Warmwater Stream Committee
Southern Division, American Fisheries Society
Meeting Minutes - February 3, 2000
Savannah, Georgia

The meeting was called to order at 8:30 a.m. by Dan Catchings, Chairman. Handouts on the Video Fund income, Video Distribution, Membership List and Meeting Agenda were distributed.

A. Approval of Agenda

Motion was made and approved to discuss the Video project later in the day to accommodate the late arrival of Gerritt Jobsis.

B. Introduction of Committee Members & Guests

15 members and 4 guests were in attendance.

C. Secretary's Report and Approval of Minutes

Secretary-Treasurer Chris O'Bara (TN) read the WWSC meeting minutes from the June 23-24, 1999 meeting in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Motion by Michael Hoeft (WV) and second by Chris Thomason (SC) to accept minutes as read after correcting the spelling of "Filipek" was approved.

D. Treasurer's Report

Secretary-Treasurer Chris O'Bara (TN) distributed and reviewed the attached 1999 Financial Information sheet.

INCOME:
Donation by state agencies to the video totaled	$ 6,950.00
Donation by TN AFS Chap. to Student Awards	$ 750.00
Book Sales	$ 61.00
Checking Account Interest	$ 86.27
INCOME TOTAL	$ 7,761.00
EXPENSES:
Video - SC DNR	$ 2,000.00
Student Award	$ 237.50
Operational - Printing, Plaque, Workshop Summer Meeting	$ 559.75
EXPENSE TOTAL	$ 2,797.25
INCOME TOTAL	$7761.00
EXPENSE TOTAL	$2797.25
INCOME OVER EXPENSE	$5050.02

Checking Account Balance as of 12/31/99 - $16,743.71

Hoeft asked if our funds were in a Money Market Account and O'Bara said they were in an interest bearing account since we were unsure when video expenses would occur.

O'Bara requests book income from the Parent Society at the end of each calendar year. Book sale income for 1999 has not been requested yet.
Video account totals $15,300

Motion by Harrel (Duke Power Co.) and second by Riecke (MS) to approve the Treasurer's Report passed.

E. Old Business

E1. Chair Elect

Summer E-mail vote election of Chris O'Bara (WV). Chairman Dan Catchings expressed appreciation for Chris' outstanding service as Secretary-Treasurer.

E2. Secretary-Treasurer Election

Chairman Catchings called for floor nominations. Hoeft nominated Dennis Riecke, seconded by O'Bara. Harrell moved to close nominations, seconded by O'Bara. Motion to elect Riecke passed by voice vote.
Chairman Catchings reported that O'Bara will manage the committee funds until completion of the video project due to contractual obligations. Upon completion Riecke will assume responsibility for committee funds.

E3. WWSC Streams Values Video

a. Status of Production - Gerrit Jobsis (SC) coordinating video production, substantial work in August-September 1999, video crew requires plenty guidance. There are 25 different types of footage with an excellent script. We lack footage (low flow, sewage treatment, cultural value interviews) to completely match the script. Revisions needed.
Major needs -- review new footage, select segments for use; either revise script to match footage or get needed footage for present script. Gerritt recommends script revision.
Catchings requested assistance for a production meeting in Columbia, SC. Harrel, Rocky English, Lea Ann McDougal, Chris Thompson (SC), Dan Catchings (AL), Chris O'Bara (WV) and Mike Meador (USGS) volunteered. Scheduled a 2 day meeting in Columbia for February 17-18, 2000.
Riecke related response to E-mails he sent requesting footage and that Ed Scott (TVA) suggested that Dr. Bill Roston may be able to supply footage. Ed related that Bill had great photos. Ed and Dan Cincotta (WV) will try to obtain some of Bill's footage. Riecke related that we should try to seek needed footage before we cut important elements of the script.

Gerrit informed us that besides footage to match the script (underwater spawning scenes, mussels, aquatic invertebrates shredding leaves) small bits of scripts are needed for the interviews.

After the February 17-18 meeting video needs will be distributed to all committee members if necessary.

The video will be 27 minutes in length so it is appropriate for broadcast on Public TV.
Our goal is to produce an appealing, informative, educational stream value and stream conservation video.

Catchings expressed appreciation to Jobsis for his tremendous efforts on this project and thought we could complete the project by the end of 2000.

