Warmwater Stream Committee
Southern Division, American Fisheries Society
Meeting Minutes - June 5-6, 2000
Henry Horton State Park, Tennessee

The meeting was called to order at 8:30 a.m. by Dan Catchings, Chairman. Catching distributed the meeting agenda and Dennis Riecke, Secretary-Treasurer distributed handouts containing the previous meeting (2/3/00) minutes, roundtable discussion, attendance list, mountaintop removal issue, video fund and video distribution plans.

A. Approval of Agenda

Motion was made and approved to approve the meeting agenda as written by Dan Catchings. It was announced that our speaker on the use of GIS will talk this afternoon rather than tomorrow.

B. Introduction of Committee Members & Guests

10 members were in attendance (Joe Schiller - Austin Peay State Univ.; John Copeland - VA; Chris Thomason - SC; Dan Catchings - AL; Chris O'Bara - WV; Dennis Riecke - MS; Christian Waters - NC; Al Surmont - KY; Duane Harrell - Duke Power Co.; Ed Scott - TVA)

C. Secretary's Report and Approval of Minutes

Secretary-Treasurer Dennis Riecke (MS) read the WWSC meeting minutes from the February , 2000 meeting in Savannah, Georgia.

Changes consisted of correcting the spelling of Chris Thomason's last name (p.1); $15,300 for the video account total (p.2); deleting "Bob ______" and adding "Matt Thomas" (p.5 -E7&E8) Motion by Joe Schiller (APSU) and second by Chris Thomason (SC) to accept minutes as corrected was approved.

D. Treasurer's Report

Chair-Elect Chris O'Bara (TN) distributed and reviewed the attached June 2, 2000 Financial Information sheet.

O'Bara reported that the AFS Book Sales income represents 2 years of sales. The instructor workshop expenses consisted of travel.

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

E. Old Business

E1. Red River Chloride Control Project: Wray Charitable Trust Contact
Catchings (AL) explained the E-mail (attached) he had received from David Sager - which he also distributed. The WWSC and SDAFS resolutions on the project had an impact. They caused the Taxpayers for Common Sense and the National Wildlife Federation to include the project in their report "Troubled Waters: Congress, The CORPS of Engineers, and Wasteful Water Projects" (March 2000).

O'Bara (WV) asked if we should request that the Parent Society pass a resolution similar to the WWSC and SDAFS resolutions. Thomason (SC) inquired about the correct procedure. Harrell (Duke Power Co.) will seek guidance from AFS President Christine Moffitt. Catchings (AL) will check with the Southern Division. O'Bara said that TX Gov. George W. Bush is supporting the project. Schiller (APSU) stated the WWSC should pass motion approving our intent to request the Parent Society to consider a resolution on the issue. Thomason (SC) asked if they would discuss the matter at the 2000 Annual Meeting. Harrell (Duke Power Co.) did not think we could proceed that quickly and urged that a draft resolution be submitted in electronic format to the Parent Society. He also suggested we provide the Parent Society with a history of the WWSC and SDAFS actions on the issue and provide a distribution list if they pass a resolution. Catchings will provide those materials to Harrel. Catchings asked for a motion. Schiller and Thomason made a motion to urge the Parent Society to consider a resolution opposing the project. O'Bara and Surmont seconded the motion which passes unanimously.

O'Bara asked what action - if any - need the committee take regarding the funding offer by the Wray Charitable Trust. Schiller will make some contacts. O'Bara proposed that we write an appreciation letter to Sager. Schiller commented that sometimes private foundations are significant sources of funds. Catchings will send Sager an E-mail.

E2. WWSC Streams Value Video
a. Status of Production - Dan Catchings (AL) and Chris Thomason (SC) reviewed the progress made at the February 17-18, 2000 meeting in Columbia, SC. Current video footage was paired with the script. Video footage needs were identified in a handout (attached). Rocky English finished rewriting the stream continuum section (attached). Duane Harrell will rewrite the "seasons of the year' section. Gerrit Jobsis will rewrite the dam impacts section.

E2. WWSC Streams Value Video
b. Footage Needs - Riecke (MS) asked if any footage had been obtained from Bill Roston. Thomason replied that all his attempts to contact Roston were unsuccessful. Ed Scott (TVA) said he will try to reach Roston and he thought Roston had some underwater shots. Riecke will contact the fisheries group at the Corps Waterways Experiment Station, the Vicksburg District, Corps of Engineers, International Paper, Georgia-Pacific, Weyerhauser, Arkansas and Missouri Stream Team Coordinators and the Miss. Coop. Ext. Service regarding our video needs.

