Official Statement from TVA
� Mud Creek is a heavily impacted watershed which is on the State of Alabama's "303d" list of impaired waters. This means that the water is polluted to such a degree that it does not meet certain water quality criteria for intended uses.
� Mud Creek is also currently one of only two watersheds adjacent to Guntersville Reservoir rated "poor" by TVA's Resource Stewardship program for low water quality conditions.
� The water quality problems are low dissolved oxygen and excessive sedimentation due to non-point source runoff related to land uses in the watershed.
� Removing the land from agricultural production and restoring wetland and upland habitat will eliminate agricultural run-off and improve water quality conditions in Mud Creek
� Wetlands act as "natures kidney" by filtering and holding sediment
and excess nutrients (e.g waste from cattle">
Official Statement from TVA
� Mud Creek is a heavily impacted watershed which is on the State of Alabama's "303d" list of impaired waters. This means that the water is polluted to such a degree that it does not meet certain water quality criteria for intended uses.
� Mud Creek is also currently one of only two watersheds adjacent to Guntersville Reservoir rated "poor" by TVA's Resource Stewardship program for low water quality conditions.
� The water quality problems are low dissolved oxygen and excessive sedimentation due to non-point source runoff related to land uses in the watershed.
� Removing the land from agricultural production and restoring wetland and upland habitat will eliminate agricultural run-off and improve water quality conditions in Mud Creek
� Wetlands act as "natures kidney" by filtering and holding sediment and excess nutrients (e.g waste from cattle, dirt washed off fields during rain, fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides); this results in improved water quality in Mud Creek and ultimately in the Tennessee River itself
� Restoring wetlands and uplands on the property will have the added benefit of increasing wildlife and waterfowl habitat in the area. Once the restoration project is complete, the land will be transferred to the state of Alabama for incorporation into the wildlife management areas/refuge system for public recreation and wildlife habitat benefits.
� TVA is working with AWA on this project because AWA has demonstrated a tremendous commitment to protecting, enhancing, and creating wetland habitat in Alabama.
� Alabama has lost over 50% of its original wetlands, thus this project and the involvement of AWA will help in long-term restoration of wetland functions in the region.
Kim Pilarski Wetland Biologist Tennessee Valley Authority
Official Statement Alabama Waterfowl Association
� This project will be an increase in habitat which is very timely since the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service is predicting a fall flight in excess of 100 million ducks. This exceeds the goals of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. This will be the largest fall flight of migrating ducks since the fifties. Alabama has lost many acres of habitat and farm acreage due to the rapid development in the Tennessee River Valley (TRV). This restoration project will provide more habitat and offset the loss.
� The migrating birds that winter and fly through the TRV depend on the planted food plots the sportsmen and wildlife managers provide, and the left over grain (corn, soybeans, and milo) from farmer's harvested fields. The waterfowl during the colder months they are in this area (December and January) depend on the grain to replenish their energy to endure the cold weather and for their journey back north in the spring. If the migratory birds are under nourished due to lack of habitat, or food source they do not reproduce as well. Ducks will feed in dry fields, but prefers flooded grain and natural wetland vegetation. Ducks digestive system requires them to have a lot of water to perform the digestive cycle.
� When AWA completes restoration this will create a filter bank, which will return many of the wetland functions to the land. Removing many of the pollutants, recharge the underground aquifers, and provide a net increase in local and migratory bird habitat in this area.
� This project took this acreage out of adverse development forever. A public water supply was completed a few days ago and is now available at this site. This would have made this land very desirable for residential or commercial development adding to urban sprawl.
� TVA and AWA are looking at the best use of this property to benefit the public. AWA will use this project as a conservation outreach tool, with a focal point on getting more youth, physically challenged people and minorities interested in conservation that benefits all people, fish, plants and wildlife.
� TVA and AWA by working together on this project, is providing a healthier environment, quality of life and multi-use recreational opportunities in the TRV, with the added benefit of providing wildlife habitat.
Jerry D. Davis, CEO
Whom should the people thank for this project? TVA, especially Mr. Ralph Jordan, Jr. (son of the late state of Alabama hero and Auburn's football coach, Ralph "Shug" Jordan), Ms. Kim Pilarski, Mr. Scott Atkins, all Alabama Waterfowl Association's members, Senator Richard Shelby, Governor Don Siegelman, State Representative John Robinson and Mr. Rick Kochevar.
Thanks to Scott Leysath, Donny Mack, and epechely Hustion Lensey.
Wetland and Waterfowl Restoration Project on Mud Creek
The Tennessee River Valley Watershed, according to the February 1999, issue of the National Geographic Magazine cited the Cumberland and Tennessee Valley as the world's most diverse temperate freshwater ecosystems. More and more non-point pollution is affecting our fresh water resource. The most important part of this proposal is that the filter banks, and other wetland functions that will be conducive to this proposal will contribute to overall water quality in our human environment.
The Tennessee River forms almost a horseshoe on its journey to empty into the Ohio River, and is the only river in North America that runs both north and south. The unique route of this river funnels migratory birds from both the Mississippi Flyway and the Atlantic Flyway. The migratory birds depend on this ecosystem as both a staging and over-wintering habitat. This is not to forget about all the plants, fish and animals that depend on this critical watershed year round.
