Rock Creek (Water Shed) Clean-up

We are planning a 2 day clean-up with our boat/barge Tuesday Oct. 26th & Wenseday 27th., to remove the rest of the white styrofoam still floatingor laying on the shoreline.We need 6 people working on the barge each day.Do you live on Rock,White Oak,Crooked Creeks or Little Crooked Creek.These are the areas we will be picking up styrofoam in. Can you help us for a day,give me a call 256-747-4422 I'll tell you where to meet us each morning. WHEN THIS CLEAN-UP IS COMPLETED,HOPEFULLY WE WILL NOT SEE ANYMORE WHITE STYROFOAM!!

Winston County FAWN Programs Held at Houston Recreation Area

The 2010 Winston County FAWN Program was held on October 13 and 14, at the Houston Recreation Area in the Bankhead National Forest. 335 sixth graders attended the outdoor field days that included eight learning stations on a variety of natural resource and safety topics. Photos for the FAWN for the Addison, Double Springs, and Lynn Schools are available here. The photos for the FAWN program for the Haleyville and Meek Schools are available here. Thanks to all the partners that work together to provide the FAWN program for all Winston County sixth graders. Here's a partial list of the sponsors:

AL Cooperative Extension System/Winston County Office
AL Dept. of Conservation & Natural Resources
Alabama Forestry Commission
Cradle of Forestry
Forest Stewardship Education Committee
Gateway Foods, Double Springs
Haleyville Board of Education
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
Northwest Alabama RC&D Council
Regional Paramedical Services
Soil & Water Conservation District/Winston County Office
U. S. Forest Service, Bankhead National Forest
Winston County Assign-A-Highway
Winston County Board of Education
Winston County Commission
Winston County Emergency Management
Winston County Farmers Federation
Winston County Natural Resources Council
Winston County Smith Lake Advocacy Inc.

Fire Restrictions

U. S. Forest Service Restricts Fire Use in Bankhead National Forest
Posted: 01 Oct 2010 01:52 PM PDT
Montgomery, AL (September 28, 2010) ---- Because of the extreme dry conditions that can possibly lead to wildfires, the U.S. Forest Service is alerting all forest users to be aware of specific public fire use restrictions in Alabama’s national forests. Forest Supervisor Miera C. Nagy recently signed an order that prohibits the use of fire in wilderness areas in the Bankhead and Talladega National Forests.
To protect the public and natural resources from the threat of wildfires, the following public restrictions are effective September 24, 2010 and will remain in effect until October 31, 2010:
Bankhead National Forest – Sipsey Wilderness; Talladega National Forest (Talladega and Shoal Creek Districts) - Dugger Wilderness and Cheaha Wilderness
 Building, maintaining, attending, using a fire or campfire (wood or charcoal) at any wilderness area located on the Bankhead, Shoal Creek, and Talladega Ranger Districts of the National Forests in Alabama; except, the use of gas generated fire in a Coleman-type or backpacking stove will be allowed throughout the Sipsey, Dugger, and Cheaha Wilderness Areas on the Bankhead, Shoal Creek, and Talladega Ranger Districts. 36 CFR 261.52(a).
 Violating any state law concerning burning or fires which are implemented for the purpose of preventing or restricting the spread of fires. 36 CFR 261.52(k)
 Pursuant to 36 CFR 261.50 (e), the following persons are exempt from the order: Any federal, state, local officer or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting team or those holding a permit specifically authorizing the use of fire.
Anyone found violating any of these prohibitions might face a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization or imprisonment for not more than six months or both.
Forest Service officials advise that if you are planning to spend a few days in the national forest, you should look for changes in restrictions, which could change according to fire weather conditions. Human-caused fires can be reduced during these very dry conditions when everyone work together to prevent wildfires.
For information concerning any public restrictions and closure orders, please contact a U.S. Forest Service district office before visiting: Bankhead District (205) 489-5111, Conecuh District (334) 222-2555, Shoal Creek District (256) 463-2272; Talladega District (256) 362-2909; Oakmulgee District (205) 926-9765; and the Tuskegee District (334) 727-2652.

