Warmwater Stream Committee
Southern Division, American Fisheries Society
Meeting Minutes - June 24-25, 2002
Beaver Bend Resort Park - Broken Bow, Oklahoma

June 23, 2002: 3:00 - 9:00 p.m. Float/canoe fishing trip on Mountain Fork River above Broken Bow Reservoir. Low water conditions, caught green sunfish and smallmouth bass. Funds for the canoe rental and dinner were provided by the 89er Trout Unlimited Chapter, the Tulsa Flyfishers, and the Northeast Oklahoma Flyfishers. Chris O’Bara (WV), Dennis Riecke (MS) and John Copeland (VA) drafted thank you letters to send to these groups commending them on their support of our field trip and the Oklahoma Dept. of Wildlife Conservation trout habitat improvement projects.

June 24, 2002: 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 February 21, 2002 in Little Rock, Arkansas.

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

10 committee members were in attendance: Chairman Chris O’Bara (WV), Secretary-Treasurer Dennis Riecke (MS), Al Surmont (KY), John Copeland (VA), Paul Balkenbush (OK), Ed Scott (TVA), David Sager (TX), Betty Crump (USFS, Arkansas), Randy Hyler (OK), James Vincent (OK). Also present as guests Mark Dunham, Chris Whisenhunt, Robert Reece and Jim Burroughs all from Oklahoma.

C. Secretary’s Report and Approval of Minutes

Secretary-Treasurer Dennis Riecke (MS) read the WWSC meeting minutes from the February 21, 2002 meeting in Little Rock Arkansas. 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 January 26, 2002 - June 22, 2002 Financial Statement. Motion was made and passed to accept the Financial Statement as presented.

E. Chairman’s Report

Chairman Chris O’Bara (WV) reported that he attended the SDAFS Executive Committee business meeting. The Ex Com has decided to hold their business meetings at the SDAFS Mid-Year meetings instead of at the Southeastern Assn. of Fish and Wildlife Agency (SEAFWA) meetings. The terms of all SDAFS officers and committee chairs will expire that the SDAFS Mid-Year meeting.

F. Old Business

F1. Video project update

Chairman Chris O’Bara mentioned that he was drafting letters to Vic DiCenzo of the Fisheries Management Section and Gary Martel of the Fisheries Administrators Section to solicit funds for video distribution. Chris distributed a handout detailing the income and expenses of the video project. Total income was $22,900.00 with expenses of $22,086.00 for production costs and $586.00 for submasters.

Mailing the videos at the media rate is very reasonable. Chris O’Bara (WV) sent a letter to each SDAFS chapter regarding the availability of the video. The Arkansas and Tennessee chapters made purchases. April Layher (AR) and Steve Filipek (AR) plan to provide them to stream teams, universities, educators. Chris O’Bara (WV) reviewed the status of the video distribution plans for the donation received from the Mississippi Interstate Cooperative Resource Association (MICRA).

Chris O’Bara (WV) discussed with Frank Fiss (TN) the possibility of having the video transferred to DVD. Frank Fiss (TN) will investigate this. In the first 6 months, the WWSC has distributed 500 video copies. We are selling VHS copies for $10.00 each (includes shipping).

• Betty Crump (USFS) asked how to distribute the video to teachers. John Copeland (VA) suggested she have the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission duplicate the video for her to distribute. She wants to place it on a conservation education website.

• Video Sales - The USFS contributed $5,000.00 for the video production. Kelly Russell (USFS, Atlanta) told Chris O’Bara (WV) that she discussed video sales with her employer and the WV Federal Aid Coordinator. They decided that it was fine for the WWSC to charge a reasonable cost for the video and that we could recover all production costs. Kelly Russell said $10.00 per video was an acceptable price.
   
