Reaching Out: Notes from NANFA's Regional Outreach Program - First Half 2012

By Michael Wolfe
NANFA Regional Outreach Program Coordinator

As of today we have 26 Regional Representatives covering 25 states.  Most of our Reps (as is our membership) are located in the eastern part of the U.S., but the one new rep we added in the second quarter is in New Mexico (welcome to Joe Franke), so we are growing in the right direction.  See some of the highlights submitted by reps from their regions:

Florida (Charlie Nunziata):

At the recent American Killifish Association convention, two members of the regional group presented a workshop on collecting in Florida and Alabama with an emphasis on the work and goals of NANFA. In addition, a small NANFA membership display was set up in the general show area.  We also have upcoming trips planned to the western Florida panhandle and Mobile Bay, AL, and a second trip to the Homestead area to survey exotics in southeast Florida. Data from both trips will augment the next update of the Florida Collecting Guide, a publication produced by the regional group with all profits donated to the NANFA general fund.

Georgia (Michael Wolfe):

We had a busy April, with an event almost every weekend.  Six NANFAs helped with the Reinhardt University Bioblitz capturing and sharing fishes with the students as part of a larger event put on by Dr. Zach Felix.  Next, we had a stream side display tank and helped with the Rivers Alive trash pickup on the Apalachee River.  And we ended the month with another trash pickup on John’s Creek which has provided us with some future opportunities for outreach.  Later in the summer, a group of us went snorkeling the Etowah River, near the site of the first American gold rush.  We found mineral gold and the Bronze Darter along with the endemic and protected Etowah Darter, both at their type localities.  More has happened already in July and planned for August, but that can wait for our next report.

Indiana (Mike Berg):

Provided information on NANFA at the annual HOW (Hoosier Outdoor Writers) Conference, May 4-6, 2012. My brother, Tom Berg (The executive director of HOW) made sure our pamphlets were available to all that needed them.  In June, I set up an outing for Southern Indiana with the help of Dr. Jim Wetzel & PJ Arant.  We sampled the Blue River & Patoka Wildlife Area. It was a good trip, and even though it was extremely hot, we encountered a lot of diversity, including what might be an un-described Crayfish according to Dr. Jim Wetzel. The water level was extremely low, but with the help of beaver dams we found the second place to try. I was amazed by the number of Grass Pickerel in this area; have never seen dozens at the same time before.

Kentucky (Josh Blaylock):

I started http://www.kycreeks.com in the fall of last year as a website focused on common KY fish with basic information that was easy to locate and to promote NANFA. Recently I was contacted by an intern at the Louisville Nature Center that wanted to start a native fish display.  I helped him with the setup and directed him to NANFA and with help from the people on the NANFA forum the tank was setup and ready for fish.  I was fortunate enough to take Andy Frink & Gus Thomas out for a day collecting to get fish for the display tank at the nature center.  We had an amazing trip to the upper Green River and the Middle Cumberland.  I've been excited about the increased number of new people that are from Kentucky.  Thanks to the amazing posters from Charlie Nunziata I will be setting up a NANFA display at the annual 'Clean the Green' in August with posters, display aquarium, and flyers.

Minnesota (Jenny Kruckenberg):

We took three darter hunts in May and conditions were challenging, not because of the cold, but because we had large amounts of rainfall off and on all month.   When all was said and done, we surpassed an all-time record! (For a full account of Jenny’s Darter Hunt see American Currents Vol. 37, No. 2)  In June, Konrad Schmidt and I helped with the fish portion of the ninth annual Bioblitz at the Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve in northern Anoka County.  After hauling in trap and minnow nets, we seined for minnows.  We totaled up 17 species of fishes and several aquatic invertebrates.  Check out these links for informationon the Bioblitz, http://www.cedarcreek.umn.edu and http://www.bellmuseum.umn.edu/Researchand Teaching/Bioblitz/index.htm  We set up an aquarium and several kritter keepers in the visitor center accompanied by NANFA and Minnesota Aquarium Society literature. 

