Volume 13, Number 2

April – June 2009

Our Best “People Person” is Retiring! Unfortunately, this is the last Current Events newsletter that Jim Ahlert, our Region IV Stream Team Coordinator, will be submitting, at least in his current position. Jim is retiring from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) after 37 years with the state. Steve Filipek, Jim’s supervisor, stated that no one is going to miss Jim more than him, in that he has been fortunate enough to learn from Jim over the years. Jim started out as a fish management biologist with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, and has worked in several fisheries districts around the state, mainly in West Central Arkansas District VIII and Western Arkansas District IX. Jim sampled the fish populations in those areas, in order that the fisheries would be healthy and the public would be able to enjoy themselves fishing in the Natural State. Jim joined the Arkansas Stream Team Program several years ago and brought with him not only a wealth of knowledge, on stream and lake fisheries, but also a wealth of experience on how to work with the public, including anglers, landowners, hunters, and just about anyone who asked questions about our natural resources. For those reasons, Steve says, Jim was one of the Stream Team’s best “people persons,” and was adept at keeping people at ease, while explaining to them about stream remediation or habitat improvement, or what would help them keep their land in good shape. This, in addition, would keep the adjacent waterbody in good shape, as well. AGFC and others had a big retirement ‘hoopla’ at Lake Dardanelle State Park, recently, and more than 80 people attended…testament to how well Jim is liked and respected. After

Current Events

The Newsletter of the Arkansas Stream Team

Jim Ahlert Stream Team Coordinator

Region IV

2 some great BBQ, from a place Bob Limbird (District IX Fisheries Supervisor) knew about, and cake, etc. , Jim received a variety of gifts from a variety of people. After Jim showed everyone just how tough and shatter-proof “I-Phones” are, there were all kinds of stories told about Jim (some of which we can’t print here)…and then we watched one of the best people we have ever known say “Bye” to the AGFC, from an official standpoint. We all wish him the best and look for him down by the water’s edge when he’s not fixing something at home for Sandi.

The Arkansas Resource Education Fishing Derby was held in Clarksville for the fourth year. Usually the fishing derby is held on Spadra Creek (which is in downtown Clarksville) but, due to high water, the derby was moved to Cline Park. The Johnson County Conservation District, with the assistance of many volunteers, sponsors the derby. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission provides the fish for the derby, and this year the fish were biting very well. Almost all the students were able to catch at least one fish. The event is geared towards fifth grade students from the Clarksville area, and 200 students and their teachers took part this year. In addition to the fishing derby, the students took turns shooting B-B guns in a controlled environment, learning about bears and how they are (when necessary) trapped humanely, and animal fur identification. The kids were also given safety tips from a local police officer, and taught how to identify different trees through observation of their leaves and bark. This spring I attended the Ozark Summit Conference in Eureka Springs for a couple of days. It was a good meeting with a lot of good presentations relating to the environment and the impacts we have on it.

News from Region IV (Ouachita Mountains and Arkansas River Valley) Stream Team Coordinator, Jim Ahlert…

I assisted with the construction and renovation of two electrofishing boats for two of our fisheries biologists. Before joining the Stream Team Program, I gained a lot of experience in constructing electrofishing boats during my many years as a fisheries biologist.

Large Stacked Rock, Little Red River

3 Several site visits were made with landowners who requested help with their erosion problems. Site visits were made on the Little Red River in Cleburne County, Little Maumelle River in Pulaski County, and Short Mountain Creek (near Paris) in Logan County. I also met with an official from the city of Greenwood, and toured several sites on the streams that run through the town. The city is interested in adding structures to some areas on their streams, such as Newbury Riffles. Newbury Riffles were used on Spadra Creek, in downtown Clarksville, and a story on this project was depicted in City and Town Magazine.

Three streambank renovation projects were completed during this quarter. One project was completed on the Little Red River, near Heber Springs, where we utilized large rocks to repair an eroded bank. The other two projects were stream crossings that were placed on Fall Creek, in Crawford County.

This will be my last newsletter as your Stream Team Coordinator in Region IV. I will be retiring from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, at the end of June, after 37-plus years of service. I have truly enjoyed my time with the Stream Team Program and all the volunteers and organizations I have had the privilege to work with. Keep up the good work that the Stream Team Program is noted for!

