Bankhead District Office in Double Springs at 205-489-5111.  Bankhead National Forest is a part of the North Alabama Birding Trail.  Birding brochures are available at the District Office.

May Council Meeting on May 17

Earth Day Station on Soils at Meek Elementary School

The Winston County Natural Resources Council will meet at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 17, 2012, at the U. S. Forest Service Office in Double Springs.  Possible items for discussion will include the Youth Fishing Derby, Earth Day at Addison and Meek Schools, and the Smart Yards Program in Arley.

Alabama Celebrates Historic Milestone

USDA NEWS RELEASE

Alabama Celebrates Historic Milestone

Auburn, Ala, May 2, 2012 – The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is proud to announce the completion of its first generation soil survey that identifies soil conditions in Alabama.  To mark this historic event, members of the Alabama Cooperative Soil Survey Partnership gathered in Montgomery, Alabama, as Governor Robert Bentley proclaimed January through July 2012 as the period for celebrating the next generation of the Alabama Cooperative Soil Survey Partnership.

This is a collaborative effort between NRCS, Alabama A&M, Auburn and Tuskegee Universities as well as other federal, state, and local partners such  as the Alabama Association of Conservation Districts (AACD) and Alabama State Soil and Water Conservation Committee (SWCC).  NRCS State Conservationist Dr. William Puckett said this group is committed to delivering science-based soils information to help people protect and maintain Alabama’s valuable resources.  “Soil health is important to all of us.  It supports plant growth, recycles nutrients, regulates and filters water flow, supports buildings and roads, and provides habitat for many plants and animals.  It is vital to our existence.” said Puckett.   

The proclamation noted the importance of promoting the conservation and wise use of Alabama’s soil, water, air, plant and animal resources.  “The Alabama Cooperative Soil Survey Partnership has worked together for over a century to

investigate, inventory, document, classify, and interpret the soils of Alabama,” said MO-15 Team Leader Charles Love.  A general soils map for Alabama was completed in 1929 and a comprehensive and detailed county level soil survey was completed in 2012. 

Soil surveys are used by city planners, farmers, ranchers, developers, construction companies, teachers, realtors, and numerous other professionals.  The“next generation” web-based soil survey is available 24 hours a day at:  http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov.  A new smartphone application, or “app,” is available as a free download for both iPhone and Android users to access soil survey information.

The app, SoilWeb, combines online soil survey information with the GPS capabilities of smartphones.  For more information about NRCS or the Soils Program visit:  http://www.al.nrcs.usda.gov

Winston County Smith Lake Advocacy Inc. Recognized Nationally with Forest Service's Rise to the Future Award

Bankhead National Forest and Winston County Smith Lake Advocacy Group Recognized Nationally

News Release - (Double Springs, Ala.) April 18, 2012 --- The U.S. Forest Service’s Bankhead Ranger District and longtime partner, Winston County Smith Lake Advocacy Group, were recently honored at a national ceremony in Washington, D.C. for their dedication to ensure the water quality of Lewis Smith Lake is protected and preserved. Numerous volunteers and Forest Service employees earned the Rise to the Future award – the Forest Service highest honor for exemplary aquatic stewardship.
Since 2007, the Winston County Smith Lake Advocacy Group has collaborated with the Bankhead National Forest in sponsoring lake shore clean-up events as part of the Alabama Power Company’s ‘Renew Our Rivers’ campaign. According to Elrand Denson, Bankhead district ranger, the Winston County ‘Renew Our Rivers’ clean-up events have removed approximately 180 tons of litter including styrofoam, appliances, tires, boating accessories and fishing tackle from Lewis Smith Lake shorelines in Winston County and the Bankhead National Forest.
“The coalition of partners have worked together tirelessly to remove trash from the shorelines on over 166 river miles in Winston County. The Forest Service commends our partners for taking on a community project to improve Alabama’s abundant natural resources” said Allison Cochran, Bankhead National Forest’s wildlife biologist. Such removal of litter not only beautifies the lake, but also prevents harm to wildlife animals and plants. It helps decontaminate the waterways and assists in preventing bushfires that damage natural areas.
“The partnership with the Bankhead Ranger District is allowing us to clean up the lake for future generations to enjoy,” said LaVerne Matheson, President of the Winston County Smith Lake Advocacy. “Now we have a beautiful lake with water so blue it sparkles like diamonds at times.”
Originally, the partnership began as a small community cleanup that has now evolved into a large-scale grassroots project with hundreds of volunteers and supporters, including the Winston County Commission, Alabama Conservation Enforcement Officers Association, Cradle of Forestry in America Interpretive Association, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, local businesses, lake residents and visitors.
To learn more about or to volunteer with the Winston County ‘Renew Our Rivers’ campaign, please contact Allison Cochran at (205) 489-5111. To join the Winston County Smith Lake Advocacy, Inc and learn more about their projects in Winston County, please contact LaVerne Matheson at (256) 747-4422.
The Winston County Smith Lake Advocacy Group is a 501(c)(3) organization. Its mission is to preserve and protect the environmental quality of Lewis Smith Lake and its tributaries through education of the public and promotion and implementation of sound environmental practices.
William B. Bankhead National Forest is one of Alabama’s four national forests managed by the USDA Forest Service. Its mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. Motto: Caring for the land and serving people.

Field Trip Report from Cane Creek Canyon Preserve

A group from the Winston County Natural Resources Council visited the Cane Creek Canyon Preserve in Colbert County on April 19, 2012.  Dr. Jim Lacefield and his family have acquired several tracts of land over the years in a special part of Colbert County.  Working with the Nature Conservancy, they have protected the property from future commercial use with conservation easements.  The Lacefields encourage the public to visit the property at no charge.  They do so with the belief that giving people a good place to enjoy nature will pay tremendous dividends in the future.

Dr. Lacefield hiked with our group on a portion of trails in the Preserve.  He led us to a population of French's Shootingstar-a very rare wildflower, pointed out several fossils and rock formations, and showed us a beautiful vista overlooking Cane Creek.


Several more photos from the visit are available at this link.

After the visit at the Preserve, we made a short trip over to Hawk Pride Mountain to Tom and Debbie Count's home where we were treated to grilled chicken breasts, baked beans, potato salad, fried apple pies, and chocolate pie.  Thanks to Jim and Faye Lacefield for hosting our hike, and to Tom and Debbie Counts for inviting us into their home for lunch.

WCNRC April Field Trip to the Cane Creek Preserve

The April WCNRC meeting on Thursday, April 19th, will be a field trip to Cane Creek Preserve in Colbert County.  Tom Counts has made reservations with Jim Lacefield, the owner of the property.  Jim is a retired geology professor at the University of North Alabama, and the author of the book "Lost Worlds in Alabama Rocks."  Jim plans to meet with us and explain a little about the history of the Cane Creek Preserve.   We will have an optional hike on some of the preserve's trails and later have lunch at Tom and Debbie's home that is just minutes from Cane Creek Preserve.  Tom and Debbie will provide the food for our lunch, but participants may want to bring some water and snacks for the morning activities.  Thanks to Tom for making the arrangements for this trip.  We will meet at the U. S. Forest Service Office in Double Springs at 8:00 a.m.  We'll take as few vehicles as possible and depart shortly after 8 a.m.