O'Bara will check with Canadian researchers for bluegill and smallmouth bass underwater footage. Copeland (VT) will contact the folks at VA Tech. Univ.

Funnel all contacts to Chris Thomason (SC). Harrell suggested that all WWSC members read the entire script for continuity. Suggestions should be sent to Gerrit Jobsis (SC) and Chris Thomason (SC).

E2. WWSC Streams Value Video
c. Revised Script - Catchings will E-mail the revised script to the committee by 6/23/00 and request that comments be sent to him by 7/23/00. He will incorporate all changes into a master revised script.

Thomason will distribute a revised video needs list by 7/1/00.

E2. WWSC Streams Value Video
d. Funding Status - O'Bara reviewed the video fund income, expenditure and balance (attached).
Income - $15,300.00 in cash; $7,000.00 in contracts; $5,000.00 in-kind;
Total income - $27,300.00
Expenditures - $ 2,000.00 to SC DNR
Balance - $ 25,300.00
O'Bara emphasized that it is imperative to complete the video. Some states have contributed Sport Fish Restoration Fund monies and need to have a product. The USFS contract was renewed for one year until 12/31/00. We successfully matched that grant as was required.
O'Bara urged everyone to document any in-kind contributions (printing, secretarial help). All documentation should be sent to Chris O'Bara. The Corps of Engineers and other federal agencies said they could match any in-kind donations.
O'Bara will again solicit donations from those states (AR, FL, LA & OK) who have not yet donated to the video. He urged all committee members to make their respective AFS Chapters aware of the project.
O'Bara stated that currently we have enough money to fund production. Actual production costs were never specified but merely estimated.

E2. WWSC Streams Values Video
e. Distribution Plans - O'Bara reviewed the current distribution tier plans (attached).
We need to add TVA to the Current Commitment list - 1 submaster & 25 copies.

Current commitment costs - $1,320.00
Tier I costs - $617.50. Tier II costs - $3,027.50. Tier III costs - $15,140.00.
Total costs $20,105.00.
Harrell (Duke Power) suggested contacting the North Central Division (NCD) folks. O'Bara will contact the Rivers & Streams Committee in the NCD and the Northeast Division. He will 1) mention our footage needs; 2) solicit funds. He will also do likewise with the AFS Educators Section and the AFS Fisheries Management Section.

E3. Mountain Top Removal
Joe Schiller [Austin Peay State Univ. (TN)] provided the following update:
The coal industry trend has been to shift to larger mines and larger equipment. Most Appalachia coal seams run horizontally. In March, US District Judge Hon. Charles Hayden issued an injunction which was appealed. The appeals trial begins in July 2000. This has become a high stakes issue as the judge's ruling covers aspects of the Clean Water Act and the Surface Mining Act. The coal industry says it can no longer compete with imported coal unless they can use mountaintop removal. If an out-of -court settlement occurs, some mountaintop removal would continue but on a smaller scale.
Surface mining effects on a stream are proportional to the area disturbed. Ephemeral and permanent streams are impacted. The spoils function as aquifers. Several studies are examining the effects. There was a 60 Minutes segment on the issue about two months ago. The coal industry is now using 240 ton trucks rather than 85 ton trucks. The mines are so large they are merging together. The settlement may force smaller mines and smaller trucks. The United Mine Workers Union is supporting the industry's position on this issue.

If the judge's decision is upheld under appeal, Congress will probably intervene and may grant mine operators a special exemption to the Clean Water Act.

Learn more at ---- http://wvgazette.com/static/series/mining/index.html
www.marshall.edu/mtop/

Schiller will pursue the issue and locate research summaries.

E4. Outreach Liaison Position Update
Catchings announced that John Copeland (VA) had volunteered for this position and furnished information to Fred Janssen (TX) to update our website.

Copeland furnished everyone with copies of materials (attached) accessible via our website. John receives all the comments from our webpage.

A discussion about committee membership ensued. O'Bara asked if a letter sent to all State Fisheries Chiefs would help update our membership. Other individuals may wish to join the committee and some may want to leave. Everyone thought such a letter would help revamp our membership. O'Bara will send a letter to the chiefs and 1) mention the customary meeting times; 2) outline the membership obligations; 3) provide a current membership roster; 4) inquire whether the currently appointed state representative should be retained. The Strategic Plan specifies that membership is open to all SD members following appointment by the SD President (list is sent to the WWSC Chairperson).