• Video Distribution and Publicity - Dennis Riecke (MS) sent a copy to American Rivers. Chris O’Bara (WV) plans to attend the National Outdoor Writers Convention in West Virginia on June 25, 2002 and talk about the video. PBS will have a booth and Chris O’Bara (WV) will give them a video and ask them to show it. Ray Rhodes (SC) organized a watershed economics symposium at the AFS Parent Society Annual meeting (2002 in Baltimore) and asked us to show the video. Chris plans to do so. Betty Crump will be his back up presenter if Chris has a conflict.
   
• Video Script - Frank Fiss (TN) requested from Chris a copy of the video script to send out with the video. Chris O’Bara had the script retyped and sent it to Ed Scott (TVA) and Al Surmont (KY) to edit it for errors. It may need an introduction statement. Betty Crump (USFS, Arkansas) suggested that an outline format would be useful for teachers to glance through. Something “short and sweet”. Dennis Riecke (MS), Al Surmont (KY) and Ed Scott (TVA) were to review the script and develop an outline. Chris O’Bara (WV) was to compose an introduction. These tasks were to be completed by the AFS meeting in Baltimore. Chris O’Bara (WV) will E-mail a copy of the script to state agencies.

Al Surmont (KY) suggested putting the outline, introduction statement and script on our website. Dennis Riecke (MS) commented that we need to have a link on our website on how to obtain the video. Chris O’Bara (WV) will discuss this with Fred Janssen.

• Video Distribution by AFS Parent Society - Dennis Riecke (MS) asked about our discussions with the AFS Parent Society regarding having them sell and ship the video. Chris O’Bara (WV) said they want groups to purchase the video and the AFS would then decide how much profit they want. Betty Crump (USFS, Arkansas) will talk to Kelly Russell (USFS, Atlanta) about AFS selling the video.
   
• Video Distribution by WWSC - Chris O’Bara (WV) wants to send VHS copies to all Southeastern state fish and wildlife agencies that do not have one (those that did not donate production funds) – Oklahoma (Paul Balkenbush), Louisiana (Bobby Reed), Maryland (Scott Stranko) and Florida. Randy Hyler (OK) indicated that the Oklahoma Chapter of AFS may donate funds for the video. Two copies given to Oklahoma Dept. of Wildlife Conservation. One given to USFWS personnel based in Albuquerque, NM.

F3. Symposium Sponsorship at the 2004 SDAFS Mid -Year Meeting

At previous meetings we decided to attempt to sponsor a warmwater streams symposium at a regional meeting. We reviewed the nature of those discussions. Decided to sponsor a symposium at the 2004 meeting in Oklahoma City, OK. We discussed the need to choose a local arrangements chairperson and a planning/program group. What’s our end product? Discussed symposium expenses and final product. Do we solicit funding?

• Symposium Tasks - suggested chairpersons

1. Local Arrangements - Paul Balkenbush (OK) or Randy Hyler (OK)
2. Fund Raising - Dennis Riecke (MS) - good to have $3,000-5,000 for travel expenses for speakers, contact American Rivers, Duke Power, TVA
3. Oversight - John Copeland (VA)
4. Program - one person for each topic; Chris O’Bara (WV) - overall chair

• Module Topics
   
  1. Fish Management/Micropterus in Streams
         Scott Smith (?), Frank Fiss (TN), Garry Garrett (TX)
  2. Exotic Species Impacts
         Keith Weaver (GA), Christian Waters (NC), Chris Thomason (SC)
  3. Species Restoration/Habitat Management/Clean Water Act
         Ed Scott (TVA), David Sager (TX)
  4. Sampling Techniques
         Paul Balkenbush (OK), Bill Fisher (OK), Dan Catchings (AL)
  5. Public Involvement
         April Layher (AR)
         World Wildlife Fund - Southern Rivers Initiative
         Nature Conservancy
      
• Invite overall speaker for each topic. Have 4-5 papers per topic - case histories, ongoing work.
• 2 hour time blocks, 3 talks per hour, 5 sessions total.
• Have a talk on mussel introductions.
• Develop a sequence of planning tasks and time frames.
• Discuss potential presenters.
• Draft symposium announcements (publicity - when, where, how).
• Decide on the purpose of the symposium (targeted audience).
   
