Partners continue to "Renew Our Rivers" on Smith Lake

Twenty-nine individuals joined forces at Houston Recreation Area this week to continue the "Renew Our Rivers" effort to clean-up Alabama's waterways.  Staff and volunteers from Alabama Power Company, Bankhead National Forest, and Winston County Smith Lake Advocacy, Inc removed litter from sloughs on Smith Lake as part of Renew Our Rivers.  Three barges and a bass boat worked together to fill two construction dumpsters full of bottles, cans, noodles, rafts, fishing tackle, propane bottles, grills, and small chunks of foam floating in and along the shoreline.  Special recognition goes to Hyche LLC of Addison for donating the dumpsters and removing the litter.

The partnership to clean up Smith Lake in Winston County began in 2006 with Alabama Power Company, Bankhead National Forest, Winston County Smith Lake Advocacy, Inc and the Winston County Commission.  Since that time, an estimated 672 tons of trash have been removed from Smith Lake in Winston County by the partner organizations.   Renew Our Rivers is the southeast's largest organized river clean-up.

BLACK WARRIOR RIVER BASIN

STATE OF THE WATERSHED CONFERENCE

August 1, 2012

Registration - 8:30am 8:55am

Conference 9:00am- 4:45pm

North River Yacht Club

3100 Yacht Club Way NE

Tuscaloosa, AL  35406

 Please make plans to attend the first State of the Watershed Conference for the Black Warrior River Basin.  A full day of information about the Black Warrior River will include:

• Recently completed or on-going studies
• Completed or on-going, on-the-ground projects
• Special places, AND

• Water Policy in Alabama

 Registration fee is $20 per person to cover lunch costs.  On-line registration is available at http://www.cleanwaterpartnership.org/.  (See Upcoming Events on the right side of the web page.)  A draft agenda is attached for your consideration.
 SPONSORED BY:
Westervelt Ecological Services LLC 
 If you have any questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact Kellie Johnston, Black Warrior CWP Facilitator at (205) 623-0147 (email: warriorcwp@hotmail.com).

Boaters Day

Saturday May 5th 10:00 A.M to 12:00 A.M. Duncan Bridge Marina Florida Marine Police: to discuss current boating Laws and Regulations Maybe you just have a particular question you need an answer for. This will be the place and time to acquire an answer to your question. The Smith Lake Coast Guard Flotilla will also be there to talk with you about any problems or inspect your boat; to be sure everything is ready for this summer’s fun. INSPECTION OF YOUR BOAT IS FREE!!!!! Saturday May 12th. 10:00 A.M to 12:00 A.M Church on the Lake ( Next to Rock Creek Marina) Florida Marine Police: to discuss current boating Laws and Regulations Maybe you just have a particular question you need an answer for. This will be the place and time to acquire an answer to your question. The Smith Lake Coast Guard Flotilla will also be there to talk with you about any problems or inspect your boat; to be sure everything is ready for this summer’s fun. INSPECTION OF YOUR BOAT IS FREE!!!!!

WCSLAI recognized Nationally by the Forest Service with Rise to the Future Award

Forest Service News Release

Bankhead National Forest and Winston County Smith Lake Advocacy Group Recognized Nationally

(Double Springs, Ala.) April 18, 2012 --- The U.S. Forest Service’s Bankhead Ranger District and longtime partner, Winston County Smith Lake Advocacy Group, were recently honored at a national ceremony in Washington, D.C. for their dedication to ensure the water quality of Lewis Smith Lake is protected and preserved. Numerous volunteers and Forest Service employees earned the Rise to the Future award – the Forest Service highest honor for exemplary aquatic stewardship.
Since 2007, the Winston County Smith Lake Advocacy Group has collaborated with the Bankhead National Forest in sponsoring lake shore clean-up events as part of the Alabama Power Company’s ‘Renew Our Rivers’ campaign. According to Elrand Denson, Bankhead district ranger, the Winston County ‘Renew Our Rivers’ clean-up events have removed approximately 180 tons of litter including styrofoam, appliances, tires, boating accessories and fishing tackle from Lewis Smith Lake shorelines in Winston County and the Bankhead National Forest.
“The coalition of partners have worked together tirelessly to remove trash from the shorelines on over 166 river miles in Winston County. The Forest Service commends our partners for taking on a community project to improve Alabama’s abundant natural resources” said Allison Cochran, Bankhead National Forest’s wildlife biologist. Such removal of litter not only beautifies the lake, but also prevents harm to wildlife animals and plants. It helps decontaminate the waterways and assists in preventing bushfires that damage natural areas.
“The partnership with the Bankhead Ranger District is allowing us to clean up the lake for future generations to enjoy,” said LaVerne Matheson, President of the Winston County Smith Lake Advocacy. “Now we have a beautiful lake with water so blue it sparkles like diamonds at times.”
Originally, the partnership began as a small community cleanup that has now evolved into a large-scale grassroots project with hundreds of volunteers and supporters, including the Winston County Commission, Alabama Conservation Enforcement Officers Association, Cradle of Forestry in America Interpretive Association, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, local businesses, lake residents and visitors.
To learn more about or to volunteer with the Winston County ‘Renew Our Rivers’ campaign, please contact Allison Cochran at (205) 489-5111. To join the Winston County Smith Lake Advocacy, Inc and learn more about their projects in Winston County, please contact LaVerne Matheson at (256) 747-4422.
The Winston County Smith Lake Advocacy Group is a 501(c)(3) organization. Its mission is to preserve and protect the environmental quality of Lewis Smith Lake and its tributaries through education of the public and promotion and implementation of sound environmental practices.
William B. Bankhead National Forest is one of Alabama’s four national forests managed by the USDA Forest Service. Its mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. Motto: Caring for the land and serving people.

