By Topf Wells

The first was on Earth Day, 4/22. About a dozen of us joined with Justin Haglund’s great DNR crew to help the 4th and 5th graders of Hollandale plant oak trees along Gordon Creek. The 50 students made quick work of the 16 oaks. Thanks to the kids with some assistance from us, the DNR, and some hard working teachers, the trees are planted, watered, mulched and fenced– off to a great start. Their reward was bags of cookies and, even better, an electro shocking of the stream by the DNR. All the kids got to see brown trout, white suckers, and mottled sculpin. And they got to touch some; the kids were entranced. And heaps of fun to be around; they were engaged, hard working, enthusiastic, attentive and supportive of one another. The parents of Hollandale, Blanchardville, and surrounding environs can be proud of their kids.

The DNR and SWTU folks who arrived early knew the shocking would go well. We were treated to a 15 minute, intense caddis hatch. Bugs popping and trout rocking and rolling.

The trees should help keep the stream cool and the trout healthy.

One of the kids told one of our members: “I thought this day was going to suck but it was fun.” High praise from a 5th grader.

Thanks to Jim Hess for organizing the day and writing the grant that funded the trees, fencing, etc. and to Justin and crew for auguring the holes and surveying the stream. Chris Rogers, the principal, gave us permission and arranged many key details (like the bus). Bill Smith, the landowner helped with the kids and had repaired a footbridge so the kids did not have to use the highway bridge to cross the creek.

The Pecatonica Leader covered the day with a great story worth checking out.

Most of us finished Earth Day by helping Jim plant seven more oak trees along Kittleson, another stream that needs cooling shade.

The following Saturday ended our work week with Conley Lewis Creek receiving a serious box elder trim. Twenty members of SWTU and the Nohr Chapter were joined by Lloyd and Jared of the DNR to cut and haul dozens of small to medium size box elders. Many were destined to fall into the creek, and the grass that the landowner has planted in a large portion of the easement will grow much better. This is not a well-known creek, in part because the box elder jungle made access and fishing difficult, and it’s small, but we were impressed by its appearance, especially in the top part of the easement. (We were also impressed by the 5 Black Angus bulls on the Dodge Branch below the confluence with Conley Lewis – we’re not recommending you fish that stretch.)

Lloyd and Jared of the DNR were a big help and impressed with our work, in particular our brush piles. The latter might seem trivial but Lloyd commented that well stacked and tight brushpiles save DNR crews lots of time in burning season.

We had a great ratio of sawyers and haulers. The sawyers included some of the TU all stars:  Steve Fabos, Mike Meyer, Jim Hess and Gordon Grieshaber. But rookies are needed, too, and Josh Reilly completed his training and did a great job. He wiped out a row of teenage box elders perched precariously on a stream bank. Josh’s great work and Grace’s at the Sugar River a couple of weeks ago are reminders that we always need and welcome new sawyers. And they always do a great job.

B W, the weather was perfect: mild temps, sunshine, light winds. Maybe spring has arrived.

BTW2, the Nohr Chapter always donates a great box of flies for each of their workdays; one of the volunteers is a lucky winner. My number was drawn but since I had already won two sets of Nohr flies I felt honor-bound to have another winner selected. Honor is really overrated.

This work day reflects the wonderful cooperation we have with the DNR and the Nohr Chapter. Lots of folks are responsible but special thanks to Carol Murphy, the recently re-elected Nohr President. She’s encourages, helps plan and attends the joint work days. Secondly, thanks to Jim Hess. We’re in the midst of one of our busiest, most complex and most fun set of spring work days. Jim has spent many hours planning and coordinating them.

Earth Day photos courtesy Jim Hess. Workday photos courtesy Dyan Lesnik.