Warmwater Stream Committee
Southern Division, American Fisheries Society
Meeting Minutes - February 21, 2002
Little Rock, Arkansas

The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by Chris O’Bara (WV), Chairman. Chris O’Bara distributed the meeting agenda and Dennis Riecke (MS), Secretary-Treasurer distributed the minutes from the previous committee meeting on July 16-17, 2001 at Hickory Knob State Park in McCormack, South Carolina.

A. Approval of Agenda

Motion was made to approve the meeting agenda as written by Chairman Chris O’Bara.

B. Introduction of Committee Members & Guests

12 committee members were in attendance: Chairman Chris O’Bara (WV), Secretary-Treasurer Dennis Riecke (MS), Frank Fiss (TN), Al Surmont (KY), Christian Waters (NC), Paul Balkenbush (OK), Chris Thomason (SC), Dan Catchings (AL), Keith Weaver (GA), Joe Schiller (Austin Peay State Univ. - TN), April Layher (AR), Randy Moss (TX). Also present were Scott Smith (VA), representing John Copeland and 3 students.

C. Secretary’s Report and Approval of Minutes

Secretary-Treasurer Dennis Riecke (MS) read the WWSC meeting minutes from the July, 2001 meeting in McComack, South Carolina, and the minutes from the WWSC meeting on February 2002 in Jacksonville, Florida. A motion was made and passed to accept these minutes as read.

D. Treasurer’s Report

Secretary-Treasurer Dennis Riecke (MS) distributed and reviewed the February 23, 2001 - January 25, 2002 Financial Statement. Motion was made and passed to accept the Financial Statement as presented.

E. Old Business

E1. Video project update

Chairman Chris O’Bara discussed the history of the warmwater stream video project and payments to the South Carolina Dept. of Natural Resources, who produced the video. He recommended that all future projects have a good paper trail of documents outlining partnerships, commitments, and financial obligations. He recommended that the committee avoid projects in which we have little or no expertise. We thought the procurement of videotape would be easy but it was difficult in some cases. The video cost us about $22,000.00 as opposed to a quote of $200,000.00 we received from a private production company.

• All contributors have received a Betacam submaster. It was sent to the fisheries chiefs or the person who sent us an agency or company check. Chris O’Bara included a letter stating that the recipients could not make money off this video. He expressed the desire to always have some videos on hand to meet future requests. Chris O ’Bara reviewed all video files to determine our distribution commitments regarding submaster and VHS copies. Chris O’Bara asked how we should handle video marketing after we have met all our contractual agreement obligations. The private duplication firm we are using is charging us $2.75 per VHS copy in a jacket (no minimum quantity) and $4.00-$5.00 mailing per copy. Chris mailed out submasters for $3.50 each.
• Reviewed handout showing Distribution Options I, II & III. The options only differed in the amount of VHS copies to sent to each contributor and the associated postage costs. All options included the $22,086.00 production cost. Total video income was $22,900.00 so $814.00 was available for distribution costs without tapping our general funds.
  • Option II provided sufficient copies to honor our contractual agreements. Cost: $23,003.43
  • Option III provided an additional 5 VHS copies to all contributors. Cost: $23,309.68
  • Options I provided 5-25 copies to contributors and 6 extra submasters and 35 VHS copies. Cost: $23,634.68.

  Much discussion ensued as we debated what represented a sufficient number of VHS copies for each agency and whether duplication would be convenient in smaller cities. Joe Schiller thought we should price the video to offset the debt incurred from the various options. We discussed the previous (2-3-00) video distribution plans. Scott Smith thought state agencies should make their copies. Frank Fiss suggested that conservation educators and AFS state chapters should distribute the video within their state.