board meeting

Tuesday, March 13 @ 10:00 AM Traders and Farmers Bank in Arley

Discuss our public meeting April 13th @ Traders and Farmers Bank in Arley
Time 6:30 PM,
snacks and drinks,
program
Have pictures constantly running on screen, showing our accomplishments


discuss :
Saturday morning May 5th @ Duncan Bridge Marina 10AM to 12 AM
Saturday morning May 12th @ Rock Creek Church on the Lake 10 AM to 12 AM
For boaters to meet with Marine patrol officers to answer any questions a boater may have about regulations for boaters or other questions. The Coast Guard flottila will also be there to explain to the boaters how and what they can do to help a boat owner.

Many more projects to discuss at our board meeting March 13th. Our board meetings op en to the public. Do you have a problem or question on the lake. Lets discuss it at our board meeting. See you on the 13th.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS in 2011

April: Slough clean-up from Duncan Bridge /Rock Creek cancelled week-end of tornadoes. No power/Gas.
May: Our public meeting was at Lakeshore Marina and Inn. Alabama Water Watch gave a program, then election of Officers and Directors, one new director, Gloria Drinkard, replacing Larry, who requested replacement.
May: Contacted Corp of Engineers about large slide-in on Rock Creek.
June: Clean-up Duncan Bridge North and we used Bankhead’s Houston Recreational area for the take out of debris plus our picnic Saturday afternoon.
July: I met Casey Ehorn, project mgr. for Corp of Eng. and Pamela McDaniels, P.E for Al. Power , in Arley. Then we inspected the large slide-in on Rock Creek. Corp of Engineers can not help us.
SEPT: 2nd clean-up Duncan Bridge north and we Used Old Yellow Creek Marina site. All loose Styrofoam found north of Duncan Bridge removed.
Sept: Distributed approx. 1400 of Al. Power coloring books, a coloring book for every student from K thru 3rd grade in Winston County Schools.
OCT: class on importance of watersheds and water testing at the fawn program. This was for all 6th grade students in Winston County Schools.
Oct: Gave Civitians $500.00 to assist in Placement of Historical Sign in front of Meek Elementary School.
NOV: 2nd bacteria blitz on the lake. !st bacteria blitz was in April. There were a few test sites with above average bacteria count. 50 plus sites tested each time.
NOV: Signage on all named creeks/sloughs on a lake map of Smith Lake, in Winston County, will have a sign at it’s mouth with it’s name for boaters to see.
DEC: Rock Creek Watershed Management Plan meeting. The grant money allotted for this plan has already been allocated to interested property owners
Living in the Rock Creek Watershed who intend to improve a problem on their property, which will improve the waters of Rock Creek Watershed and Smith Lake.
There were 3 private clean-ups from the head waters of Rock and Crooked Creeks to Duncan Bridge and 1 clean-up on Brushy and Yellow Creeks.
Advocacy had a busy year with 15 sites tested every month, plus everything else we have accomplished this year, there is still much more to do,
but doesn’t the lake just look great.
Board meetings are the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 10:00 AM in Arley at the Traders and Farmers Bank.Public is always welcome, come tell us what is happening on your little bit of paradise, on Smith Lake.

Rock Creek Watershed Project Meeting on December 6th

Please join the Rock Creek Stakeholder Group for the upcoming Rock Creek Watershed Management Project meeting on Tuesday, December 6th at 6pm in Addison, Alabama at the Community Center. We will be discussing recent project activities and will also plan activities for 2012.

For more information please contact Mona S. Dominguez by email srs0013@auburn.edu or call (334) 844-9323.