Board Meeting Feb. 8th @ 10:00 AM Arley

February 8th board meeting 10:00 AM Traders and Farmers Bank, Arley
Minutes and treasures report
Water testing Mary Ann
Progress for April 30th slough clean-up Laverne 5 sites, fliers, tying them on each boat house, balloons, maintain each location how do we take “ land helpers “ to sloughs? discussion
Acquiring bags from Alabama Power, how many? comments
Date for public meeting at Lakeshore, Friday May 13th Discussion
Remove winch from our boat Bert
One more Styrofoam clean-up on Rock creek in March or April may need some help on our boat. Can anyone help if we need 1or2 people?
Progress of Rock Creek watershed management grant. LaVerne
Letter from Alabama Pals
Alabama river Alliance 13th conference at Camp McDowell March 11-13th
Other new or old business.
Visitors :
Bobby Everett our new County commissioner
Donny Cagle
Alabama Marine Officer

Alabama Power Company and Bankhead National Forest Install Fish Structures at Clear Creek

Annually, Alabama Power Company and Bankhead National Forest staff place sunken fish structures in sloughs and along banks at one of the Forest Service's three Recreation Areas along Smith Lake. Bundled Christmas trees or bamboo structures are put in Smith Lake to improve fish habitat and fishing opportunities.

On January 31, Alabama Power and Bankhead employees placed about 60 structures in the lake at the Clear Creek Recreation Area. When fishing in the area look for "fish habitat" signs along the bank, which designate areas where structures have been placed. Or, you may visit www.alabamapower.com/lakes/home.asp and find GPS locations of fish habitat structures.

Board Meeting Rescheduled

Notice
Winston County Smith Lake Advocacy Inc. board meeting was cancelled Tuesday Jan. 11th . Rescheduled for Tuesday Jan.18th.at 10:00 A.M. Traders and Farmers Bank, Arley. Meeting open to the public

Boating Class

 for- Alabama vessel operators license.
 WHERE- DODGE CITY TRAVEL CENTER
(dodge house restaurant)
426 al hwy 69 south
Hanceville, al 35077
Exit 299 just off i-65
 Date & time- Saturday Jan. 29, 2011
9 a.m.
Please devote 6 hrs for class
(lunch break 12-1 p.m.)
 who?-anyone 12 years of age or older.
 Class- is put on by the Alabama marine police.
Please contact the marine police
To register because seating is limited.
1-800-499-1667
Instructor- officer John Williams

Board meeting

Winston County Smith Lake Advocacy Inc. board/directors January meeting is Tuesday morning the 11th, at 10 A.M., Traders and Farmers Bank in Arley. Our meetings are open to the public.
This is the 1st meeting in 2011 and many subjects to discuss. Progress of Rock Creek Water Shed management plan,status of signage being erected, e-coli problem, plan our spring public meeting, discuss 2011 clean-ups and many more items to discuss.Are you interested in learning more about the lake and how you can help us with projects on and around the lake? COME TO THE MEETING ON THE 11TH

Rock creek Watershed Management Plan

There were several meetings in 2010 discussing a Rock Creek watershed management plan. There was a plan that was finally agreed upon by the local property owners and the Alabama Water Watch team who will be the ones acquiring a grant and then following up with a manager/overseer along with assistance from both the Winston County and Cullman County Extension Offices and The District Soil and Water Offices. The Rock Creek Water Shed includes White Oak and Crooked Creeks, 200 # sq. miles of Water Shed.. The grant was written and submitted in June to ADEM, it was reviewed by ADEM sent back to AWW., with questions, asking for more detailed answers, this was completed, resubmitted in August. There was a verbal approval in november , we are expecting the written approval as to total amount of the grant in January. This watershed plan is for 3 years and it could take 5 years. Rock Creek and Crooked Creek both have a 303D listed at EPA, this means there is some type of contamination on each creek. This we want removed plus when the watershed plan has been completed the water entering the lake from the 3 creeks should be clear, clean and pristine. We not only must have cooperation from farmers, cattlemen, poultry producers, forestry managers/owners but also home owners on the lake. One homeowner has the capabilities of contaminating the lake worse than someone who owns several hundred acres in the watershed. We have a lot of educating to do, but with cooperation from everyone involved in this watershed plan, we can have a pristine lake to enjoy by many for decades in the future.

2011 cleanups

We had 3 cleanups this year with Al power boats, plus 2 or 3 private cleanups with our boat/barge.The last cleanup was in Sept.when that was completed we had removed all white styrofoam,we could find on the lake north of Duncan bridge. We still have 1 or 2 loads of white styrofoam from the mouth of Rock Creek north. This will be removed before spring by having a cleanup with wcslai boat/barge and local people helping.
Our 1st cleanup in 2011 will be Saturday April 30th. We will be cleaning up sloughs on Rock Creek,White Oak, Crooked and Little crooked Creeks.hopefully we can clean the sloughs all the way to Duncan Bridge.
The next cleanup will be Friday and Saturday June 17th and 18th. We are in hopes of cleaning all the sloughs from Duncan Bridge north on Smith Lake. We will have dumpsters placed in different locations for easy boat unloading and will furnish all the bags for these cleanups. Start planning now, when you pick up your bags let us know where you are going to cleanup. Just come and help if you don't have a boat. Do you property owners, home owners and fishermen want to see Smith Lake really cleaned up, plan to help us those 3 days in 2011. More info on location of dumpsters and where to pick up bags later.My # 256-747-4422