Warmwater Stream Committee (WWSC)
Southern Division, American Fisheries Society
Meeting Minutes - September 8-9, 2003
Luray, Virginia

The meeting was called to order at 9:35 a.m. by Chairman John Copeland (VA). John Copeland distributed the meeting agenda and Dennis Riecke (MS), Secretary-Treasurer distributed the minutes from the previous committee meeting on February 13, 2003 in Wilmington, North Carolina.

A. Approval of Agenda

Motion was made to approve the meeting agenda as written by Chairman John Copeland. Motion was seconded and approved.

B. Introduction of Committee Members & Guests

11 committee members were in attendance: Chairman John Copeland (VA), Secretary-Treasurer Dennis Riecke (MS), Paul Balkenbush (OK), Eric Cummins (KY), Frank Fiss (TN), Kin Hodges (NC), Randy Hyler (OK), Chris O’Bara (WV), Ed Scott, (TVA), Chris Thomason (SC), James Vincent (OK). Also present as guests were John Kauffman (VA), and Jason Henegar (Tenn. Tech. Univ.).

C. Secretary’s Report and Approval of Minutes

Secretary-Treasurer Dennis Riecke (MS) read the WWSC meeting minutes from the committee meeting on February 13, 2003 in Wilmington, North Carolina. 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 - February 11, 2003 and the February 12, 2003 - September 6, 2003 Financial Statements. Motion was made and passed to accept these Financial Statements as presented.

E. Chairman’s Report

Chairman John Copeland (VA) was asked by David Sager (TX) to reiterate past committee action on the Red River Chloride Control Project to communicate to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which is resurrecting this old project under a new name, that our committee did not support the past project.

F. Old Business

F1. Membership Update
Chairman John Copeland (VA) stated that Texas could not reappoint anyone due to travel restrictions. Limited funds prevent Maryland from appointing a member. Christian Waters (NC) got promoted and we need a new member from North Carolina to replace him. It was announced at the meeting that Kin Hodges is North Carolina’s official replacement for Christian Waters. Jim Long of the National Park Service contacted John and expressed interest in joining the committee. He was added as an at-large member.

F2. Warmwater Streams Values Video
Dennis Riecke (MS) said that he is keeping track of who has received copies of the video and expressed concern that the committee has not fulfilled its promise to send videos to various state agencies in response to donations received from MICRA and the AFS Fisheries Administrators sections.

Frank Fiss (TN) had the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency made a CD version from a Beta videotape. Frank has 3 copies. Chairman John Copeland (VA) played it. Frank Fiss distributed CD copies to Dennis Riecke, Secretary-Treasurer (MS) and Chairman John Copeland (VA). Frank Fiss (TN) retained the third CD copy.

We discussed fulfilling our video commitments and posting video clips to our website. Chris O’Bara (WV) stated that we need to buy more VHS copies to fulfill our obligations and that our current video duplicator doesn’t want to duplicate Beta copies. John Copeland will approach Virginia Tech about duplicating Beta copies.

It was mentioned fact that we had not received the $500.00 donation from the AFS Fisheries Management Section for all AFS chapters that have not received a VHS copy.

Ed Scott (TVA) volunteered to write a video summary, synopsis and outline. Chairman John Copeland (VA) will speak with SDAFS webmaster Fred Janssen about posting a video clip on our website.

Chris O’Bara (WV) stated that he may be able to secure a $1,500.00 donation from Dupont for video distribution to West Virginia schools.

F3. Safety in the Workplace
Chris O’Bara (WV) said there had been plenty of E-mails on the presentations scheduled for the SEAFWA meeting next month in Mobile, AL. There will be a session but he is not sure of WWSC involvement. Chris O’Bara (WV) will make a presentation based on the survey of safety programs in state fish and game agencies and private companies he did for our committee.

F4. Jimmie Pigg Student Travel Award
It was determined that the 2003 award recipient, David Hewitt, did receive his plaque. Chris O’Bara volunteered to advertise for the award.

Ed Scott (TVA) will check on a donation from the Tennessee Chapter for this award.

Randy Hyler (OK) discussed having a raffle or silent auction with the staff planning the SDAFS Midyear meeting. Jeff Boxrucker is discussing the idea with the SDAFS. There will probably be just one raffle/silent auction and the WWSC may receive a portion of the proceeds.

A motion was made by Chris O’Bara (WV) for the WWSC to cooperate with the Oklahoma Chapter, AFS to purchase a raffle item up to $500.00 in value with all proceeds going to the Jimmie Pigg Fund. Motion seconded by Frank Fiss (TN) and passed. Randy Hyler (OK) will be the WWSC contact with the Oklahoma Chapter, AFS for the raffle.

F5. 2005 Midyear Meeting
The 2005 Midyear meeting will be held in either Virginia Beach or Richmond, VA. Chairman John Copeland (VA) asked if the committee wanted to:
a) revise the WWSC Techniques Manual;
b) do an annotated warmwater stream bibliography;
c) do a workshop or symposium.
d) sponsor a symposium with the SDAFS Ad Hoc Instream Flow Committee

The WWSC Techniques Manual was published in 1984 and revised in 1988. We decided not to revise the manual and tabled discussion on other activities we could pursue at this meeting.

John Kauffman (VA) previously tried to organize a symposium but speakers had other commitments. Chairman John Copeland (VA) and SDAFS Instream Flow Committee Chairman Chris Goudreau discussed this topic at the 2003 Midyear meeting. John Kauffman thought a workshop would be the best format. We discussed workshop topics. The committee agreed that Chairman John Copeland (VA) and Chairman Chris Goudreau would explore sponsoring a workshop on water rights, water allocation etc.

