Completed Projects 2011
August 20 - We had 16 Trout Unlimited members for our August 20 work project on the McCaslin Brook located upstream of Diamond Roof Rd in northern Oconto County. We installed two large brush bundles each over 100 feet in length that narrowed the stream channel. The TU crew cut and tied about 40 bundle in addition to 35 bundles from Forest Service Staff with Tom Moris cut before hand. After placing the bundles TU members then deepened the stream channel and secured the bundles by shoveling stream bottom materials onto them. We also refurbished a brush bundle from last year adding about 15 new bundles. Green Bay TU members present included: Mike Renish, Randy Rake, Pat Hill, Dennis Dugre, Paul Kruse, Bruce Duechert, Jon Duechert, Lee Meyers, Bill Holton, Dave Karcz, Dave Lieburn and Cletus Schmitt; Oconto Chapter members included Byron Dugre and Harold Zellmer; and Green Bay Chapter "Past President" Mitch Bent honored us with his presence.
August 6 - This workday was on Mary Creek, a headwater stream of the South Branch of the Oconto River, approximately 15 miles northwest of Mountain. This project was enjoyable and rewarding. For more information come to the TU Chapter booth at the Oconto County fair. We will include a display of the project.
July 16 - This project on Round Creek in Forest County at North Branch Lane was attended by 14 TU volunteers and Forestry Staff. The project was lead by Tom Moris of the USFS. We secured logs to the streambank and placed brush bundles at strategic stream bends. After placing the bundles, stream spoils (sand) were placed on top of the brush bundles to secure them in place and create a new stream bank. This process resulted in holes in the bottom of the stream (sand) that created pool habitat for trout.
This project improved stream flow and water currents making this section of the North Branch better for brook trout. We likely helped improve 1/4 mile of stream. One of the many highlites of the day was eating lunch at the KnotHole Restraunt with owner/waitress, Vicky. Stream projects always reward participants with a lumch and this one was particularly entertaining.
Round Creek has been degraded by past beaver activity and a low standard road crossing, which was recently upgraded, and now with the work done on the stream, will give the trout a fighting chance to recover.
Kneeling: Jeff Gross, Jim Trochta, Mark Green, Pat Hill.
Standing: John Trochta, Paul Kruse, Harold Zellmer, Bill Holton, Randy Rake, Lee Meyer, Matt Kahler, Tom Moris, Arron Johnson.
Taking the picture was Bridger Moris.
June 18 - The first project of 2011 took place on the 1st South Branch of the Oconto River. It was a continuation of the project started in 2010, but was accessed from the south. Access was from Whiffen Lane.
We were joined by the DNR Limited Term Employees. The LTE's, who are partially funded by donations from our chapter, supported the workday. This project involved log relocation, conifer placement and general channel improvement, similar to the efforts from last summer. This is a very nice section of stream that still has evidence of stream rehab work from 25 years ago.