December Meeting Minutes
Please see the meeting minutes below
Heartland CISMA Steering Committee
meeting
Date: 2023-12-14
Members Present: Steve Richardson, Charles Browning, Cheryl Millett, Mary
(Polk County), Brooke Coulter, Mike Sowinski, Elysia Detrich, Shannon
Carnevale, Mike McMillian
Meetings/CISMA
Notes: Shannon Carnevale, Please let me know if I spelled your name incorrectly
OR if it’s wrong entirely
Round Robin Updates:
- Steve Richardson – Has been working out at Se7en wetlands less, recently. Enjoying
- retirement.
- Charlie (FWC) – Aquatic habitat restoration, invasive knowledge to aquatic
- Cheryl – FISP/FISC combination final meeting, look for Deb’s email and send to
- steering committee
- Mary – got natural areas license! Yay! Also, has been doing a lot of field work out at
- Circle B
- Brooke – year two of contract work on Circle B, Marshall Hampton, on a 5 yr RFP
- contract, with treatments starting; technicians are doing some work focusing on a
- specific site or small number – this is to help them focus on site restoration, trail
- maintenance etc. Brooke went to the Florida Wildlife Society conference in Cape
- Coral at end of April. Focus is on Invasive Species,
- Mike Sowinski – West Central projects have all been bid out. A lot have happened
- already, Colt Creek’s bid is done. Desoto County’s deep creek is done, too. Quotes
- are still coming in, no issues coming in.
- Elysia – contractors should be coming out soon, still working on 5-year plan for the
- area, hoping to have a draft ready. Heteropogan contortus/tanglehead, hoping for
- more information. Bio 2 position coming soon or already posted. New Regional
- Volunteer Coordinator: Jennifer Callaghan; workdays and such – email her.
Mike taking lead on Herbicide Fundamentals
- Highlands County: Highlands Hammock SP, Morgan is the contact.
Timing: August or October, Mike will figure out date
Send to the steering committee, CEUs cheat sheet for categories
Mike made contact – Morgan said August is good for him/the park. Mike,
Shannon and Brooke Tentatively set the date for the 14th of August,
pending confirmation of date with Morgan. - Okeechobee County? TBD
Cost: Inside Heartland CISMA, complimentary; outside charge nominal fee
Topics:
CORE topics; glyphosate, ALS Inhibitors, Herbicide drift; Application
Techniques – Mike
Herbicide Safety – Bryan Finder ( need someone else for other counties)
IFAS Assessment/Terminology/Lists – Shannon (OR NR agent in that
county, in other counties)
Herbicide Use and Invasive Plant Management on FFS Lands – Mona
Annual Workshop:
- Jill spent 5 years working on invasive reptiles, hands on experience and data.
Send last year’s evaluation report to everyone, again
link to public report: (Passcode: Heartland)
https://ufl.yul1.qualtrics.com/reports/public/dWZsLTY0MzU1ZTY1ZmUzYjN
mMDAwOGRjMGYxYy1VUl9hWTRrUGNqWWZSUVVURFQ= - Presentation slots to be assigned:
- Jill – invasive species (wildlife) ????
- Paul Abel – Restoration of areas ???
- Kristin – Eelgrass presentation from FWC ???
- Tracy Muzyczka – Volunteers management of rosary pea, success stories
for management??? - Luke Flory? Invasives and RX fire
2024 Chair: Brooke Coulter, Vice/Co: Mike Sowinski, On Deck: YOUR
NAME HERE!
2025 Chair: Mike Sowinski, Vice/Co: YOUR NAME HERE!, On Deck:
WHO’s NEXT?
2026 Chair: YOUR NAME HERE!, Vice/co: WHO’s NEXT?, On Deck: ???
Contact Mike Sowinski to sign up for the rotation! Or, nominate
someone who has been on the steering committee for awhile! 🙂
Send out Jan 19 at 10 AM for Herbicide Fundamentals logistics meeting;
steering committee.
