Onion River
On April 22, 2006, dedicated SEWTU volunteers traveled to the Waldo, Wisconsin, area to aid the Lakeshore Chapter of Trout Unlimited on an Earth Day workday on the Onion River. The Onion River is an extensively restored stream with water quality suffient to support a significant number of trout.
Fed by multiple natural, coldwater springs, the Onion River has been the target of awe inspiring restoration work by the Lakeshore Chapter of Trout Unlimited. The project, which has spanned several years, has restored multiple miles of water, and created a quality fishery and trout habitat. Much of the stream runs through well maintained woodlands.
Many area of the stream have had "Lunker Structures" installed. Lunker Structures are man-made wooden "shelves," which are placed into the water at a stream's bank, and then topped with rock lining. The effect is an artificial cut-bank, which provides cover, and a forage location, for trout. The structures also maintain a stream's bank, and prevent slumping, soil erosion, and deposition into the stream.
On April 22, 2006, SEWTU members joined Lakeshore members in removing branches, and other debris typical in a forest-lined stream from under installed Lunker Structures. Volunteers also aided in removing debris and vegetation which had fallen and/or otherwise grown into the river, obstructing streamflow.
The day was a success, and proved once again that SEWTU is capable of making a significant showing for workdays outside of its traditional "territory," and that when multiple TU chapters join forces, the conservation and restoration results can be impressive. Lakeshore, in a true show of goodwill, even provided an excellent Sheboygan Bratwurst lunch, and engraved Lakeshore tokens of appreciation to SEWTU volunteers.