E3. WWSC Streams Values Video

b. Funding Status - O'Bara reported about $25,300 in money and staff time. In December 1999 our contract with the US Forest Service ended and was amended for 1 more year. He suggested another letter to the Southern Div. states that had not yet contributed. He urged rapid production of a draft form.

More money is needed for distribution. Notify Riecke or O'Bara with potential donor contacts. O'Bara will send Steve Filipek (AR) and invoice for $1,000.00 for 1 submaster and 25 copies for use by AR Stream Team program. Dr. Don Jackson (Miss. State Univ.) committed to purchasing some tapes for $1,000.00.

Elise Irwin (AL Coop Unit) suggested that the AFS Educators Section be contacted prior to the August 2000 Parent Society Meeting. Riecke will solicit donations from the MS Chapter AFS, MS Dept. of Environ. Quality and Miss. Wildlife Federation.

E3. WWSC Streams Values Video

c. Distribution Plans - O'Bara reviewed the current distribution tier plans. We have the $1,500.00 for Tier 1 - our current distribution commitments. Each state agency that contributed will receive 25 copies and submaster for unlimited duplication.

We could send a free copy with a letter detailing cost of purchasing more copies
and /or submasters. We need to distribute to USGS, TVA, Trout Unlimited, Project WET & Project WILD (to secure an advocate within the educational system; they could use it in teacher training sessions), Americorp and the Office of Surface Mining.

Tier I costs - $367.50. Tier II costs - $2,277.50. Tier III costs $6,140.00.
total costs $20,105.00.

Discussed sending copies rather than submasters but include a letter providing submaster costs. This would save money and funds from Tier I & II distribution could finance Tier III distribution.

Discussed logistics of distribution. Gerrit responded that companies do this and we could provide mailing lists to such a company.

Catchings asked for additional ideas and organizations that should receive a copy. Gerritt promised all footage providers a copy and PBS stations. There is a SE Consortium that dictates what is aired. It was recommended that we enlist the support of the Texas PBS to persuade them to advocate airing to the SE Consortium. E-mail suggestions to O'Bara.

Riecke related his efforts to secure funds for distribution. Decided that fund solicitation should cease until after video is produced. Organizations are leary about contributing to a product with unseen/unknown content. Elise Irwin mentioned seeking funding from Legacy in Alabama.

Video purchasing costs will be $2.50/copy and $20.00/submaster.

E4. Response to Red River Valley Assoc.

Catchings received a letter from Mr. Brontoli taking issue with the WWSC letter. David Sager & Paul Baken (TX) drafted a response letter under Reggie Harrell's signature. Mr. Brontoli claimed striped bass were not native to TX lakes and objected to concerns regarding threatened and endangered species. The detailed 4 page response letter stressed the history of the reservoir (Lake Texoma); value of the striped bass fishery; the absences of threatened and endangered species in the project area and the Section 7 consultations that included impacts of the project on fishery resources. Mr. Brontoli did not respond but the Corps of Engineers did respond to Harrell regarding the WWSC resolution . Corps will conduct a review of the Wichita River Basin fishery (EIS by August 2000) to minimize the impacts to the Texoma fishery.

E5. Mountain Top Removal

Catchings related that the practice has been occurring for several years. Top is removed to access the coal and valley is filled. Subcommittee appointed at Summer 1999 meeting. Joe Schiller (Austin Peay State Univ., TN) discovered that the USFWS, USEPA and US Army Corps of Engineers conducted a study to examine effects of practice on invertebrates and fishes. Schiller faxed a summary update to Savannah and copies were distributed. Federal judge Hon. Charles H. Hayden ruled that the Clean Water Act and the Surface Mine Reclamation Act were being routinely violated by mine operators in West Virginia. New removal projects are on hold pending a suit by local environmental groups and local citizens. The suit is under appeal. Schiller's studies in east TN found impacted streams had higher flows, increased hardness, higher turbidity and sediment loads, and much lower macroinvertebrate populations. Many fishes would be reduced or eliminated.

Hoeft (WV) believes that there is a slim chance that the judge's opinion will not hold. 450 miles of stream have been filled with 100-200 feet of fill. With such magnitude those streams cannot recover.

