Good read for all the large woody debris fans out there

[C_kreek17]

'Chop and drop' tree felling aims to improve stream ecosystems in Pennsylvania

To the unknowing angler or backwoods explorer, stumbling onto the scene can be jarring: mature hardwood trees growing along the banks of high-quality streams, chain-sawed at their base and intentionally

www.bayjournal.com

 

[wildtrout2]

Thanks for sharing that. Some great info. I know TB will enjoy it.

 

[turkey]

Where's @JackM ? He majored in creative woods one semester.

 

[JackM]

I build a mean bench from streamside debris.

 

[troutbert]

In Oregon they sometimes winch the whole tree down, with root wads still attached. I think that would be much better than "chop and drop" because with the root wads still attached the tree would be much more likely to stay there rather than getting carried away in a flood.

A disadvantage to that would be that it would be a much slower process than chop and drop.

And someone involved in woody debris work said the DEP would not give them a permit to winch down trees roots and all because it created a soil disturbance. Trees that fall in a windstorm have the same type of soil disturbance.

 

[Wrestlecoach3]

We did a lot of this type of work when I was with the USFS in Idaho in the 80's on steelhead spawning streams. Created great plunge pools and "ladders" to get the spawners through shallow runs. Also washed the gravel for good spawning areas in the tailouts. These were small streams no more than 10' across. Amazing how far up those streams that the steelhead would go.