• Chris O’Bara asked the committee to select a distribution option. Joe Schiller replied that this was a major effort and we need to get as many copies out as soon as possible. Dan Catchings and Dennis Riecke pointed out that there was only a $300.00 cost difference between all the options I & III. Paul Balkenbush thought 5 copies were too few and recommended sending 25. Chris O’Bara asked for a motion. Motion by Scott Smith, second by Al Surmont to select Option I. Motion passed. Net cost to general fund was $734.68.
• Joe Schiller suggested putting a link on our website to market the video and provide ordering instructions. We discussed how the states would distribute the video. Those with video libraries would loan it out. Some will send them to their district offices. We discussed copyright issues, duplication and costs by people who duplicate it. The committee holds the copyright. Since a US Forest Service grant was used for some production costs, profit from this project is prohibited. Such income would be considered “program income” by the federal government.
• Scott Smith thought we should ask the state AFS chapters to duplicate and distribute the video and donate these costs. Chris O’Bara will send a letter to each AFS chapter president asking them to be a video distribution sponsor. His idea was to ask for $100.00 and we would send them 30 copies and they would pay the postage (or ask for $150.00 for 50 copies). Dennis Riecke wanted a paper trail detailing distributional costs, quantities sent to whom, etc.
• We discussed soliciting donations for nationwide distribution. We decided only to do so after we had completed the video in order to have something concrete to show possible donors. Chris O’Bara will approach the following AFS sections regarding this: Administrators, Educators, Management. Randy Moss suggested discussing this with Steve Filipek and Hal Schramm. Someone asked if we wanted to market the video through the Parent Society. Dennis Riecke thought we should explore that idea as long as AFS understands that the funding stipulations prohibit profit-making. Chris O’Bara asked if the committee wanted to be the distributor. Dennis Riecke volunteered to do this. Randy Moss suggested we work out the details with the Parent Society. Dennis Riecke agreed as long as the WWSC, Parent Society and the US Forest Service agreed to the plans. Chris O’Bara asked if we wanted to approach non-AFS groups for donations. B.A.S.S. and Ranger Boats were suggested. Chris O’Bara asked Keith Weaver, Paul Balkenbush and Dennis Riecke to work on the non-AFS donation angle.

E2. Warmwater Streams Symposium Sponsorship

• Chris O’Bara asked Gene Gilliland to relate the experiences of the SDAFS Reservoir Committee’s planning for the Third Reservoir Symposium. Gene Gilliland detailed the options available. We need to decide on what audience we want to serve. The scope and location influence our potential audience. A “stand alone” symposium for a national audience would require that the committee do all the arrangement/facility planning. A 1 -1 ½ day symposium held in association with an annual meeting of the AFS Parent Society would relieve the committee of this planning task. A symposium in association with a regional or division meeting (SEAFWA or SDAFS Mid-Year) is another option. Our committee’s 1980 Warmwater Streams Symposium was a “stand alone” affair.
• Each type of meeting has different costs, constraints, audiences, attendance levels, degrees of committee control and a planning time line. A “stand alone” symposium requires about 4 years planning. A symposium at a Parent Society meeting requires about 3 years planning. A symposium at a regional/division meeting requires about 2years planning.
• Presentations can be restricted to “invited only” or invited and contributed. The proceedings publication can be handled entirely by the committee or as a special AFS publication or as a group of papers in the North American Journal of Fisheries Management.
• The involvement of other groups depends upon the scope. Chris O'Bara asked for a work plan on how to proceed. He mentioned that it has been 22 years since our last symposium.
• An open discussion ensued on these aspects. Scott Smith believed a “stand alone” symposium was unwise to pursue due to the sponsoring cost and tight travel budgets. Joe Schiller thought there were plenty of issues that were national in scope and he can only attend 1-2 meetings per year. So, he believed a regional or national meeting was best. Christian Waters and Chris Thomason wanted a regional meeting to reduce logistical planning.
• Gene Gilliland said that the Reservoir Committee secured a USFWS Administrative Grant for $125,000.00 for sponsorship of the 3rd Reservoir Symposium. Such grants are not readily available anymore. Their Black Bass 2000 Symposium costed less because it was held in association with the AFS Parent Society meeting in St. Louis, Missouri. The logistics were less. The committee secured the speakers and organized the program. They used attendance fees to publish the proceedings. For the 3rd Reservoir Symposium the committee chose the topics and presenters to deliver the selected topics and papers. They also had space for contributed papers that were not guaranteed publication. Those proceedings were edited by a committee member. It cost $50,000.00 to print the Black Bass 2000 proceedings via the AFS Book program. A separate book has longevity and the committee generates funds from such projects. For Black Bass 2000, the AFS advanced the money for publication. The USFWS wanted another reservoir book and the national symposium was the vehicle to get it.
• The original idea for Black Bass 2000 was to involve the public. They wrestled with how much to charge for attendance. The committee invited opinion makers from the recreational magazine industry and let them tell the story to the general public. Frank Fiss asked how the Reservoir Committee determined their anticipated attendance. Gene Gilliland replied that they polled their committee membership and used experience from other symposiums to estimate the number to secure a presentation room to accommodate that number. The AFS was concerned with additional attendance, but did not charge a separate fee for attending Black Bass 2000.
• For Black Bass 2000, the committee solicited sponsors and got $50,000.00, mostly from Bass Pro Shop. Duke Power sponsored the 3rd Reservoir Symposium. This money was used for local arrangements.
• Joe Schiller thought that we should do it at a regional meeting if we desired a group of journal articles. Someone else thought we should have it at a national meeting if we wanted a book. Chris O’Bara has talked with Hal Schramm who agreed to serve as proceedings editor. Joe Schiller thought it was important to end up with a tangible product. We discussed identification of issues as they relate to the Parent Society meeting location. Dennis Riecke thought this would be labor intensive task that a program committee should tackle and it could provide a very useful product. Dan Catching asked if we are trying to do too much. The video project took a long time, as we underestimated the difficulty of the task.
• Dennis Riecke thought the major problem would be obtaining manuscripts.
• Everyone agreed that the committee needs a representative on the SDAFS Mid-Year Local Arrangement Committee. April Layher’s experience for the Mid-Year in Arkansas was that the Parent Society was looking for good symposiums.
• We discussed symposium topics. Joe Schiller believed that we should address topics that are not ordinarily covered but that are strategic, with implications for the future. There is a good body of stream management information. The prominent issues are fish passage, large rivers, flow regulations and watershed management.
• A motion was offered to explore the possibility of having a Warmwater Streams Symposium at a Parent Society meeting.
• Adjourned for lunch.
• Discussed the motion and whether the committee has the resources and committed personnel to accomplish such an endeavor. We will make inquiries, and talk with the local arrangements personnel at AFS meetings.
• Discussed the perceived need for such a symposium. Dennis Riecke believed there was a need for a synthesis of the new developments and a state-of-the-art reference book, but reiterated a major committed effort is required. Chris O’Bara suggested perhaps we reconsider having it at a regional meeting with a focus on fisheries management of streams. The product could be delivered in the CD, DVD format containing management stories from committee members. Paul Balkenbush responded that a workshop at a regional meeting was a better fit for our mission. Chris O’Bara discussed the CD format in lieu of a book. A CD is less demanding and very useful. We need to focus on practical information state agency people can use. Paul Balkenbush said that Oklahoma biologists need applied information they can use in their work. Christian Waters said a book was a good goal, but a smaller focus was more realistically achievable. The quality and success would be better with such a focus.
• Chris O’Bara called for a vote on the motion. The motion was defeated.
• Motion by Paul Balkenbush, second by Dan Catchings to explore the possibility of a regional warmwater streams symposium at the SDAFS Mid-Year meeting in Oklahoma in 2004. The one day symposium will focus on fisheries management. Topics and end products will be selected at the 2002 summer meeting. The motion passed.
• A steering committee was chosen. It consists of Paul Balkenbush (OK, Local Arrangements), Scott Smith (VA), Christian Waters (NC), who will contact other states for topics. Chris Thomason (SC) and Chris O’Bara (WV) will explore proceeding product options. A wide range of topics in 6-7 sessions was suggested.

