By Topf Wells
Jim Hess called for lots of help for our final workday of the year on Smith Conley.  The job was big and little did we know how bitterly cold the day would dawn.

The day started like Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker ended,  Help came from all over the galaxy:  Four students active in Hoofers at UW Madison.  Justin Haglund, the fish biologist, and 5 DNR fish techs.  Our good friends from the Nohr Chapter.  And, of course, some great SWTU volunteers, both new faces and wizened veterans (handsome even with all the wizen-ness).  At least 32 folks assembled to face the box elders.

We had a new trick up our sleeve.  We cut selected box elders and then assisted the DNR in making two large brush bundles.  Justin is determined to restore a huge stretch of the stream– up to 6,000 ft. (as in over a mile) along two easements.  He’s keeping many of the box elders for now so the DNR can use excavators to use the whole trees in the restoration.

That  left plenty of trees to cut, trim, haul and then install in the creek.

Brush bundles are insatiable.  They devour amazing amounts of woody vegetation.  We worked hard to get the brush to and in the stream.  A couple of volunteers spent 3-4 hours in the creek working alongside Scott Harpold of the DNR to install the bundles.  We also learned a lot.  We’re back to the Sugar River in the spring for at least one more day of brush bundling.  We were reassured that we’re doing a great job but Jim now has a couple of improved techniques in mind.

We had chainsaws whirring, UTVs hauling, a gas-operated pounder pounding (bet that’s not the right name for that tool), and folks hauling.  Pretty darned exciting and warming too.

Justin has the brush bundles positioned so that the stream edge will focus the current to deepen the stream a bit and provide great habitat for small trout.  The DNR will shape the banks and cover the back end, stabilizing the banks and connecting the stream to the floodplain.

How cold?  Well the chocolate chip cookies, brownies, and pork sticks had started to freeze by the end of the day.  But those brush bundles gave us a real feeling of accomplishment.

Thanks to all but some extra gratitude goes to:

• Justin, Scott, Vince, and the rest of the DNR crew.  They worked hard and well and were friendly, instructive and patient.
• Our 4 Badgers (pictured here)!  Way to go;  We’re eager to help as they bring trout and fly fishing opportunities to UW through Hoofers.
• The Nohr Chapter, who continue to be great partners in our work on Smith Conley.
• Frank Griffin and Dyan Lesnik.  This wonderful SWTU couple has helped at several workdays.  They are regular volunteers for Vets on the Fly.  Frank spent 4.5 hours in the stream wedging brush into the mud.  Dyan spent the same amount of time on a slippery, muddy bank positioning the brush.  And she baked the chocolate chip cookies!
• Jim Hess. This might be the best and was certainly the most complex work day of the year.  Some fly designer in our Chapter needs to create a fly in Jim’s honor, to be used when the Smith Conley restoration is complete.  The workdays wouldn’t happen without Jim’s dedication, energy, and expertise.  We were all relieved when a log aimed for the brush bundle hit Jim’s hard hat instead of his head.

Jim has earned a rest and perhaps a couple of Tylenol.  But he promises a spring schedule of workdays as fun and productive as this fall’s.

Thanks to Jim Hess and Carol Murphy for the photos.