In the United States we are losing habitat at a tremendous rate; in 1996 it was estimated that over 92 million acres was taken out of farm, forest and set-aside land and used for industrial, residential and road development. This is a huge increase from 1982 with 14.5 million acres lost in that year. Also, as more and more agriculture grains are being produced out of the United States, thus creating lower prices, these low grain prices compounded by decreased supplement payments in the 1996 Farm Bill is driving the U. S. family farmers out of business. These family farm operations are many times forced to sell the farm to developers, or subdividing land and selling to individual homebuilders to pay their debts; this is especially true in the Tennessee River Valley (TRV).
The neo-tropical migrating songbirds have declined over 40 percent or more. Habitat loss, especially areas of rapid urban development such as the TRV, are though to be the blame. This loss of habitat and grain production increases the problem of providing beneficial food source, habitat and wetlands. It is very important to have a good food and water resource in the fall to furnish the over-flying migrating birds habitat to replenish there energy for their journey on south. This is also true on their migration back north in the spring. If the migrating birds do not return to their breeding habitat in good condition, they do not reproduce as well. This is why it is so important to have cropped wetlands and water filter banks here in the TRV.
Many problems with pollution in the TRV are non-point and direct pollution from residential, commercial, and industrial developments along the river. One problem in particular is the waste disposal operation on the upper Mud Creek Watershed . Agriculture is also a contributing factor. This project will provide a filter bank to assist with removing some of the pollutant entering into the Mud Creek Reservior.
The site was once part of the William Key Reservation and belonged to the Cherokee Nation before the Cherokee were removed from this area in 1838. Most of the Cherokee were relocated to a reservation west of the Mississippi River on the removement known as the Trail of Tears. After restrotion of this project, eventurally this land will be turned over to the Game and Fish Division, of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and will be added to their Wildlife Management Areas.
The Alabama Waterfowl Association (AWA) would like to sincerely thank TVA for awarding the $250,000 grant to AWA for their proposal for the Mud Creek Watershed Restoration Project. TVA is a good steward of habitat here in the TRV, and provides the public with thousands of acres of multi-use recreation area in the TRV. This is just one of the reasons conservation and environmental groups should work to keep non-power funding for TVA to manage and oversee this important ecosystem.
For more information contact: Jerry D. Davis, CEO
First of all, AWA wants to say "THANKS" all of the hardworking volunteers who came out and helped; especially the Huntsville Chapter of Ducks Unlimited. Having DU and AWA working side-by-side helped create a jovial atmosphere. Both organizations were working toward one common goal, helping wetland conservation and maintaining waterfowl habitats. All but one of the objectives for the day were completed. We got the fence removed, installed two steel gates, and got all but one blind brushed. Even the Handicapped Blind is ready.
Now all is ready for the BIG OPENING DAY.
NEWS RELEASE September 20, 1999
AL/TN TRAIL OF TEARS CORRIDOR COMMITTEE
WINTER WHEAT FOR WILDLIFE FOODPLOTS WILL BE AVAILBLE IN AUGUST
Resource Management, Inc (RMI) and the Alabama Waterfowl Association (AWA) will again partner to provide winter wheat seed for shipping and handling cost to anyone who will plant this for wildlife foodplots. The seed will be available at most local Alabama Farmers Co-Ops in Alabama, Mobile-Baldwin Warehouse and Town and County Farm and Garden Supply in Scottsboro. This is AWA's fifth year to distribute these seeds and has resulted in over 200,000 acres being planted for wildlife in Alabama. Last year AWA distributed over 670,000 pounds of winter wheat. This is certified wheat and treated seed from Pioneer Hi-Bred International Seed Company. According to Mr. John Highsmith, Director of Crops with Alabama Farmers Co-Ops (AFC), stated "that 80 percent of the seeds the AFC distributed were planted south of Birmingham." This demonstrates that AWA has thousands of acres in south Alabama under development and enhancement. This is accomplished through a partnership with the private sector, thus creating and enhancing habitat at no expense to the taxpayers.
YOU CAN PICK-UP YOUR SEEDS AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:
(Call before you come!)
TOWN AND COUNTRY FARM AND GARDEN SUPPLY - SCOTTSBORO, AL
(256) 259-6777
ALABAMA FARMERS COOPERTIVE, INC.
(256) 353-6844 Ext. 346
MOBILE-BALDWIN WAREHOUSE IN MOBILE
(334) 457-9596
(CALL YOUR COUNTY CO-OP TO FIND OUT IF THE CO-OP IN YOUR AREA HANDLES THE AWA HABITAT SEED PROGRAM)
ANNUAL DUCK RELEASE
Saturday, July 10, 1999, AWA held its ANNUAL Duck Relese with ducks going all over Alabama. We had a passel of kids to help with this event and if not for them it would only have made more task for us GROWN-Ups to do, so THANKS TO ALL WHO HELPED. The banding took most of the morning but all the ducks got one band and were carried to their Mallard Stewardship Facility. The bands # Y2K 2000 and # Y2K 1999 will have a prize attached to them; so if you get one of this band #'s be sure to report it to us. The prizes will be announced at a later time. We also got great coverage from local and not-so-local Outdoors Shows. Donnie McElvoy from The Outdoor Advantage Show was there, along with some Out-Of-Towners from Chattanooga, BIG RIVER OUTDOORS. Check out these shows in the coming weeks and months for information on hunting on the great south.
At the Duck Release
The band # Y2K 1999
The band # Y2K 2000