The stream crossings are part of the Buckhorn OHV (off-highway vehicle) Trail that is located in the Ozark National Forest. Fall Creek is a tributary of Lee Creek. Lee Creek is dammed on the lower end to create a water supply reservoir for the city of Fort Smith. The U.S. Forest Service requested our assistance in designing the crossings, to help minimize the impact on the stream from OHV trail traffic. We used large, flat rocks to build the crossing, and attempted to create structures that resembled bedrock. Due to the remoteness of the crossings, we used material already on-hand at the site. We did, however, use concrete planks on the streambanks to help minimize erosion, which can occur after the OHV vehicles exit the water. Upper Fall Creek Crossing

Lower Fall Creek Crossing

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The second quarter of 2009 has been a productive time in Region II for the Stream Team Program. Litter pickups, water quality monitoring, streambank stabilization projects, and habitat projects have been going ‘hot and heavy.’ Now that summer is here, emphasis is on the HOT, indeed! The White County Homeschool Stream Team led another productive litter pickup, and worked around the Gin Creek area, near Searcy. They accumulated over 25 bags of debris and, once again, found many interesting, but unsightly, articles of junk in this scenic waterway: bicycles, tires, a STOP sign, and a toilet lid…just to name a few! We commend this team for really making a difference in their neck-of-the-woods, and encourage others to take their teams to their respective streams and do their part to keep our streams in a Natural State.

The Cabot Ecology Club performed water quality testing on Big Creek, in Cleburne County. They are amassing an incredible set of data, for future reference, so that long-term monitoring efforts will have a well-established baseline to compare future testing results. These outings are not purely academic in nature, but rather reinforce concepts taught in the classroom to these real-world data collection sites, which may have an impact on how specific water bodies are changing or maintaining their overall biotic health. The activities relating to natural gas exploration in this area will prove helpful, as well as the Best Management Practices (BMP’s), which are being implemented on gas production sites, in helping to maintain good water quality standards. The testing that the Cabot Ecology Club and others do are assisting us and other agencies to determine if these BMP’s are effective.

News from Region II (Delta) Stream Team Coordinator, Stephen O’Neal…

The White County Homeschool Stream Team removes debris from the Gin Creek area in Searcy.

Peering into a pan of aquatic invertebrates, a whole new world unfolded for many students as they realize how diverse the biological system is in what used to be simply “a creek.”

5 The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) EXPO, held at Lake Sylvia earlier this year, had a tremendous turnout of fifth graders from throughout central Arkansas. During the course of three days, kids were taught how to fish (and caught many), learn about deer, archery safety, bear management, the AGFC K-9 units, freshwater mussels, crayfish, and a myriad of other biological stations, as well. A couple thousand fifth graders rolling through the area sure got their fill of what AGFC has to offer. All divisions in the agency were represented, and lots of smiles were proof to the success of the event.

Work continues on the Jed Scott property in northeast Arkansas where rock vanes are being installed, along with habitat slabs, in the newly created fast current. The bank will be sloped, seeded, and erosion controlled. The riparian area adjacent to the river will be revegetated this winter, to restore the filtering capacity of the zone, and to create terrestrial habitat for quail, deer, songbirds and turkey, as well as many other riparian area species. The Teacher Conservation Workshop held in Monticello was a success, even on a VERY HOT field day that was spent in the Saline River performing macroinvertebrate samples and water chemistry analysis for these above-and-beyond teachers. They will take the knowledge obtained in the workshop back to their respective classrooms, in that they can get their students involved in these hands-on, practical, application-based techniques used to monitor the health of our state’s waterways.

The smile tells the story! The AGFC EXPO was certainly a hit at Lake Sylvia.

Some brave teachers get their feet wet as they apply the principles of performing macroinvertebrate sampling techniques.

6 The survey for the State Wildlife Grant Project, to provide Ozark Hellbender habitat in conjunction with a riparian area restoration and alternative cattle watering facility, is completed now. Plans are to begin groundbreaking on that project during the next quarter of the year. STAY TUNED—exciting things are happening in this area, and all over the state, thanks to you “Stream Teamers” who are willing to get out there and get your feet wet!

Occasionally, the survey work is rough! Seriously, a whitewater raft is not the surveyor’s weapon of choice---it is usually a laser level and survey staff.

News from Region III (Gulf Coastal Plain) Stream Team Coordinator, Andy Turner...

School is out, summer is here, and it’s a great time to get involved in Stream Team activities. April and May brought the region plenty of rain, causing the Ouachita River to top its banks. While the high water postponed several Stream Team activities, there was still plenty of work to be done. The Smackover School Stream Team spent two days with me on Holmes Creek, in Union County, learning about the importance of having a clean stream and how changes in water quality can affect the “critters” that call the stream home. As you can see (see below picture) we had an excellent time catching and learning about all the bugs and fish that live in the stream. We sampled a section of Holmes Creek that was fairly free of human disturbance, and a nearby section that has been channelized and receives runoff from the city of Smackover.