Advocacy Board Meeting

Tuesday Oct.5th at 10:00 A.M., there will be a board meeting at the Traders and Farmers Bank in Arley.There are many items to discuss, October bacteria blitz,installing signage on the lake, fawn program,purchasing new equipment to show watershed power point program to schools,change of equipment on the Advocacy boat,additional information to give the schools when we deliver the coloring books,John Ledbetter will explain some new changes on the lake, Oct. clean-up on Rock Creek. Will we have a slough clean-up this year, depends upon how many people come forward to offer to help with a clean-up.We can supply the bags.Maybe you want to just clean-up your own slough, do you need bags, call us, let us know where you are going to clean-up.Do you have something that you would like to see done on the lake, come tell us about your idea. Board meetings open to the public, hope to see you on the 5th.

September 14th clean-up

Tuesday the 14th we used the Old Yellow Creek Marina,for our clean-up location. We had our boat-barge there and Al.Power brought one of their boats. Donny Cagle (works for Al. Power) had been observing where there was still white styrofoam to be picked up.Al. power boat went south from the marina and Donny Cagle told them where there was styrofoam to be picked up. The Advocacy went north with their boat-barge with Dennis Quinn riding his wave runner, going in every cove/slough checking for styrofoam.We went as far north as there were homes, turned back south after coming to Bankhead Forests property. We went up the east bank of Sipsy and came down the west bank of Sipsy.There were 3 pieces of styrofoam we could not get, to much mud.We left at 8:30 arrived back at the Marina about 3:30.We had a good load of styrofoam,3 or 4 tires and some other debris. Al.Power boat had 1 full load and a half of another load. They had already gone home.We consider the lake clean of white styrofoam from Duncan bridge north. Sometime in October hopefully we can have a 1 day clean-up on Rock Creek, then the lake in Winston County will be pretty much clean of the white styrofoam floating on the lake. Thanks to Carl Godsey for letting us use Yellow Creek Marina and The help from "our county Commissioners",the clean-up was very successful. TO FINISH CLEANING UP THE LAKE IN WINSTON COUNTY WE NEED A SLOUGH CLEAN-UP.THIS TAKES A LOT OF PEOPLE AND BOATS.SUGGESTIONS!! WE WILL FURNISH THE BAGS AND ARRANGE FOR DUMPSTERS. CALL US WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU TAKE CARE OF THIS BEAUTIFUL LAKE.

WCSLAI Supports the FAWN Program

LaVerne Matheson, President of WCSLAI, presents the
Council with a $1,000 check to support the FAWN
program for Winston County sixth graders.

Special thanks to Winston County Smith Lake Advocacy Inc. for supporting the FAWN (Forestry Awareness Week Now) program. This program is conducted by the Winston County Natural Resources Council and it provides an outdoor field day for Winston County sixth graders at the Houston Recreation Area. Eight learning stations will focus on a wide range of topics related to natural resources. Learning stations directly related to Smith Lake include Water Quality, Water Safety, and Forest Soils. Many WCSLAI members have assisted with the past FAWN programs including LaVerne Matheson, Tom Grubbs, Allison Cochran, Judy Lambert, Mary Ann Crunk, and Melissa Yates.

board meeting sept 7th

We had a very good board meeting.Mary Ann had some questions about the last bacteria blitz done on the lake. Suggested she call AWW for answers,she has,has recieved answers to part of her Questions.Tom is working on ways to put up the signs, if you live on one of the named sloughs on the lake map,in Winston County, please call us, we need your help in maintaining and care of these signs after there erected in your slough.
)n Sept. 14th and 15th we are having another clean-up, hopefully remove all existing white styrofoam still floating on the lake from Duncan Bridge north.We will be using the old yellow creek marina.Go to Houston,turn on Co.Rd. 61 go to the end of the road, you will find us working there.
Beasley Poker Run presented us with another monatary gift. Al. Power also presented us with a monatary gift.We thank both parties for their generous gift and will use these monies for the benifit of Smith Lake. We also voted to give Winston County Natural resources council a 1,000.00 to assist with having the Fawn Program this fall for all 6th graders,(400 +) in Winston County Schools. This is a great program, if you are not familiar with it ,check it out!!!
Linda has the coloring books from Al.Power(bottle in the Water). These are great coloring books teaching kids how to take care of water in rivers and lakes.We will be giving a coloring book to all elementary schools for there kids from kindergarden through 3rd grade.Approximately 1400 coloring books!!
The Grant money for the Rock Creek water Management plan still has not been approved,expect approval momentarily.