Assign-A-Highway Program Nominated for Award

The Assign-A-Highway program has been nominated by Judge Kelli Wise, Presiding Judge of the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals, for an award from the Foundation for Improvement of Justice, Inc. If selected, the Assign-A-Highway program will receive the Paul H. Chapman medal, a check to aid in funding the program, a commendation bar pin, a certificate of appreciation, and an invitation to an awards banquet in Atlanta, Georgia.

Congratulations to Crystal Till, Program Manager of the Winston County Assign-A-Highway program. The Assign-A-Highway program is provided through a partnership of NACOLG and the NW AL RC&D Council.

Rock Creek Watershed Plan Update

Mona Scruggs with Alabama Water Watch (AWW) has sent out information about several activities that are planned for the days of July 22-24.

On Thursday July 22, at 7 pm, there will have a brief meeting at the Traders and Farmers Bank in Addison to present the final Rock Creek Watershed Management Plan to interested stakeholders (copies will be available). This will also be a time for you to ask questions about the plan and the implementation process.

On Friday July 23, from 12:30 pm until 6:30 pm, (AWW) will be holding a free Chemistry Water Monitoring Workshop with the Smith Lake Environmental Preservation Committee (SLEPC) at the home of Deb Berry.

On Saturday July 24, from 12:30 pm until 6:30 pm, AWW will be holding another free Chemistry Water Monitoring Workshop at Smith Lake Civic Association building located at 2155 Smith Lake Dam Road in Jasper.  Directions will be posted at the AWW Workshop Registration page.

If you have been certified by AWW, but need recertification, you will have an opportunity to be recertified at both workshops from 3:30 pm until 6:30 pm.

Please go to https://fp.auburn.edu/icaae/WorkShopRegC.aspx to register for your workshop.

Also, AWW will be attending the SLEPC meeting which begins at 9 am on Saturday July 24^th, at the Dodge House Restaurant in Dodge City. They will briefly discuss the Winter Bacteria Blitz results and other AWW news. 

The Summer Bacteria Blitz will be ongoing throughout the three days. You can pick up testing materials at the RCWMP meeting on Thursday night or at the workshop on Friday. If you are not going to incubate your own samples, AWW can get your samples at either the Friday or Saturday workshops (depending on the day you test), or at the SLEPC meeting at the Dodge House Restaurant. AWW can coordinate other meeting times if these do not work for you.  If you need more information, call Mona at (334) 844-4785.

Rush Darter Proposed for Listing as an Endangered Species

A rare fish that is found in the Clear Creek Watershed in Winston County is getting some attention. Today the US Fish & Wildlife Service announced in the Federal Register that it is proposing to list Rush darter, Etheostoma phytophilum, as an endangered species. The primary threat to this small fish and reason for the proposal is physical habitat destruction and/or modification. More information can be obtained from Bill Pearson, the Field Supervisor for the US Fish & Wildlife Service in Alabama. His number is 251-441-5181.

Several years ago the Winston County Natural Resources Council, the Winston County Commission, the Northwest Alabama RC&D Council, and the US Fish & Wildlife Service partnered on a road improvement project on Wildcat Branch to improve Rush Darter habitat in Winston County.

June Council Meeting Minutes

The WCNRC met at the U. S. Forest Service Office in Double Springs on June 17, 2010.  Members present were Mike Henshaw and Charlie Meek.  Several other members were working on the Renew Our Rivers Smith Lake Cleanup.  Items discussed:

• Kids Fishing Derby
• Renew Our Rivers Smith Lake Clean-Up
• Alabama Smart Yards Publication
• RC & D Council grant to install watershed signs on Smith Lake is progressing and the signs should be installed soon.
• Charlie Meek is working on an invasive plant control grant proposal for Winston County.  If funded, the grant would demonstrate various techniques used to controlling invasive plants such as privet and kudzu.

June Meeting of WCNRC

The Winston County Natural Resources Council will meet at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 17, at the U. S. Forest Service Office in Double Springs.

Be sure to see the blog post by Allison Cochran about the successful Kid's Fishing Derby.  The WCNRC is one of the key supporters of the fishing derby.

May WCNRC Meeting Minutes

The Winston County Natural Resources Council met on May 20, 2010 at the U. S. Forest Service Office in Double Springs.

The following members were present:  Jim Hughes, Mike Henshaw, Johnna Franks, Carl Godsey, and John Creed.

The following items were covered:

• Review of the Winston County Natural Resources Field Day
• Rock Creek Watershed Grant
• Forestry BMP's
• Possible sites for the 2011 Natural Resources Field Day 

Johnna Franks, Treasurer, reported the Council has a balance of $6,459.

Mike Henshaw
Secretary

Local Children Get Hooked on Fishing

The annual Kid's Fishing Derby was held Saturday, June 5, 2010 on the Bankhead National Forest. Fifty youths and their families came out for a morning of fishing and fun! Children participated in casting contests and learned about boating and water safety before wetting their hooks and filling their stringers with catfish. After lunch, trophies and prizes were awarded. Jake Hood of Houston won the Albino Catfish Award. In the 10 - 12 Age Class, Felicia Warren of Houston won 2nd place for the largest fish. Kelly Riddle of Double Springs won 1st place in that age class. Kelly also had the largest fish overall at 19 1/2". In the 7 - 9 Age Class, John Robert Garcia of Double Springs won 2nd place and Blayne Crawford of Danville won 1st place for the largest fish. In the 5 - 6 Age Class, Connor Haley of Hartselle won 2nd place for the biggest fish. A tie for first place went to Zachary Hill of Haleyville and Brilyn Dover of Addison. Casting Contest winners included Connor Winters from Double Springs, Hunter Warren from Houston and Zachary Hill from Haleyville.

This community event would not be possible without the support of several key sponsors and volunteers. These include the Bankhead National Forest, the Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources, the Winston County Commission, Winston County Natural Resources Council, Alabama Conservation Enforcement Officers Association, Sipsey Strutters Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, the Double Springs Lions Club, and individual donors and volunteers. The Bankhead National Forest staff extend a BIG thank you to all who support the event and for all who participated!