Andy Turner Stream Team Coordinator

Region III

7 The students observed that the channelized section had fewer species of bugs and fish when compared to the undisturbed section. The species found in the disturbed section were also those that are tolerant of pollution, while the undisturbed section contained many species that are sensitive to pollution. The students witnessed first-hand how water quality affects a stream’s biotic community, and how the aquatic species living in the stream can be used to assess stream health.

I also presented the Stream Team’s ‘Excellence in Education’ award to Mrs. Lora Hicks and the Hampton School Stream Team. Mrs. Hicks is an active and valued Stream Team leader, and we greatly appreciate the enthusiasm she and her students bring to the Stream Team Program. This award is not given out lightly, as Mrs. Hicks was chosen from a pool of 700-plus Stream Teams. Congratulations to the Hampton Stream Team, and I look forward to continuing to work with this group in the future!

Smackover “Streamers” having fun on Holmes Creek.

The Lake Saracen bank stabilization project is nearing completion. Lake Saracen, in Pine Bluff, was suffering from massive bank erosion (See picture “A” on next page) which was adding excessive sediments to the lake, limiting fishing access, threatening to erode part of a nearby park, and was very unsightly. In Picture “A” you can see a fence on the top of the shoreline bordered by a public walkway. Erosion has moved the shoreline up to the fence and, in some places, both the fence and parts of the walkway have fallen into the lake. With the cooperation of the city of Pine Bluff, a plan to remedy the problems associated with erosion was developed and construction began on May 10, 2009. CLM Energy Services was contracted to complete the work and, even though they were hampered by near constant rainfall, the majority of the project is completed.

Lora Hicks receiving the Stream Team’s ‘Excellence in Education’ award.

8 The first step in addressing the erosion of steep vertical banks, like those seen on the Lake Saracen shoreline, is to slope the banks back (Picture B) to reduce the instability of the bank and provide an area for vegetation to grow. Rock is then placed where the vertical bank meets the horizontal lake bed (which is termed the “toe”) to ensure that the shoreline will not start eroding from the base (Picture C). Now, all that is left is to plant trees and bushes along the new shoreline to ensure that there is no further erosion. Erosion problems within the project area are now a thing of the past. Future visitors will enjoy increased fishing access, reduced sedimentation in the lake, and a stable shoreline that is no longer encroaching on the public park.

A. Before B. Mid-Construction C. Current

News from Region I (Ozark Highlands and Boston

Mtns.) Stream Team Coordinator, Dave Evans…

Lake Saracen - view of the construction area.

The news from Region I Stream Team Coordinator, Dave Evans, is omitted this quarter, due to his being on vacation.

EAGLE OR BUST By: Lesley Cooper

(Submitted by Steve Filipek) Some Eagle projects are more of a challenge than others. Cory Cooper’s project was one of those challenging projects, not just because of the scope of the project, but because of the weather. May 2, 2009 was the scheduled day for the project. But May had record rainfall for Arkansas and Cory’s project paid the price. During short breaks between lightening bursts and intense downpours, the project was partially completed. Mr. Steve Filipek with the AR Game and Fish’s Stream Team assisted Cory with his project which involved dealing with an erosion problem behind the Christian Life Center at St. James United Methodist Church in Little Rock, re-routing a man-made stream to flow properly into the culvert in the front of the building and cleaning up debris and trash that had been dumped on the site. The project was completed on May 23 and Cory would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who helped out. It was quite an ambitious project but well worth all the work. The erosion issue was dealt with by putting down grass seed, covering that with coconut mat and staking it down. The mat allows the grass to grow through it while holding the soil in place. Wattle, a long, worm-like bundle of hay, was staked into place further back along the tree line to prevent water from rushing forward. Large trees that had fallen near the front of the property were removed and put in place near the curb after shallow trenches were dug to accommodate them. This technique was also used on the hill directly behind the building to contain the erosion problem there. The second part of the project involved removing sludge from the existing sewer pipe on the property and building a spillway out of rocks found on the property to force the water in a new direction. Water was flowing over the sidewalk in front of the building instead of into the proper area for evacuation to the sewer system. Finally, debris was removed, including a great amount of yard waste that someone had dumped on the property. The project was a huge success and a special thanks goes out to Steve Filipek and the Stream Team for their donation of $1,500 worth of materials for the project and Mr. Filipek’s expertise and assistance. If you get a chance, check out the project. It is another Eagle project for Troop 395 that will give back to the community for years to come.