Interim protocols lacking legal standing exist. There is tremendous incentive to limit/lessen fill impacts. In 2 years an EIS will be published. The interim protocols require comparative water quality and fish surveys and mitigation. Operators are paying $225,000.00/acre to fill a stream. This money is deposited in an account solely for natural stream restoration. WV hopes the interim protocols become permanent. Previously mitigation was only required for projects > 250 acres so operators did smaller projects. Currently all projects are cumulative not separate. The federal role will benefit all states. WV did not get involved in the issue due to its very political and sensitive nature. WV DNR has no regulatory authority over the practice. When the Corps and EPA asked DNR for comments they got involved. Currently, 50 permits await action and EPA & Corps are seriously considering WV DNR comments.

Catching asked if any WWSC action is needed. Comment would be appropriate when EIS is published (Sept - Dec. 2001) Hoeft responded that the EIS will be a critical document although its accuracy is impossible due to scarcity of relevant data (no prior, during and after studies exist). Water quality data is good; benthic data is fair; fish data is poor. Downstream impacts: benthics will be impacted (diversity & quality of community changed with the same production) greater than fishes. Increased sedimentation, reduced leaf litter, decreased benthic production.

Mention web sites in minutes (???????? need site addresses)

E6. Outreach Liaison Position

Catching outlined responsibilities -- webmaster, send info to Fred Janssen for SD website. Our info needs updating. Catchings asked for a volunteer to fill this position which has been vacant since Brian Wagner's (AR) resignation. No one volunteered. Riecke will feed info to Janssen.

E7& E8. Stream Restoration Workshop

Catching recalled efforts by committee members to organize workshop and secure speakers. Committee cost estimated at $900.00 - $1,000.00. We allocated $1,500.00 at the June 1999 meeting. WWSC will get 40% of profits; SC & GA chapters will get 60%. As of this morning 52 registered; max is 65. Anticipate making $432.00. Filipek asked if the workshop counted toward AFS Recertification. It does because Continuing Education (CE) credits are not required. Duane Harrell related the 3 areas of involvement for recertification. O'Bara said that he investigated obtaining AFS CE credit and it involved much paperwork. We are not paying the presenters and it would cost the registrants money to receive the CE credit. It is something to consider in the future. Filipek asked if the participants would receive a certificate. Harrell said he saves his receipts to prove attendance. Filipek inquired again. O'Bara and Catchings said we could furnish certificates. We need to obtain a list of registrants from Matt Thomas (GA) to print and mail certificates. Scheduling changes were made to the workshop agenda and the time and place was announced.

E9. Instream Flow Committee (SD AFS Ad Hoc Committee)

Catchings informed the members at the June 1999 WWSC meeting we voted that this committee be granted permanent status. John Kaufman, IFC Chairman (VA) did not feel this was necessary and no further action was need. The committee will meet on Friday afternoon.

E10. Jimmy Pigg Memorial Outstanding Student Achievement Award

Catchings recalled Jimmy's financial contributions (travel and awards). Jimmy died of a heart attack in route to the Mid-Year meeting in Chattanooga in 1999. We reviewed the award criteria. We had 3 applicants --Quenton Fontenot (Ph.D candidate, Clemson Univ.); Brett Albanese (Ph.D candidate, VA Tech); Troy Baker (Masters candidate, Univ. of GA). The committee [Hal Schramm ( Miss State Univ.), Chris O'Bara (Tenn. Tech. Univ), Dan Catchings (AL), Dennis Riecke (MS)] selected Brett Albanese as his research was most applicable to the WWSC mission. Award presentation will be at the end of the Stream Restoration Workshop. He will receive a $200.00 travel grant, plaque and AFS Student Membership for 1 year.

O'Bara asked for comments on the criteria and announcements of the award and for any suggestions and changes in the award. Encourage students to apply. This is the third year for the award and the second year for the current format. Award money is a separate line item in the General Account so it won't be spent otherwise. Elise suggested that if submissions increase we may consider giving > 1 award. Perhaps a winner and honorable mention. We need to consider how to generate funds for the award in the future. Discussed E-mail distribution to VPI since they send mailings to the Student Network. Perhaps a link on the webpage, listing in the SD Newsletter and distribution to Coop Unit Leaders. We are missing students at nontypical fisheries colleges.

