By Topf Wells

Jim Hess and Ted Swenson called for a big turnout of sawyers and haulers for our last ’24 work day. We needed everyone for the clumps of box elder lining Conley Lewis Creek upstream of its confluence with the Dodge Branch. Twenty one of us answered the call and we were joined by Jusitin Halgludn, DNR fish biologist, and his two techs.

We had about 8 or 10 experienced sawyers, which led to extraordinary productivity. The haulers were hauling ass to keep up. Conley Lewis now looks very different and much better.

Access will be much better. More importantly, instead of row crops on the edge of the stream, the easement from the stream edge outward will be planted in a mix of perennial grasses as directed by Justin. That cover will grow better without the box elders and will stabilize the stream banks and reduce runoff. As we now know, those row crops will not be contributing neonics to the stream. Let’s hope some Hendricksons are left to proliferate.

Most of us were veterans of work days and would agree, I think, that this was one of our most productive days.

SWTU and Nohr treated everyone pretty well. Nohr always raffles off a great collection of flies; the box today contained Tom Mulford caddis (please check my spelling) and Ted’s stoneflies. In the holiday spirit, SWTU offered Phil Anderson’s collection of early spring favorites. We had two extremely happy winners. Dyan outdid herself with her homemade (her Mom’s recipe) triple ginger cookies. Pork sticks and brownies contributed to the caloric replenishment of our hard working volunteers.

Included in the turnout were many officers and board members from SWTU and Nohr. Way to go and thanks. Most earnest and sincere thanks to Jim Hess, Ted Swenson, and Justin Haglund. These days require lots of planning and organization and those three provided it. They have to think of details that would easily escape most of us. An example: with that many sawyers we needed more spray bottles with which to treat the stumps. Jim made sure we had them.

Jim noted that every year he schedules the last work day of the year in early December with the need to avoid the gun deer season and the end of Badger football. Despite his concern over an early onslaught of winter, each December work day has had nearly perfect conditions, as did today. Now that Jim has mentioned and I’ve reported that, we’ll probably have a blizzard next year.

But that’s next year. Jim has earned several weeks off before he plans our spring work days and our most profound thanks for another great year of fun and work. These work days are one of SWTU’sbest activities and they simply would not happen without Jim’s dedication and expertise.

Dyan and Jim took a ton of great photos. Some are below and you can see them all in this online album.

Winter Work on Black Earth Creek

Kyle Olivencia just informed us that the DNR brushing crew has begun clearing the excessive brush along Black Earth Creek upstream of Scherbl Road. They’re scheduled for 5 days of brushing at that location. This is the crew that SWTU and other chapters in our area have supported for several years.