Missouri (Bob Hrabik):

I put out a call to all Missouri NANFA members to have a meeting, get to know one another, and begin to lay the foundation for a strong Missouri NANFA Chapter.  Although we have not had a meeting yet, there was a positive development regarding native fishes in Missouri and NANFA participation.  The George Owens Nature Park in Independence, MO, is interested in setting up a 150-gallon aquarium that will emphasize native fishes.  The Nature Park is in the middle of a renovation and is looking to do something a little different.  They were directed to me through another NANFA member,  Jason Dattilo.  We had a nice chat about his vision and how to get started in keeping native fishes for public display.  We are planning to meet later this summer and do some field collecting.  In the meantime, he will be learning about native Missouri fishes and keeping natives in aquaria. I pointed him to the NANFA web page and told him about the NANFA members who are quite good at keeping and raising native fishes.

Ohio (Matt DeLaVega): 

We had a very busy spring and recently got out electrofishing with Brian Zimmerman to confirm that Lake Chubsuckers were still present in Jackson Lake. They were, which is good news due to their status. I have also hit the Little Miami, and confirmed that the local mountain madtom populations are still doing well. Went jugging on the Little Miami one night with NANFAn Tony Branham and caught Flathead Catfish, a Snapping Turtle, and a Spiny Softshell Turtle. Also recently stocked fourteen 1-6 pound Bowfin in my pond with hopes of a good spawn next year. Went down to Kentucky, and met Josh Blaylock, and sampled. The highlights were Cumberland Plateau Darter (formerly Kentucky Arrow darter), Gilt, Channel, Tippecanoe, and variegate darters, and one Ohio Lamprey. Also I am busy working with Josh, and others planning the 2013 Kentucky convention.

Oklahoma (Brandon Brown):

Maybe the biggest contribution we've made to outreach is a two page article on "Weird Fish Of Oklahoma", which is currently featured in the Oklahoma 2012 fishing regulations (thanks again to Nate Tessler for photos).  Also, we've contributed material to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife's website on stream fish.  I am working to get NANFA’s contribution to the website recognized with our name or logo.  Also, we conducted two video presentations on native fish at Oklahoma State University (with three NANFA members in attendance) and provided tissue samples from a disjunct Southern Redbelly Dace population for a grad student's PhD project on dace genetics.  We've also continued developing our Oklahoma native fish outreach poster (thanks again Todd Crail for the idea and graphics) and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife has agreed to print an additional 1,000 copies (NANFA's contribution is clearly recognized on the poster).  In addition we've begun work on a native fish display for the upcoming Oklahoma Wildlife EXPO.

South Carolina (Dustin Smith):

During a recent outing, we found the Seminole Killifish in Lake Marion, South Carolina.  After further research we discovered that this species is now established in the lake probably due to bait bucket release.  This fish has also been taken multiple times by Department of Natural Resources surveys and local fishermen.  We also led the Riverbanks Zoo staff to the mountains to collect Fieryblack and Yellowfin Shiners, Rosyside Dace, and Rosyface Chub for their new trout stream exhibit. We also witnessed both Redlip and Yellowfin Shiners in breeding masses just a couple weeks apart but sadly no photos since I didn’t have an underwater camera. We hope to get good photos this coming spring to share.  

Tennessee (Casper Cox):

This spring, I presented my “The Fishes of South Chickamauga Creek” slide and video show to the South Chickamauga Creek Greenway Alliance's members. Jeff Basinger of Freshwaters Illustrated and NANFA's Lance Merry were also in attendance.  Later in the summer, I organized and offered an open invitation for all NANFA members to the annual Cement Pond Pool Party and Tennessee Free Fishing 3 Day Weekend. In attendance were Charles Avennego, Rolf Wilhelm, Ranger Bob & Betsy Culler, Lisa Gyure and her friend Eli. Information and photos of the event are posted on the NANFA Forum under South activities.  Recently I presented “The Fishes of South Chickamauga Creek” slide and video show at Audubon Acres to about 35 folks.  Also produced and uploaded an account of the 2011 Virginia Convention on the NANFA Members Photo Gallery and finished the design and production of the official convention T-shirt for the 2012 Ohio Convention.

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