WCNRC Meeting, Thursday, 8/18 at 9 AM at Alabama Forestry Commission Office

 

The WCNRC will meet tomorrow, 8/18, at 9 AM at the Alabama Forestry Commission Office. The address is 225 Coats Street, Double Springs.

Bat Blitz Educational Event Invites Local Community to Learn About Bats - Monday, August 1, 3-6 PM, Camp McDowell

 

June and July Meeting Summaries

 

The Winston County Natural Resources Council met in June and July of 2022.  Meeting notes are below.

June 16, 2022 - Jamie Segroves, Casey Hammack, Zack Brannon, Matt Hannah, Brad Nail, Lauranne James and Allison Cochran attended the meeting.

The Fall landowner tour and regional forestry field day was discussed and planning began.  The field day is Friday, October 21st at the Bill and Ann Self farm in conjunction with Marion County Forestry Planning Committee.  

The group discussed ideas for a future learn and burn event with AFA in Winston County.

FAWN was discussed. Majority of the members present are in favor of holding FAWN at Matt Hannah's again based on feedback from the teachers.  Plan for fall FAWN in mid-October, possibly Oct 13-14.

Continued discussion on need for 501C3 status.

RC&D has many programs and opportunities right now.  The NATR expo event will be held October 1 at Point Mallard Park.

There was an outreach meeting in Winston County on Cogongrass.  There are pilot programs on Rain barrel and compost bin workshops.

AFA shared that an Amphibian and Reptile Conservancy organization received a NFWF grant to work on Flattened Musk turtle habitat and aquatic passage in Winston County.  

The group discussed ideas for an aquatic passage workshop with Alabama Rivers and Streams Network.

AFA has a new NFWF grant that combines much of their shortleaf pine and aquatics work.

Forest Service, Bankhead has a stewardship contract coming up for bid and will hold a field trip for interested bidders in July.

Alabama Landowner's Conference is planned for October and scholarship opportunities are available.

Treasurer's report - $7962.96.  Check writing included activities related to FAWN and the Youth Fishing Derby, which is still on hold.  WCNRC is holding $1000 donation from National Wild Turkey Federation for the Youth Fishing Derby. New checks are purchased and old checks are destroyed.

The next meeting will by July 21 at the Bankhead National Forest Office in Double Springs.

July 21,2022 - Mark Finley, Mike Henshaw, Casey Hammack, Jamie Segroves, Amy Melson and Allison Cochran met at the Bankhead NF office.

The Fall landowner tour and regional forestry field day was discussed.  A rough draft agenda will be sent out to potential speakers and the Marion County Forestry Planning Committee for further refinement and to discuss logistical needs.  The field day is Friday, October 21st at the Bill and Ann Self farm in conjunction with Marion County Forestry Planning Committee. Plan for 100 people.  Shoot for a six hour program to obtain PLMs for loggers and CFEs for foresters and biologists.  Target audience is landowners.  Need to begin advertising 6-8 weeks out - soon.  

Discussion of need for a secretary for the organization.

NATR annual membership was agreed upon at previous meeting. Allison will follow-up with Jared Carter and Casey Hammack.

501C3 - Matt Hannah provided information and Allison will follow-up later in the year.

AFC is very busy preparing prescribed burn control lines on lands across the County.

Forest Service is on a prescribed burn pause, but herbicide site preparation is on-going.

The Southeastern Bat Diversity Network's Bat Blitz is planned on Bankhead and at Camp McDowell for the first week of August.  On Monday, August 1st there is a free educational event on bats for the public at Camp McDowell from 3-6.  

The Forest Service, Bankhead has a stewardship contract open for bid which includes timber thinning and cultural treatments for restoration. A a field trip for interested bidders is planned for July 27 at 9 AM.

Fishing derby is still postponed until fish can be procured.

Treasurer's Report - $8,624.38

Next meeting will be on August 18 at the Alabama Forestry Commission office, 225 Coats Street, Double Springs.

News Release from Alabama Forestry Commission - Brown Spot Needle Blight Affecting Pine Trees

 Brown Spot Needle Blight Affecting Pine Trees

    

Since early spring, the Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC) has been receiving phone calls from landowners and the public regarding pine needles suddenly turning brown. Many of these calls have been coming from counties in the northwest and northeast regions of the state. The culprit of the needle discoloration is believed to be the fungal disease known as brown spot needle blight. To date the disease has been confirmed in 36 of 67 counties in Alabama.

 

Historically, this disease has only infected longleaf pines (Pinus palustris). Brown spot needle blight can be killed using prescribed burns. However, this method is only effective for longleaf pine seedlings. In the last few years, the disease has also begun to infect loblolly pines (Pinus taeda) in young and mature stands. The cause for this change in behavior of the disease has yet to be determined, but it can be speculated that it may be a new sub-species that has evolved from the original fungal pest.

           

The first sign of infection is discoloration of the needles. Infected needles will contain circular lesions with a brown spot surrounded by a yellow halo. Over time, the infected area will turn brown with a dark red or dark green border. The discoloration begins in the lower portion of the crown and moves up as the disease spreads by rain and wind events. An easy way to identify the disease is if the pine needles look as if they have been scorched by fire, even though there has been no burn. This disease can reoccur over a couple of years and cause mortality to infected pines.

           

If you believe your pines are infected with brown spot needle blight and want needles tested, please contact your local Alabama Forestry Commission office. Laboratory tests can confirm the presence of the disease. Symptomatic needles are collected and brought to the Forest Health Dynamics Laboratory at Auburn University for confirmation.

 

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.

June Council Meeting - Thursday, June 16th at 9 AM at Houston Recreation Area Day Use

 The Winston County Natural Resources Council will meet on Thursday, June 16th at 9 AM at the Houston Recreation Area Day Use Area.

Forestry Awareness Week Now (FAWN) Program held for Winston County Sixth Grade Students in Arley

 About 130 sixth grade students from Lynn, Addison and Meek schools attended FAWN at Matt Hannah's Tree Farm in Arley on May 5, 2022.  Students learned about bee-keeping, Leave No Trace, forestry, wildlife, aquatic macroinvertebrates, prescribed burning and Firewise communities.  

The Winston County Natural Resources Council extends our thanks to Mr. Hannah for hosting, the schools, teachers and students for participating, and the wonderful volunteers who made the event possible!

FAWN this week!

 Forestry Awareness Week Now, a firewise program, will kick off in Winston County this week!  The walk-through and preparation is planned for 9 AM on Wednesday, May 4th.  FAWN with Winston County 6th graders will be held in Arley at Matt Hannah's Tree Farm on Thursday, May 5th and Friday, May 6th.