By Topf Wells
SWTU joined the Nohr Chapter and the DNR in our continuing work to clear willows and box elder along the upper reaches on Big Spring Creek. Doing so is the first step in the restoration of oaks and grasses. Beaver activity is one of the hottest topics in stream and wetland health. Along Big Spring, the many beavers and dams are probably doing more harm than good. Eliminating willow will move the beaver along to happier feeding grounds. We’re certainly improving access to what had been a popular part of the stream. In the section we worked on last year, the naturally occurring red oakshave prospered with the removal of competing willows.
The willows are so dense we used every piece of equipment the DNR or either chapter has: chainsaws, brush cutters, hand saws, loppers and, The Star of the Day, the new brush cutter SWTU purchased for the DNR. Holy moly, it chews up brush of surprising size and leaves an area well cleared. The DNR’s first use was to cut a path to the work site. That alone showed the machine will work wonders for the DNR crew that works on easements this winter.
Besides all the blades buzzing and clipping, we had to spray the cut willows assiduously. As Jim Hess reminds us, a willow cut and unsprayed this year becomes five willows next year.
Both efforts were tough, the cutting because of the building heat and the spraying because of the recent, rapid growth of the undergrowth. Stinging nettle is having a very good spring – one of the reasons gloves and long sleeves is a good idea.
We prevailed. At morning’s end we had cleared a section as big as last year and started work on the other side of the creek. The vegetation was so thick that we probably did not treat every willow stem; but I grade us at a solid A – maybe 98%.
The nature of the work had us scattered along the stream. When we re-grouped about 11.15 Justin Haglund, the DNR fish biologist, called the day with the heat becoming oppressive (at 12:20 in downtown Dodgeville the thermometers read 86 degrees; ouch). Dyan Lesnik then passed her rhubarb bars around. They are fabulous. I hope rhubarb is still in season on our last work day of the spring. Brownies, pork sticks, apples, pears and Jim’s ice cold well water put us on the road home in fine shape.
We had a great turnout of 20 folks with Nohr making a grand showing. Several Nohr and SWTU officers and board members were part of the crew. For SWTU’s part, Dyan and Wayne Griffin, her husband, are owed big thanks. They drove the trailer, cut and sprayed more than anyone, and those rhubarb bars. Wayne might be the day’s hero. When one of the DNR’s chainsaws died, Wayne hustled the brush cutter out of the trailer and took up any slack.
Our Jim Hess and Nohr’s Ted Swenson organized a complex work day wonderfully. Justin and the DNR crew had the site readily accessible and used some of the heavier equipment to great effect.
Photos courtesy Jim Beecher.
We Used Every Tool in the Tool Box
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Posted: June 11, 2024 by Drew Kasel
By Topf Wells
SWTU joined the Nohr Chapter and the DNR in our continuing work to clear willows and box elder along the upper reaches on Big Spring Creek. Doing so is the first step in the restoration of oaks and grasses. Beaver activity is one of the hottest topics in stream and wetland health. Along Big Spring, the many beavers and dams are probably doing more harm than good. Eliminating willow will move the beaver along to happier feeding grounds. We’re certainly improving access to what had been a popular part of the stream. In the section we worked on last year, the naturally occurring red oakshave prospered with the removal of competing willows.
The willows are so dense we used every piece of equipment the DNR or either chapter has: chainsaws, brush cutters, hand saws, loppers and, The Star of the Day, the new brush cutter SWTU purchased for the DNR. Holy moly, it chews up brush of surprising size and leaves an area well cleared. The DNR’s first use was to cut a path to the work site. That alone showed the machine will work wonders for the DNR crew that works on easements this winter.
Besides all the blades buzzing and clipping, we had to spray the cut willows assiduously. As Jim Hess reminds us, a willow cut and unsprayed this year becomes five willows next year.
Both efforts were tough, the cutting because of the building heat and the spraying because of the recent, rapid growth of the undergrowth. Stinging nettle is having a very good spring – one of the reasons gloves and long sleeves is a good idea.
We prevailed. At morning’s end we had cleared a section as big as last year and started work on the other side of the creek. The vegetation was so thick that we probably did not treat every willow stem; but I grade us at a solid A – maybe 98%.
The nature of the work had us scattered along the stream. When we re-grouped about 11.15 Justin Haglund, the DNR fish biologist, called the day with the heat becoming oppressive (at 12:20 in downtown Dodgeville the thermometers read 86 degrees; ouch). Dyan Lesnik then passed her rhubarb bars around. They are fabulous. I hope rhubarb is still in season on our last work day of the spring. Brownies, pork sticks, apples, pears and Jim’s ice cold well water put us on the road home in fine shape.
We had a great turnout of 20 folks with Nohr making a grand showing. Several Nohr and SWTU officers and board members were part of the crew. For SWTU’s part, Dyan and Wayne Griffin, her husband, are owed big thanks. They drove the trailer, cut and sprayed more than anyone, and those rhubarb bars. Wayne might be the day’s hero. When one of the DNR’s chainsaws died, Wayne hustled the brush cutter out of the trailer and took up any slack.
Our Jim Hess and Nohr’s Ted Swenson organized a complex work day wonderfully. Justin and the DNR crew had the site readily accessible and used some of the heavier equipment to great effect.
Photos courtesy Jim Beecher.
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