Steve Filipek with Cory.. Scouts rolling the trees into place.

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For those reading a Stream Team newsletter for the first time, Stream Teams are groups of citizens from 6 years old to 96+ who care enough about Arkansas’ water resources to form or join a team and adopt a stream or other water body in the state for the purpose of keeping it clean and healthy. Started in 1996, there are now over 500 Stream Teams statewide that carry out a variety of activities in the quest of keeping our state’s water more natural. These teams conduct litter pickups, repair eroding streambanks on willing owners’ land, plant trees to restore degraded riparian areas, work with local leaders to better manage their watersheds, and a variety of other activities aimed at conserving one of the most valuable of Arkansas’ natural resources, its water. Anyone out there who hasn’t already joined this winning team and is interested in joining the Stream Team, or learning more about this grassroots way to conserve our state’s water resources, can contact Steve Filipek at the AGFC (501) 223-6371, or e-mail him at sfilipek@agfc.state.ar.us. There is no cost to join. Classes on how streams work, what animals live in and around them, and how a healthy stream functions, are offered each year at a reasonable rate.

NEWSLETTER AVAILABLE VIA E-MAIL. In an effort to conserve resources, Stream Team members with current e-mail addresses were notified of the option to receive the newsletter via e-mail. If you have not received an e-mail notification and would like to receive the newsletter via e-mail, please notify Steve Filipek at sfilipek@agfc.state.ar.us, or at (501) 223-6371. ►NEWSLETTER UPDATE: Easier access (a direct link) to the Stream Team Newsletter has been made available on the Internet: http://www.agfc.com/streamteam

HAS ANYTHING CHANGED? Please let us know if your address, phone numbers or e-mail information has changed.

Name: _____________________________________________________________________ Address: ___________________________________________________________________ City, State, and Zip Code: ______________________________________________________ Home Phone: ________________________ Work Phone: ____________________________

E-Mail: ___________________________________________

Mail to: Stream Team Coordinator (OR) E-Mail to: sfilipek@agfc.state.ar.us 2 Natural Resources Drive Little Rock, AR 72205

11Stream Team Name: ________________________________ Activity Sheet Stream Team #: ____________

Acti ities v Date County Stream Name

Basin Miles of River Covered

Project description; please give as much detail as you can about your acti y such as location (e.g.

3 miles upstream from Hwy 63 bridge). Also include facts about the project not covered on far left (e.g. the first litter pickup ever conducted on

Dry Fork Creek), etc. o help us include it in newsletter.

vit# f O

Volunteers Projec tDuration

(# Hours)

Measurement (#of…)

Conducted Inventory

#Inventories

Attended/Conducted Workshop

#Attendees

Held Meeting on Stream Team Subject

#Attendees

Wrote article/contact with media on ST issue

#article/interviews

Wrote letter in support of ST issue

#Letters

Held Litter Pickup

#Bags or p/u Loads

Monitored/assessed Water Quality

#Trips

Participated in other Agency Projects

#Events

Planted trees, stabilized banks or

other stream improvements

#Trees or Stream bank Events

Storm Drain Stencil Project

#Drains Stenciled

Sponsored display at fair, mall, etc.

#Events

Presentation at local state or Federal Gov’t

meeting/hearing

#Presentations

River Watch

# Hours

ST Association Activities

# Hours

Education Project

# Events

Greenway Development

# Projects

OTHER (Describe)

The Process of becoming a STREAM TEAM…

TO:

1. Express an interest and request more information: Send your name, address, and phone number to: STREAM TEAM PROGRAM COORDINATOR Arkansas Game and Fish Commission 2 Natural Resources Drive Little Rock, AR 72205 2. Sign up. You will get the newsletter and be counted among Arkansas’ STREAM TEAM members. This will also get you in the network of those wanting to help out Arkansas’ waterways. 3. Adopt a stream. To become more involved in the program you can adopt a stream. Select a stream that you or your group are particularly concerned about. For example…the creek on your land, your favorite fishing hole, or the stream you drive over every day to work or school.

A. Inventory your stream with help from STREAM TEAM coordinators. B. Decide what you want to do---trash pickup, habitat improvement, water quality monitoring, and/or whatever is of interest to you!

Steve Filipek/Debra Dickson Stream Team News Editors Arkansas Game and Fish Commission 2 Natural Resources Drive Little Rock, AR 72205