E3. Safety in the Workplace Workshop

This is really a state issue. Do we receive adequate safety training? Do we have the proper equipment to do our jobs safely? Chris O’Bara did a survey of other industries and it was his opinion that the fisheries management profession is the least concerned with workplace safety. Our plan is to send out a safety survey to fisheries chiefs and fisheries biologists and compare the results with those obtained from other industries. Louisiana appears to have the best safety program. April Layher said one of the agency directors for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission created a safety coordinator position. The survey results would be an interesting Fisheries article. What’s the end result? Thoughts ---- a. increasing awareness of safety issues; b. Fisheries article; c. a paper presentation at the SDAFS Mid-Year; d. a presentation to the fisheries administrators. Why should we all be concerned about workplace safety? Because of lawsuits, the health, safety and value of your employees.

• Paul Blakenbush said that the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) did an electrofishing safety study and wanted to write a standard operations procedure for it. April Layher said several ARGF employees took the USFWS electrofishing course (and wrote?) safety manuals and protocols. Chris O’Bara to coordinate any future work on this issue.

F. Committee Business

F1. 2002 Mid-Year Workshop

Twenty- three persons have registered for the Fish Contaminant Advisories Workshop the committee sponsored. We will pay travel expenses for the 2 speakers - Pat Mazik & Janice Smithson.

F2. Committee History Poster

Despite our best intentions we did not have time to comply with the SDAFS Executive Committee’s call for subunit posters to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the division.

F3. Jimmie Pigg Memorial Student Travel Award

We had 5 applicants, a good number and Chris O’Bara, Dan Catchings, and Dennis Riecke selected William Pine III as the award recipient. He has 7 publications and teaching experience.