• Symposium End Product
  A proceedings but released in a timely manner (6 months). The committee should be able to produce the proceedings on a CD & web page. Not copyrighted so authors could publish later. Everyone liked idea and thought committee members could accomplish this.

  Use NAJFM Management Brief format guidelines.
  Submit to reviewers for editorial, not scientific comments.
  Possible reviewers - Hal Schramm, Tom Kwak and their students.
  Solicit all papers. Submit in Fall 2003 or at 2004 Mid-Year.

F2. Safety in the Workplace

We discussed this again — briefly. No tangible outcome or decisions.

F4. Committee Membership

John Copeland (VA) has the most recent WWSC membership list. We lack members from several federal agencies. Chris O’Bara (WV) asked Leroy Couch (USFWS) about joining, but he is not an AFS member.

F5. Jimmie Pigg Memorial Student Award

The recipient for 2002 was William Pine III. The award application is posted on our website. A $200.00 travel grant, one year’s AFS membership and a plaque are presented to the winner. Since undergraduates are at a disadvantage in the competition, the WWSC may want to consider creating an award for these students. The award is funded by a $2,000.00 donation from Jimmie Pigg (OK) and a $500.00 memorial donation in his name by the Tennessee Chapter AFS. Chris O’Bara (WV) replied that we need to consider how we will fund the Jimmie Pigg award since we will exhaust this fund in 2 years.

F6. Committee Income

John Copeland (VA) asked how we receive income. Dennis Riecke (MS) and Chris O’Bara (WV) replied from sale of our books by the Parent Society and profits from workshops we sponsor.

F7. Warmwater Streams Techniques Manual (Update)

Discussed updating our prior publication. It would sell well. May use part of the 2004 symposium as a component for the update.

G. New Business

G1. 2003 SDAFS Mid-Year Meeting Workshop Topics

Chris O’Bara (WV) received a request from Lawrence Dorsey (NC) seeking workshop topics. Committees sponsor workshops by selecting the topic, choosing a presenter and paying all the presenter’s expenses, if needed. The profits from the workshop are split 50/50 between the committee and the host chapter. Federal employees cannot get paid to speak and often their travel is paid by their agency or department. Chris O’Bara (WV) asked the members if the committee should sponsor a workshop at the 2003 Mid-Year meeting. The consensus was to do so. John Copeland (VA) asked if we had discussed any more topics since our previous meetings. Topics suggested:

1. Imperiled species in warmwater streams - suggested by Ed Scott (TVA), Dick Biggins may be able to present it.
    
2. Reviewed topics from the July 2001 WWSC meeting.
    
3. Stream restoration - habitat & stocking - suggested by Chris O’Bara (WV).
    
4. Sampling on small streams and large rivers.
    
5. Fish passage - suggested by John Copeland (WV).
    
6. Reintroduction of species, Southeast Fishes Imperiled Fishes Plan - scope needs to be broader than endangered species.
    
7. Stream Teams - SC is trying to start them; TVA is trying to start watershed groups. How to set up stream teams. What’s their value? What do they need? What do they do? KY, VA, TX, MS, OK - all have citizen water quality monitoring programs.

Discussion ensued on public involvement in all fisheries programs.
Best topics: 1. Public Involvement; 2. Species Recovery; 3. Hydro relicensing.
Selected public involvement. Randy Hyler (OK) will ask Bill Fisher (OK) to be the presenter.

Chris O’Bara (WV) will secure a time-slot from Lawrence and negotiate an agreement with the NC chapter. WWSC will retain the right to cancel our workshop if a similar topic is being offered by another committee.

Al Surmont (KY) suggested that our topic should be tailored to the meeting location. FERC relicensing is an issue in North Carolina. The SDAFS Ad Hoc Instream Flow committee had a hydropower symposium in 2001 in Jacksonville, FL.

H. Oklahoma Stream’s Program - Workshop

After presentations we took to the field in the afternoon to view trout habitat improvement projects on the Lower Mountain Fork River. We had a fish fry that night at the state park.