F. New Business

F1. Technical Committee Review

Catchings distributed copies of the survey coordinated by Mike Meador. We reviewed the survey. WWSC has a Mission Statement and Strategic Plan. Catchings asked for changes.

Question arose about the poor attendance at SEAFWA. Our committee leadership changes at that meeting. What does our Strategic Plan say about the matter? We need to continue meeting at that meeting otherwise state agency support my suffer. In the future our meeting may merely consist of a roundtable discussion.

It was suggested to bring up this issue at the EXCOM meeting and determine whether other committees are also experiencing poor attendance at SEAFWA.

Discussed initiative to increase fisheries participation at SEAFWA. About 50-60 fisheries folks attended the AFS Business meeting at the 1999 SEAFWA meeting.

WWSC official business meetings are held in the summer and at the SD AFS Mid-Winter meeting.
Need to find and electronic version of the WWSC Bylaws and the Procedural Manual. Bill Fisher (OK Coop Unit) may have them. O'Bara and Catchings have a July 1997 memo from Mike Meador which they will mail out to the membership.

WWSC Quorum = 10 members.

F2. Warmwater Streams Symposium

The issue is whether we want to sponsor a symposium as we did in 1980. Need to get reaction of members regarding planning. Options are:
a. Symposium and published proceedings by Parent Society
b. Symposium and published proceedings done entirely by WWSC
c. Symposium and published proceedings at SD AFS meeting
d. Symposium and published proceedings at a Parent Society meeting

O'Bara provided his planning experience for the Third Reservoir Symposium and Black Bass 2000. Do we wish to pursue this? If so, how could we do it? What about a 2 year time frame with a 2002 date?

Consensus was to sponsor it at an AFS meeting having invited and contributed papers in each topic area. It would be open for all papers in other concurrent sessions. A group of invited papers will be published. Examine contributed paper abstracts and solicit manuscripts from some of them.

Black Bass 2000 invited bass anglers and sportsman's groups to make presentations. O'Bara asked for opinions. Consensus was to talk to other Divisions, discuss and explore topics. Suggested topics -- dam removal, FERC relicensing, habitat fragmentation. If other groups respond favorably, form a steering committee and organize them at the 2000 Parent Society Annual Meeting.

F3. Bill Fisher's project for model stream management program

Catching reported that Bill's project is to follow up on the Fisher, Surmont paper published in Fisheries. Goal is to develop a model program for state agencies to implement. Jim Boroughs is the student sending the survey.

F4. Workshop for 2001 SD AFS Mid-Winter Meeting

Prior to reaching this item there was the following discussion on agency safety policies. There is a WV lawsuit. Dan Cincotta (WV) and Elise Irwin (AL Coop Unit) asked if state agencies have safety policies. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) should be provided to all who dispense rotenone, formalin etc. The primary area of liability concern is electrofishing. Unless your gear was constructed by a licensed electrician, you are at risk for a lawsuit. Duane Harrell responded that Duke Power has a procedures manual for field sampling. O'Bara asked Duane to provide him a copy. Duane can provide a topic list. Henry Mealing (Kleinschmidt Assoc.) stated that their safety manual began as a quality assurance manual. Henry said California has OSHA pages. USGS, Duke Power and Oklahoma have safety manuals. O'Bara asked everyone to send him copies of their manuals and he will distribute them. Elise related that all Auburn Univ. personnel are trained every 3 years in CPR and Community First Aid. They use neoprene waders only without boots.

Catchings asked for ideas for a sponsored workshop. What do we wish to present? What would have broad appeal? We need to consider recertification requirements. Past workshop topics: sand and gravel mining, river sampling, stream restoration. Past symposium topics: FERC relicensing, sand and gravel mining, stream restoration.

Safety was suggested. Debate on whether we could successfully market safety. Prior to the 1999 meeting fish chiefs received a survey to determine workshop topics they would send their employees to attend. Safety was mentioned but did not score highly.

Workshop format could begin with a shock story, newspaper clippings, summary of WV lawsuit. Continue with liability waiver and safety manual. Workshop title could be safety and liability. Recruit a lawyer, preferably a agency lawyer and have committee members present various topics.

Initial need is to secure agenda space and a room reservation by contacting the host, FL Chapter.

F5. Roundtable Discussion - examine separate handout

F6. Summer meeting location and date

Much discussion, no decisions. Possible topic - GIS use in fisheries work.