Camp Creek
On Saturday, May 19, 2007, a crew of over 70 volunteers, from no less than 7 TU Chapters, from two states (SEWTU, Ocooch Creeks, Blackhawk, Southern Wisconsin, Gary Borger (IL), Wild Rivers, and the Lakeshore Chapters) turned out the banks of Camp Creek outside Viola, Wisconsin, to construct 93 LUNKER structures in approximately five hours of worktime. The workday received incredible support from Richland County Land Conservation, and project head Ken Anderson (a Technician with RCLCD), as well as the entire Anderson family and their beef operation in conjunction with the Richland County Beef Co-Op. Incredible support was also received from George Smith and his family (the landowners involved in this project), and S&S Cycle. Additionally, a great deal of logistic and preparation support was received from SETWU Chapter Member Ray Weiss, and his company, Max Weiss Steel. As always, the Blackhawk Chapter is owed an incredible debt of gratitude as well for their provision of tools and supplies, as well as their instructive work to start the workday. SEWTU's project leader was Henry Koltz.
All volunteers are owed an exceptional debt of gratitude for helping SEWTU and OCCTU make this workday a reality.
This workday was part of the SEWTU/Ocooch Creeks joint 2007-2008 TUDARE (Trout Unlimited Driftless Restoration Effort) project, "The Smith Family Project at Camp Creek." This project will see nearly 1 mile of a heavily sediment-impaired stretch of Camp Creek restored. The restoration will involve bank shaping (in order to reestablish the stream's flood plain), and the installation of bank stabilization structures (such as rip rap, cross channel logs, boulder retards, root wads, and the LUNKER structures which we constructed) in order to maintain the stream's bank stability.
This project generated a huge amount of volunteer hours, was the coming together of multiple TU Chapters and other conservation and stewardship minded individuals from across not only Wisconsin, but from Illinois as well, and was a great example of how truly amazing Midwesterners can be when given the chance to help their communities. In addition to enjoying a fine lunch, workers also had the chance to enjoy some exceptional driftless area fishing after the workday, and to make some new friends from the many other chapters represented.
Camp Creek was a fine example of how TU can pull its many chapters together in order to accomplish something good for Wisconsin's coldwater resources.
