By Topf Wells

The weather, chainsaws, and brats were hot on Saturday morning at SWTU’s last workday of the spring season on the Rudd easement on Hefty Creek. Thankfully (and way to go, Marci Hess) the watermelon was cold.

Before the 20 or so volunteers got to the shade, brats, watermelon, and homemade rhubarb cake (another “way to go” to Dyan Lesnik), we had to install brush bundles in the creek to complement the DNR’s restoration. The DNR had not been able to operate their heavy equipment in this part of the easement.

We had new SWTU sawyers and one veteran had the biggest new chainsaw I’ve seen in a while. I’m wondering if he’s planning to cut redwoods on his vacation. Those folks and equipment were great. Guiding our efforts and working prodigiously himself was Vince Schmitz of the DNR Operations Crew that restored the stream. Vince’s knowledge, labor, patience, and good humor were vital to this successful day.

We had a good mix of sawyers, haulers, and in-stream installers. We used brush from previous workdays and made further use of the box elder and willow on site. We also used the new anchoring system we learned from the DNR at Smith Conley.  We finished one brush bundle and got pretty darn close to a second.  We’ll finish the work this fall when, I devoutly pray, it will not be 90 degrees.

No way around it, it was hot. We paced ourselves, drank lots of Jim’s mercifully cold well water, and made it to lunch.

Thank goodness because it was a fabulous lunch provided by the Rudds, Louis, their very handsome and mouse-eliminating cat, and Peaches, their adorable if muddy yellow Lab. Featured were April Prussia’s Italian brats, available at Mt. Horeb’s Farmer’s Market and well worth the trip.

This workday was held in honor of Dave Sanders. Dave held many positions in SWTU including President and Chair of the Icebreaker, for many years our major fundraiser.  His work was fundamental to the Chapter’s success for many years.  As important were the warmth and kindness with which he greeted and treated all of us whenever we saw him.  He died when COVID had disrupted our activities and communications.  We needed to celebrate his contributions to SWTU. Thanks to many past and current Presidents and Board Members who attended this day in his honor.

Other thanks go to Jim Kanvik, who wrestles the equipment trailer to each workday. Jim Beecher’s photographs provide a fun history of these days.

Most of all in all the thanks to this all star cast, huge gratitude and appreciation to Jim Hess, who organizes these days as our Conservation Committee Chair. He keeps these days varied, fun, productive and safe.  That takes more work than we know.

Thanks, Jim. And please take some time off and catch some fish. We’ll be waiting for the return of workdays in the fall. The late fall, when it’s cool and crisp.