E5. Workshop at 2001 AFS Mid-Year Meeting
The AFS Florida Chapter has received nine requests and they asked for more information prior to topic selection. Safety was our workshop topic. Up-front costs are about $1,000.00. Fifty people need to attend for us to make money.

O'Bara sent a memo to Larry Conner (Sec.-Treas.., SDAFS) to:
1) express WWSC interest in safety workshop sponsorship
2) detail our responsibilities - workshop development, up-front cost coverage
3) FL Chapter responsibilities - local arrangements, AV equip, advertising
4) propose a 50:50 split of profits
5) suggest a $40.00 workshop fee
Subsequent phone discussions led to the understanding that the FL Chapter agreed with the idea.
Questions--- Are we still interested in a safety workshop? Is the topic sellable? Who would be the presenter? What would be the content? Do we want to seek AFS Continuing Education credit? Some committee members had doubts that the topic would interest a sufficient number of people. Ultimately, members compare what workshops are offered and select what interests them. So, our draw depends upon the competing topics. Safety was not rated highly when the TN Chapter surveyed fisheries chiefs for topics in 1999. Members related their personal experiences with safety training.
Everyone concurred that marketability of the topic would be difficult given that most agencies have sponsored some type of electrofishing safety training.
Other topics mentioned in June 1999 were instream flow, riparian buffers. Discussion was tabled as we broke for lunch. Discussion resumed after the GIS presentation. Schiller suggested a workshop on biological integrity would be timely as the USEPA is really interested in this subject as they prepare to issue 316 rule. O'Bara suggested the following topics which recur in WV -- assessment/valuation of fish/mussel kills; large river sampling; biological integrity; power plant impingement studies. The assessment/valuation topic deals with the value of the fish lost versus the loss, use and availability of the resource. Gerrit Jobsis used NRDA to do a valuation of a SC fish kill. In SC utilities pay into a Broad River Mitigation Fund. The money can be used for conservation easements, mitigation projects.
Duane Harrell (Duke Power) suggested that a Conflict Resolution & Negotiation Skills workshop would be a good topic. Explore the issue of "What's reasonable to ask for?"; compromising in the arena of FERC relicensing. Those skills apply to interagency meeting on aquatic weed control, water level management plans, water allocation, sport fish stocking (Norris Reservoir issue). The idea had a favorable reception amongst the committee members. Someone suggested that we contact Lee Lamb to determine if he would be willing to be the presenter. To market the topic we need to allude to specific issues where such skills would be valuable (Norris Reservoir, Water Wars, FERC, water level management, instream flow levels, sport versus commercial conflicts).
Discussed whether to offer Continuing Education credits for this workshop. It involves much effort and time and credit is not required for AFS Recertification. Decided not to seek credit.
Catchings asked if we wanted to pursue the Conflict Resolution & Negotiation Skill workshop topic. Consensus was yes. O'Bara will inform Larry Conner about the topic change. Harrel to contact Lee Lamb about presenting.

E6. Certificates for 2000 Mid-Year Workshop Participants
Riecke to contact Matt Thomas (GA) to obtain list and addresses of participants. Certificate to be developed and mailed out.

E7. 2000 Mid-Year Stream Restoration Symposium
Attendance was good and speakers did a fine job.