F6. WWSC History
Dennis Riecke (MS) will review the committee records to select highlights for inclusion in a committee history document. Dan Catchings (AL) compiled a committee history sheet that was distributed at the meeting by John Copeland (VA). Committee members agreed to post the history sheet on the website. Dennis Riecke (MS) will work with Chairman John Copeland (VA) and Dan Catchings (AL) to expand the current history sheet.
Adjourned for Lunch - 12:00 p.m. - 1:30p.m.

Mini-Symposium on Smallmouth Bass Management in the Southeast (1:30 p.m.- 4:45 p.m.)

Virginia
Virginia’s Smallmouth Bass Committee: Better Management through Collaboration.
by Scott Smith, Virginia Dept. of Game & Inland Fisheries

The Shenandoah River: An Orientation for the Out-of-Towner.
by Steve Resser, Virginia Dept. of Game & Inland Fisheries

Seasonal Movement and Habitat Selection of Smallmouth Bass in the Holston River Drainage.
by Jason Henegar, Tennessee Tech Univ.

Tennessee
Statewide Smallmouth Bass Management Efforts in Tennessee.
by Frank Fiss, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency

Oklahoma
History and Current Status of Smallmouth Bass Management in Eastern Oklahoma Streams.
by Paul Balkenbush, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation

Meeting adjourned at 4:45 p.m. and some members went fishing on the Shenandoah River.

Tuesday, September 9, 2003

Chairman John Copeland (WV) called the meeting to order at 8:15 a.m.

F. Old Business (continued)

F7. Planning the 2004 Warmwater Streams Symposium

F7a. Symposium Chairman - WWSC Chairman John Copeland (VA).

F7b. Fundraising Chairman
Discussed whether there was a need for one to provide funds to produce CD’s and fund guest speaker travel.

F7c. Session Chair Reports
Frank Fiss (TN) – Warmwater Stream Fisheries Management
Chris Thomason (SC) – Species Restoration and Recovery Successes
Paul Balkenbush (OK) – Stream Habitat Improvement

Frank Fiss (TN) reported that he had received 7 abstracts
Chris Thomason (SC) reported that he had received 6 abstracts
Paul Balkenbush (OK) reported that he had received 1 abstract with 1 more anticipated

Considerable time was spent as committee members read and discussed all abstracts submitted to determine if they were worthy in content and fit well with the symposium modules. Four of the six abstracts in the Species Restoration and Recovery Success module were accepted. We discussed combining the Habitat Selection and Species Restoration modules but rejected that idea. Discussed soliciting more abstracts from various individuals.

F7d. Symposium Organization
Decided to have 12 time slots, 20 minutes each for 9 presentations, 1 break and 2 panel discussions from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. These slots will be for the Species Restoration and Habitat Selection modules. There will be a panel discussion after all the papers in each module. Decided to have 9 time slots, 20 minutes each for 7 presentations, 1 break and 1 panel discussion from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. These slots will be for the Fisheries Management module.

Decided not to have a keynote speaker for the Species Restoration and Habitat Selection modules. We will have an overall keynote speaker for the first presentation of the day and perhaps a wrap-up talk for the last presentation.

Need to have moderators for each module. Take questions after each talk only if the speaker did not use the allotted 20 minute time period. Stay on the program time schedule. Have a front table for the panel to seat the speakers for the panel discussion. Moderator needs to prepare questions to fill up the 20 minute time slots so we can start each talk at the time printed in the program schedule. Module chairs will determine the order of speakers and the moderators.

Decided not to produce a CD but post the extended abstracts on our website after the meeting.

F7e. Symposium Timeline
i) September 22, 2003 – Session Chairs to confirm presenters and notify John Copeland.
September 22, 2003 – Session Chairs to notify presenters of rejected abstracts.
ii) September 26, 2003 — Session Chairs to notify Symposium Chair of session outlines.
iii) October 1, 2003 – Symposium Proposal due for Midyear Meeting
iv) November 15, 2003 – extended abstracts due from presenters
v) December 1, 2003 – program due to Midyear meeting program chair
vi) December 15, 2003 – extended abstract reviews completed
vii) January 15, 2004 – extended abstract revisions completed
viii) January 31, 2004 – extended abstracts compiled for web posting

Guide for authors of extended abstracts to be sent out to presenters by Chairman John Copeland (VA). John talked to Charlie Mosley of the Parent Society about these guidelines. Session chairs will handle abstract reviews with help from committee members.

Dennis Riecke (MS) will discuss formatting requirements for web posting of extended abstracts with Fred Janssen.

Chairman John Copeland (VA) will write short introduction for website document on reasons why committee sponsored symposium.

G. New Business

Briefly discussed previous video distribution plans and decided to do considerable work to honor video distribution commitments and expand plans and effort for future distribution of the video to other agencies, conservation organizations and conservation educators.

Roundtable Discussion of current warmwater stream management and research efforts in the Southern Division states followed. See Roundtable Minutes for details. Adjourned at 3:15 p.m.

Other activities:
Sunday, September 7 - Canoeing/fishing trip on Shenandoah River
Tuesday, September 9 - fishing on Shenandoah River
Tuesday, September 9 - Fish Fry with VDGIF Fisheries Biologists
Wednesday, September 10 - Electrofishing for smallmouth bass population depletion estimates with VDGIF Fisheries Biologists on Shenandoah River