F4. Mentoring Lunch

This is something new. It’s an effort to match professionals with students to discuss their career plans and experiences. The professional pays for the student’s lunch. If interested in participating see Chris O’Bara prior to lunch on Saturday.

F5. Election of Committee Officers

Election ballot was sent to committee members via E-mail. John Copeland (VA) will serve as committee chair for the October 2002 - October 2004 term. Dennis Riecke (MS) has agreed to serve another term as secretary-treasurer until October 2004.

F6. Committee Membership

Lack of direction from SDAFS President regarding who are actually “official” committee members. Thus, we lack an “official” membership list. We do know the following are “official” members appointed by their respective fisheries chiefs:

Members from state agencies	At-Large Members
Alabama - Dan Catchings	TVA - Ed Scott
Arkansas - Jeff Quinn	USFS - Kelli Russel
Florida - none	Corps of Engineers - none
Georgia - Keith Weaver	USFWS - none
Kentucky - Al Surmont	Kleinschmidt & Assoc. - Henry Mealing
Arkansas - April Layher	Duke Power - Duane Harrell
Louisiana - none
Mississippi - Dennis Riecke
North Carolina - Christian Waters
Oklahoma - Paul Balkenbush
Tennessee - Frank Fiss
South Carolina - Chris Thomason
Texas - Dave Seger / Steve ??
Virginia - John Copeland
West Virginia - Chris O’Bara

• Chris O’Bara will discuss this subject with the SDAFS Executive Committee. Only a few individuals are active out of 50 past members. We need to have active members to perform projects and serve AFS members. The lack of an official membership list presents problems in the dissemination of meeting information and activities.
• The SDAFS Procedural Manual states that the SDAFS President will appoint members. Official members will represent their respective state fish and wildlife agencies. At-Large members will be appointed by the SDAFS President. April Layher and Chris O’Bara suggested the committee make membership recommendations to the SDAFS President. Send names to Chris O’Bara.

F7. 2002 Summer Meeting

Chris O’Bara suggested that we try to arrange our 2002 summer meeting at the USFWS National Resources Training Center (NRTC) in West Virginia. It has great facilities. Rooms and meals are $80.00/night. Perhaps the NRTC staff could provide a workshop speaker. We could go fishing or sampling on the Potomac River. Sites in other states (TN, MS, OK, AR) were discussed. Chris O’Bara will pursue the NRTC site. Paul Balkenbush and April Layher will pursue a site in Oklahoma.

F8. Mountaintop Removal Issue

Joe Schiller provided an update. President Bush’s energy policy will increase coal mining. Thus far 450 miles of streams in West Virginia have been filled in with overburden. In court cases, the courts have ruled that such activity does not qualify for regulation under the Clean Water Act. In theory, mountaintop removal must adhere to the surface mining act provisions requiring that the land be returned to it’s original contour if more than 50 feet of material was removed off the mountain top.

Coal companies have received variances from the state of WV if they show that post mining use is “beneficial” i.e. creating level land for development, which is an improvement in land compared to its pre-mined condition. If the drainage area of a stream exceeds 250 acres then the coal company must mitigate with money or habitat replacement. The problems is “What constitutes a stream”? The area marked on USGS topographical maps covers only part of the actual stream area and length. The average size of a mountaintop removal permit in WV is 450 acres. Currently, 20 permits, mostly in Southwest WV cover 20 square miles. Mountaintop removal is occurring in PA, VA, KY. More activity is expected if court rulings are favorable to the coal industry.

About 95% of the unclaimed mine problems occur in PA, VA, WV, KY, KS, OK, OH. Currently it costs 53 million dollars per year to treat acid mine drainage problems in WV. Recently there was a slurry pond failure in Inez, KY and 250 million gallons of water were released. 155,000 cubic yards of sludge were released into 75 square miles of streams.

The EIS on mountaintop removal was recently published. Lawsuits may prohibit mountaintop removal. Judge Hayden’s lower court ruling was appealed. If the appeals court judge upholds Hayden’s ruling, mountaintop removal will end. Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) supports the coal industry.

F9. Instream Flow Committee

Members of the Ad-Hoc SDAFS Instream Flow Committee joined the WWSC meeting. John Kauffman, Chairman (VA) reported on the workshop they sponsored at the 2001 SDAFS Mid-Year meeting in Jacksonville, FL. The national Instream Flow Council has a forthcoming book on instream flow methods. Go to their website for more information: www.instreamflowcouncil.org.

G. “Values of Warmwater Streams” Videotape - Premier Showing

At this point everyone view our video “Warmwater Streams: A Resource Worth Protecting” and the meeting adjourned.