Meeting minutes – February 9, 2006 San Antonio, Texas
The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by Chairman Frank Fiss (TN). The meeting agenda was distributed, along with the roundtable discussion and minutes from the previous committee meeting in Yellville, Arkansas on August 23-24, 2005.
A. Introduction of Committee Members & Guests
9 committee members were in attendance: Chairman Frank Fiss (TN), Secretary-Treasurer Kin Hodges (NC), Jeff Quinn (AR), Scott Smith (VA), Dan Catchings (AL), Ed Scott (TVA), David Sager (TX), Leigh McDougal (USFS), Bruce Saul (Augusta State Univ.). Also present were the following guests: Doyle Mosier (TX), Steve Crawford (FL), Beth Sargent (AR).
B1. Approval of Agenda
The meeting agenda written by Chairman Frank Fiss (TN) was approved. It was determined that a quorum existed and a committee membership roster was circulated for those present to check and update/add their e-mail contact information.
B2. Secretary’s Report and Approval of Minutes
Secretary-Treasurer Kin Hodges (NC) distributed the minutes and
roundtable discussion notes from the August 2005 meeting in Yellville, Arkansas for review and approval. A motion was made to adopt the minutes and the motion passed.
B3. Treasurer’s Report
Secretary-Treasurer Kin Hodges (NC) distributed and reviewed the August 22, 2005 – February 9, 2006 Financial Statement. A motion was made and seconded to accept the Financial Statement as presented. The motion passed.
B4. Chairman’s Report
Chairman Frank Fiss (TN) reported to the Executive Committee that the WWSC is interested in assisting with the FMS sampling book. He also made them aware of the video produced by the WWSC (Warmwater Streams: A Resource Worth Protecting), the Jimmy Pigg award, and that we are still meeting twice per year.
B5. Chairman-Elect’s Report
Chairman-Elect Jeff Quinn (AR) reported that he had helped review the procedural manual (which manual was this – FMS or something else?), and that he had helped plan the summer 2005 WWSC meeting in Arkansas. He also informed the committee of a recent Supreme Court ruling on whether hydros should need 401 certifications. The committee discussed the possibility of writing a letter in support of maintaining the current permitting requirements to protect the integrity of affected warmwater streams. He also reported that he had talked to the Instream Flow Committee about holding a joint meeting, or possibly merging the IFC and WWSC back together, to improve the exchange of ideas. As more and more committees have split off from the WWSC, it has become more difficult for each committee to take on issues without infringing on the domain of other committees.
C. Old Business
C1. Jimmie Pigg Memorial Outstanding Student Achievement Award
Chairman Frank Fiss (TN) suggested that the committee consider creating separate awards for M.S. and PhD applicants, given the difficulty M.S. students have competing against PhD students. The suggestion was made to award $200 to M.S. applicants and $300 to PhD applicants, which would increase the total amount of the award to $500 from its current level of $200. Frank Fiss (TN) suggested raising scholarship funds by charging registration fees for WWSC meetings. Jeff Quinn (AR) volunteered to work on soliciting funds in the coming year.C2. Warmwater Streams Video Update
Sixty-three videos were distributed in the past year. John Copeland (VA) previously volunteered to contact the Virginia Cooperative Extension service about producing additional videos, and switching them over to DVD format. Dennis Riecke (MS) previously suggested submitting the video to the AFS website’s publications review list to increase circulation. Ed Scott (TVA) volunteered to submit the video to the North American Native Fishes Association to achieve additional distribution.C3. FMS Fish Sampling Book
The WWSC has offered to review the warmwater streams portion of the FMS Fish Sampling book. Frank Fiss (TN) will e-mail copies to interested members and compile responses.C6. Instream Flow Resolution
John Kaufman will present a resolution at the business meeting calling on all states to place increased emphasis on fisheries needs when making water allocation decisions. (assume at bus. Mtg. of entire SDAFS? Also assume this is being done by Instream Flow committee?C7. Website update
WWSC website reorganized to display newest content on front page. Let Frank Fiss (TN) know if you want your e-mail address removed from the site.
D. New Business
D1. Microfish Update
Jack Van Deventer, the designer of the Microfish population estimation software, gave a presentation on an updated version that will soon be available. The original version from 1989 ran in DOS, while the updated demonstration version (3.0) is Windows based. The demonstration version is available for review at www.microfish.org. Input that Jack receives from reviewers will be incorporated into the fully functional version 4.0 that should be available shortly.D2. Spring 2007 Stream Mitigation Symposium
The committee agreed to host a symposium on stream mitigation issues as they relate to warmwater streams. The symposium will be held at the spring 2007 SDAFS meeting in Memphis, TN. The goal of the symposium is to make attendees aware of how mitigation issues are being handled throughout the country. This exchange of information is needed because there are no national standards for mitigating impacts to warmwater streams. The committee will solicit papers on a variety of mitigation issues affecting warmwater streams, including, but not limited to, the FERC relicensing process, impacts of highway construction, fish passage/dam removal, large river projects with the USACE, and the activities of SARP.The Duck River in south/central Tennessee was selected as the location for the summer 2006 WWSC meeting. At this meeting we will review the papers submitted for the symposium and work towards finalizing the program.