October 2021 Meeting Summary

WCNRC Meeting Summary, October 21, 2021 Members attending - Jamie Segroves, John Creed, Mike Henshaw, Lauranne James, Zack Brannon, Allison Cochran -PJ Gossett, treasurer, accepted a new position out of the County and may resign the Council. At this time, we request PJ (not present) to continue fulfilling the treasurer position until we can determine if there is anyone available to take it on. John Creed can write checks on behalf of the Council. -Wild Pig Workshop at Grant Hayes farm was fairly well attended with excellent evaluations. Allison has submitted receipts to the ANRC for reimbursement. Allison will check on whether the remaining grant funds may be used on a future event or we would need to reapply. (Approximately $500 of $1000 grant were spent.) Thanks to all who attended and participated. -Council goal for a Fall 2022 workshop/field day at the Bill Self property in cooperation with Marion County Committee and AFA and others. -Council goal for a Late April/Early May FAWN program at Houston Rec. -Council goal for a Summer 2022 Kids Fishing Derby. -Alabama Cooperative Extension System - Winston County is hiring a 4-H program coordinator, vice Keri Roberts. Zack is managing 4-H programs at this time. -Alabama Forestry Commission is preparing firelines and beginning prescribed burns. -Discussion on need to recruit private landowners to WCNRC. -Bankhead National Forest had several updates including on-going road maintenance by Forest Service staff. Two citizen science projects are moving forward with excellent support from partners. One is focused on Hemlock Wooly Adelgid monitoring. A second project is collecting white oak acorns for a hardwood planting project in the Balls Mountain/Rabbittown area. Endangered rush darter surveys continued this summer which have illustarted even more how unique our area is and the many things we are learning about this rare fish and its habitat. This is complimentary to the AFA and Winston County Commission work on aquatic organism passage in the southern portion of the County. And, it can help inform land management,particularly in riparian areas, on public and private land. Wild pig control in collaboration with many partners will begin in the Sipsey Wilderness Area and will focus on water quality and vegetation impacts. Local positions may be filled with USDA Wildlife Services, so recruitment assistance is requested. Finally, the boom in Smith Lake housing developments and associated roads and utility easements are taxing our special use system and employees and this is directly affecting our work on recreation projects. This sparked discussion on erosion and siltation associated with development and the need for WCNRC to look into a public workshop with developers and builders, perhaps partnering with AFA, AWW, and the local lake advocacy groups on road and development best management practices. Failing erosion control measures or sediment sites can be reported to ADEM and Alabama Power Company, as they are the permitting organizations. -RC&D had their Annual meeting and there is a new group covering our area; North Alabama Trails and Recreation Group. Jared Carter is the program lead and will be invited to present on this 16 county project focusing on outdoor recreation/trails.He is aware of the Mims/Sipsey Fork launch site and potential project. The group will host an expo in Decatur in October to highlight what North Alabama has to offer in terms of outdoor recreation. Lauranne secured a grant for an outreach project which can host landowner tours and partner with other projects. She has 60 projects with several in Winston County. Reach out if we come up with a need. -Mike Henshaw brought a pipevine swallowtail host plant, an Astrolochia (Dutchman's pipevine), that he grew from seed. -Members spotted a roosting big brown bat in the Houston pavilion and looked at bat guano for identification purposes. -PJ submitted the treasurer report: Beginning Balance, 8/31/2021: $8,065.49 Wild Pig Workshop expenditures Talmadge Septic Service: $250; Winston County Extension Office for Supplies: $108.67; Hyatt's Market: $180.81. Electronic Draft for New Checks: $30.55 Interest: $0.32 Ending Balance, 9/30/2021: $7,495.78 -Next meeting is November 18th at 0900 at the Houston Recreation Area.