E8. Warmwater Streams Symposium
At our February 2000 meeting we discussed sponsoring a Warmwater Streams Symposium similar to the one the committee sponsored in 1980. The focus would be to present a state-of-the-art treatment of warmwater stream issues/research/management. We discussed the need to appeal to our colleagues outside of the Southern Division. O'Bara talked to Paul Kaehl, Chairperson of the NCD Rivers & Streams Committee and some fellows at the Northeast Division meeting. NY & MD liked the idea and are willing to participate. No one has discussed it with the Western Division.
We debated the positive and negative aspects of trying to hold a symposium in conjunction with the AFS Parent Society meeting. O'Bara related his knowledge of what the organizers of the Black Bass 2000 dealt with. A 2-day symposium within the framework of a Parent Society meeting is difficult as space may be limited at the host hotel (Black Bass 2000 is being held at another hotel); separate registration is not allowed; anglers must register for the meeting.
Harrel detailed his experience with such a topic when he helped plan the Parent Society meeting in Charlotte. The Parent Society can be firm in their rules and demands but they will negotiate since the committee would be performing all the work. Harrel suggested that we explore the idea with Ron Dent who served as the local arrangements chairperson for the 2000 Annual Meeting in St. Louis, MO.
O'Bara mentioned that another option would be to have the symposium at a Mid-Year meeting. Schiller commented that the bulk of the interest would be from the Southeast but people from other area will attend. Harrel inquired about what meetings state agencies usually approve for travel as it is a factor to consider where we sponsor a symposium. Schiller commented that is it never to early to start planning and approaching speakers. O'Bara asked if the WWSC wanted to host the symposium if we hold it at a Mid-Year meeting. He was sure we could procure a day at a Mid-Year meeting. Schiller said the publication of the Mid-Year paper abstracts on the website was an excellent idea.
O'Bara said that although he was not acutely aware of the AFS publishing time frame, it would be great to have the manuscripts prior to the symposium or even have the published proceedings available at the symposium. Riecke commented that the proceedings from the Ictalurid Symposium took about one year and we should consult with Elise Irwin (AL Coop. Unit) and Hal Schramm (MS Coop. Unit).
Catchings asked for a decision on which way to proceed. O'Bara preferred the Mid-Year meeting first and a Parent Society meeting second. He will discuss these options with Paul and others. Schiller thought the 2002 Parent Society Annual Meeting in Baltimore, MD was an appropriate location. Harrel commented that it would be nice to know the location of the 2002 SDAFS Mid-Year meeting. Catchings thought we needed to decide on a location by the SEAFWA meeting in October 2000.
O'Bara asked who planned to attend the 2000 Parent Society meeting in St. Louis. Riecke indicated that he will probably attend. Copeland, Schiller, Riecke and Harrel volunteered to help plan the symposium. Hal Schramm indicated his interest earlier. O'Bara will assemble a group at the 2000 Parent Society meeting to kick things off. He will E-mail those interested regarding a meeting date and time at the 2000 Parent Society meeting.

F. New Business

F1. Outstanding Student Achievement Award
Catchings asked everyone to review the award requirements. They are posted on the website. Copeland and O'Bara will change the data on the web.
We will use the E-mail list for the Student Network to announce the award. O'Bara notified all Fisheries programs at Southeastern colleges and universities. He also used personal contacts. In 2000 we had a good conference call to evaluate the applicants.
All committee members were urged to publicize the award at their state chapter meetings. O'Bara to E-mail all committee members so they can send the applications to all they know.
The award is available to all students in the academic year 2000. The deadline for applications will be mid-December 2000.

F2. Roundtable Discussion
Refer to the separate handout.

F3. WWSC Meeting at the Southeastern Assn. of Fish & Wildlife Agencies Meeting
Committee Chairperson leadership changes at this meeting. There is a two year term for the chairperson. In odd years the committee does not have a chair-elect. Secretary-Treasurer position changes at the summer meeting. For the new Chair-Elect we could them serve for two years instead of one. The Bylaws state the Chair-Elect is chosen one year after the new chairperson assumes their duties.
The only issue to discuss at SEAFWA would be the WWSC Symposium. Plan to meet at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 31, 2000. Our committee has not be queried as to meeting needs.

F4. WWSC Membership Discussion
O'Bara commented that if we have state appointees, why not get them appointed for two years to run concurrent with the chairperson's term. O'Bara will:
1) send a letter to the state fish chiefs requesting a committee appointee by SEAFWA for a two year term
2) open "appointed" membership up to federal agencies and private industry
3) solict members-at-large
Schiller commented that the main point is how do you structure committee membership to encourage participation by individuals. O'Bara reflected that universities are a great source of at-large members. O'Bara will use the current membership list to contact all and ask if they wish to remain as members. If they do not he will ask them to suggest a replacement. Schiller responded that most universities do not provide travel funds for such meetings. We have eight members affilliated with universities. O'Bara's letter will mention who have been active members and request that they remain members.
We desire active participation from OK, FL,MD. We would like members affiliated with the TVA, USFS, Corps, USFWS, NPS, USGS & NRCS. We also value the involvement of Duke Power Company and Kleinschmidt & Assoc.

F5. Safety Programs
O'Bara reminded the membership to send him agency safety programs. Some have already done so. He will assemble and distribute to all.