April Council Meeting on April 18

The Winston County Natural Resource Council meets on the third Thursday monthly.  In April, our meeting is planned for Thursday, April 18 at the Bankhead National Forest office in Double Springs.  The meeting begins at 9:00 am.  Topics will include recent Recreational Pond Workshop and upcoming Forestry Field Day.

Recreational Pond Management Workshop to be held in Winston County

 

Friday, April 12, 2024, Pond workshop registration link:

https://secure.touchnet.net/C20021_ustores/web/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCTID=6134&SINGLESTORE=true

Minutes of March Meeting

From left: Tina Burnett, Mark Finley, Matt Hannah, Jamie Segroves, John Creed, Zach Brannon, Andy Scott, Mike Henshaw, Chris Horne, Casey Hammack, Lauranne James.  (Photo by Amy Melson, NWA)

The Winston County Natural Resources Council met on March 21, 2024, at the U. S. Forest Service Office in Double Springs.  The following members were present: Matt Hannah, John Creed, Andy Scott, Lauranne James, Tina Burnett, Mark Finley, Mike Henshaw, Chris Horne, Amy Melson, Casey Hammack, Jamie Segroves, and Zack Brannon.

The first item was the officers for the council.  Matt nominated Jamie Segroves for Chair, Zach Brannon for Vice Chair, Mike Henshaw for Secretary, and Casey Hammack for Treasurer.  John Creed seconded the motion, and all agreed.

The following topics were also discussed:

• Recreational Pond Management program tentatively scheduled for Friday, April 12, at Bill and Jeanie Snoddy's TREASURE Forest near Double Springs.  The program will focus on the managing fish populations for sport fishing and control of common pond weeds.  The council will assist with the setup and assist with program as needed.
• FAWN program location and funding was discussed.  Mark said he would check with the Winston County Board of Education Superintendent about help with the bus transportation costs.  Andy said Houston Recreation Area would be available to host FAWN.  Matt said his property would be available at short notice if needed.  Tina said the past FAWN was her first one, but looks forward to the Winston County Soil and Water Conservation District participating in the next one.  The SWCD is a sponsor of the FAWN program.
• Lauranne said Winston/Marion NRCS had a new district conservationist, Paul Green.  She also said that the Northwest RC&D Council would be hosting a Weather Radio GiveAway and that it would be coordinated with Winston County Emergency Management.  Watch for details on this event on their Facebook Page.
• Andy said the Bankhead was focused on prescribed burns this spring, and with approximately 10,000 acres treated with prescribed fire so far this season.  The District is also working on a number of timber sales and as well as a stewardship contract.
• Jamie said the Forestry Commission was busy with prescribed burns for private landowners in Winston County this spring.
• Zach and Jamie outlined plans for a forest landowner tour in the Moreland area on the topic of Southern Pine Beetles, which have been a significant issue this year.  Zach said he had submitted a grant application to the Alabama Forestry Foundation to cover some of the expenses of the tour.  The tour is tentatively planned for the May/June timeframe.
• Casey said the balance of the treasury is $5,571.69.  Casey said that he and Matt will complete the annual non-profit tax return well before the deadline.

Mike Henshaw

Secretary

March 21 Council Meeting

The Winston County Natural Resource Council meets on the third Thursday monthly.  In March, our meeting is planned for Thursday, March 21 at the Bankhead National Forest office in Double Springs.  The meeting begins at 9:00 am.

Winston County Tree Give Away

 

February Meeting Minutes

The Winston County Natural Resources Council met on February 15, 2024, at the U. S. Forest Service Office in Double Springs.  The following persons were present: Matt Hannah, Andy Scott, Chris Horn, and Mike Henshaw.  Casey Hammack, Treasurer, had sent word that the balance of the treasury was $6,671.52, with a $1,100.10 bill for the FAWN transportation that will be paid in just a few days.  The following topics were discussed:

• Matt Hannah said that the Council would need to submit a simple online tax return, and the deadline for that was May 15.
• Andy said that Chris Horn would be the regular representative from the Forest Service on the Council.
• Short discussion was held about the officers for the Council in the coming year.  Mike offered to take the Secretary position, and other vacancies will be considered at a later Council meeting.
• Andy and Mike gave a short review of the most recent Bankhead Liaison Panel meeting on January 30.  The main topics were about Southern Pine Beetle Activity, Atmospheric Radiation Measurement research facility construction, Snake Fungal Disease, and panel membership.
• Andy said an official announcement about the Secure Rural Schools funding would be coming soon.
• Mike said that Camp McDowell was conducting a small prescribed fire which will be one of the first on that property in many years.
• Pine beetle activity on private property.
• Feral Swine control on the Bankhead National Forest.
• Winston County Tree Give Away will be held on Tuesday, March 5, at 9:00 a.m., at B & B Motors on US 278 in Double Springs.
• Walker County Tree Give Away will be held on Friday, March 1, at 8:00 a.m., at the Farmers Market in Jasper on Airport Road.

The next meeting will be held on Thursday, March 21, at the U. S. Forest Service Office in Double Springs.

Mike Henshaw, V. Chair

Fight Cogongrass at No Cost to Landowners

 Alabama Forestry Commission News Release; 1 Feb 2024; Contact elishia.ballentine@forestry.alabama.gov

Fight Cogongrass at No Cost to Landowners

For the third year, financial relief will be available soon to assist Alabama landowners adversely affected by the non-native, invasive noxious weed, cogongrass. The application period for the Cogongrass Mitigation Program will launch on February 20, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. Central Time, and the portal will remain open until March 29 at 5:00 p.m. Central Time or until the threshold of 150 applications is reached. Eligibility for the funding requires that applicants be private, non-industrial landowners. Property with cogongrass infestations must be located in any of the 67 counties of Alabama, although the landowner is not required to reside on the property or within the state. There is no minimum or maximum acreage ownership requirement to enroll. It is a cost-free program.

 Administered by the Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC), the Cogongrass Mitigation Program is made possible through a grant from the USDA Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Plant Protection & Quarantine (PPQ). The goals of this program are to reduce the number of infested acres, eliminate the damaging effects of cogongrass on existing ecosystems, and improve the productivity of sites impacted by the weed. Additional objectives include slowing the spread of current establishments of cogongrass and preventing introductions into new areas of the state.

To apply for this funding or for further information regarding additional eligibility requirements, please visit the Cogongrass Mitigation Program section of the Alabama Forestry Commission’s website at forestry.alabama.gov/Pages/Management/Cogongrass.aspx. You may also email the AFC Cogongrass Coordinator at owen.andrews@forestry.alabama.gov or contact your local AFC office.

The mission of the Alabama Forestry Commission is to protect and sustain Alabama’s forest resources using professionally applied stewardship principles and education, ensuring that the state’s forests contribute to abundant timber and wildlife, clean air and water, and a healthy economy. For more information about the Alabama Forestry Commission, visit the AFC website at forestry.alabama.gov

                                            Photo Credit - invasive.org; Nancy Loewenstein