UTCWPC MEETING NOTES for June 10, 2010
The Upper Tallapoosa Clean
Water Partnership Committee met on Thursday, June 10, 2010, in Wedowee at
the Randolph County 911 Office Building. Attendees included Dawn Stevens,
ACWP Facilitator, Stephanie Kirby, APC, Susan Baldwin and Randy Kerr, NRCS,
Ryan Prince, Neal Joiner and Charlie Wise, Forestry Services, Floyd Davis, Tom Garland, Jack
Duncan, Bob Woolery, John Triplett, John Swann, Charles Smith and
Representative Richard Laird.
The attendees were welcomed
and we were pleased to have Representative Laird, and Messer’s Wise, Joiner and
Prince from Forestry Services for the first time. Representative Laird
complimented the LWPOA and the UTCWPC for their work to preserve water quality
and water quantity within the Upper Tallapoosa Watershed.
1. Bank Account:
Jack Duncan was elected the new
Treasurer of the UTCWPC, replacing D. J. Hammett,
long time member and Treasurer, who passed away April 8, 2010. The bank
account will be changed to show Jack Duncan
as the designated person for account transactions.
2. D. J. Hammett Memorial: Dawn
said she and Missy had worked with Mr. Hammett for ten years and wants to honor
his service in some way with a memorial. Susan Baldwin said the Wedowee Middle School has set aside funds for an
(educational) ecological pond and that we might be able to join them and
dedicate the project to Mr. Hammett. Dawn and Susan will investigate
the school project and the possibility of dedicating it to Mr. Hammett.
3. Administration:
Meeting schedule, meeting notes and the need for a secretary was
discussed. The committee agreed to meet at least once a quarter and that
meeting minutes or notes would be prepared and sent out within two weeks of the
meeting. Also, Missy Middlebrooks
was elected Secretary (in absentia). Sut Smith will work with Dawn to
establish a new committee email list. With the quarterly meetings, there
is a need to expand communication on project issues and meeting preparation
(not just during meetings).
4. Indian Creek
Reservoir: Sut Smith reported that 33 commenters
have provided questions and comments to the Corps of Engineers regarding the
application for a permit for the project. These comments have been turned
over to the Carroll County Water Authority to respond to each comment. It
was noted that the LWPOA provided a letter requesting that a minimum flow limit
be placed on water withdrawal for the Reservoir from the Little Tallapoosa
River (at Newell Gage) during low rainfall periods. Jack Duncan reported that the Indian Creek Reservoir
is only one of about 12 reservoirs around Atlanta
that are projected to be built in the future.
5. Martin
Relicensing Process: John Triplett
reported that the LWPOA met with APC representatives on June 8th and
received a good presentation on status of the relicensing process; all 22 of
the studies have been completed and are in process of being presented for
discussion. No firm decisions have been made to date. APC reported
that raising the Martin rule curve winter pool elevation would increase
downstream flooding. APC said that any rule curve changes from the
baseline could result in future legal action against APC, along with a
mitigation plan for damages to cover flooding damage. APC also said that
Harris Dam operation would remain the same and should not be affected by any
changes that might be made in Martin rule curve.
A meeting will be held in
September, 2010 to present studies affecting Martin rule curve. Jack Duncan encouraged stakeholders to attend this
meeting to show Lake
Wedowee interest.
6. Sixth Annual TRB
Watershed Conference: This
all-day conference was held in Alexander
City with an excellent
program and knowledgeable speakers. Topics ranged from legal rights for
water, tri-state water wars, Martin relicensing update, Indian River Reservoir
update, effects of nutrients on water quality, establishment of numeric
nutrient limits, ADEM water standards, along with panels for discussion of
pertinent water issues.
7. LWPOA Update:
John Triplett reported that he has
given a state of union report for the LWPOA in the recent Newsletter; and that
the summer picnic with be held on June 19th with a free meal, many
activities, music and fireworks. John issued a challenge to the UTCWPC
regarding why we exist and the need to focus on completing a few
priorities/tasks each year. He specifically listed sediment and erosion,
mandatory county-wide trash pick-up, material recycling, and commissioner workshops
which have been suggested to the RC Commission. It should be noted that
Dawn Stevens spoke to the RC Commission on workshops that were available but
the Commission has not provided any response.
8. LWPOA Water
Monitors: Jack Duncan
reported that his committee had a training day on June 5th to
certify monitors. Ten LWPOA monitors were trained in chemistry procedures
in the morning and several LWPOA monitors and 12 Haitians (through SIFAT) were
trained in bacteria procedure in the afternoon. Dr. Bill Deutsch, head of
the Alabama Water Watch, came and personally conducted the training
sessions! Jack Duncan
recommended that the UTCWPC purchase 200 sets of media, Petri dishes and
pipettes to be used in the bacteria monitoring of watershed streams. The
committee approved this purchase which will cost about $300.
9. Alabama
Power: Stephanie Kirby announced that the Renew Our Rivers clean up
campaign for Lake
Wedowee will be held the
week of September 29th.
10. Electronic
Recycling Day: Dawn reported that an electronic recycling day was
successful in Mobile
last April 23rd and that it would be a good project in
Wedowee! The committee discussed and agreed that this was a good project
and that it could be combined or coordinated with the Renew our Rivers clean-up
campaign. Electronic means anything like televisions, computers, etc.,
with an electric cord. Dawn will get the info on the electronic
recycler and Sut will help set up communication and dump stations.
11. Rain Barrel
Workshop: In lieu of exhibiting a rain barrel at the LWPOA picnic,
John will have rain barrel pamphlets available for interested parties.
12. Wolf Creek
Project: Randy Kerr reported that more interest is being expressed by
Wolf Creek land owners; two freezers were installed to store dead chickens
until a disposal group can remove them and several dry stack structures are
being planned
13. Next Meeting:
1:00 PM, Tuesday, October 12, 2010, Randolph County 911 office building
*A revised email list of
UTCWPC participants is being sent to Dawn under separate email.
Charles
Sut Smith
June 16, 2010