Having collected a plentiful supply of evergreen boughs from local sources, we planned to do a combination of strategically places sweepers to:

1. Speed up flows in this “D” type channel to flush existing diatomaceous sediment through this section. It is one of the prime future spawning sites, with some groundwater discharge and adequate gravel substrate.
2. Assist in controlling erosion by placing the sweepers in strategic locations as deflectors on outside curves.
3. Measure the speed of flow before and after with multiple timed floating indicators to determine effectiveness of #’s 1 & 2.

We had 12 volunteers on site, including reporter Alice Guthrie of the Sachem News.

Operation:

12 “T” bars 4 ‘ long , were driven into stream banks near water level with aircraft cable & clamps securing the brush boughs. They were secured at levels to prevent wash up onto the bank. Flagging tape for future maintenance marked all units.

The flow rate tests were abandoned, since multiple alder growth at stream level prevented free flow of the indicators. The final test will be visual to see how much gravel substrate has been scoured over the next two weeks.

The volunteers were pleased with what we accomplished. Some newer volunteers were able to visit the area of DeCewsville source springs. A visit to landowner Bryan Vanderberg secured an additional supply of boughs for our continuing sweeper program this fall. 

A total of 40 volunteer hours were logged for preparation and execution of this project.

Bill Christmas.

Ted Knott Chapter, Trout Unlimited Canada