[Workday report: November 1, 2025]
By Topf Wells
About 20 SWTU volunteers arrived at Dane County’s Duerst property on the Sugar River for the second of three work days to clear invasive brush, mostly honeysuckle, in Phase 1 of the County’s restoration of the river on this property. James Brodzeller, in charge of the County’s trout stream program and other wetland restorations, led the effort with Jim Hess.
This is a tough site. The honeysuckle has been growing for decades on a narrow embankment created from dredge spoils from the river. Removing that mound of dirt and reconnecting the river to its floodplain, wetland, and springs are the principal aims of the restoration. That narrowness means we’re working in tight quarters, always a concern with chainsaw operations. And it’s a long walk in, the last part through another miserable invader, reed canary grass.
Always game, we got to work. A bit more than an hour in, we spotted the County boundary sign. Reach that and our part of the project is DONE. As in, no more work days at this site. We worked a bit longer, refueled with Dyan’s homemade blueberry muffins and cinnamon rolls, and then decided we are finishing this task today.
By 11:30 we had. The amount of clearing we’ve accomplished this spring and today is awesome. The Sthil chainsaw crew that will volunteer in May should cut through the box elders like a warm knife through Landmark Creamery butter. The County will then be able to remove the embankment.
We had a great mix of sawyers and haulers. Maybe even better was the mix of some of the regulars at our workdays with some great newcomers. One said his wife had read our work day notice and told him, “You fish the Sugar all the time; you should help.” A true helpmate and partner. BTW, our magnificent efficiency might have been even better if we would have had another sprayer or two. For all our focus on sawyers and haulers, sprayers and folks who can check folks in and direct them to the site are every bit as essential to the success of a work day. So don’t let the facts that you don’t run a chainsaw or can’t haul brush stop you from being part of fun and productive work days.
BTW2, one of our most welcome newcomers made another great point. Some folks would like to join the work days but find the transportation or the length of some of the trips difficult. The Board is working to make this excellent suggestion a reality for the spring work days.
Huge thanks to everyone who showed up today and put this project to bed. Special thanks to James and Jim for their planning and direction of the day. I think we should ask whoever makes ibuprofen to sponsor SWTU work days. Cutting and hauling that old, gnarly honeysuckle requires stooping, bending, squatting, pulling and tossing. I’m ready to reach for the bottle of ibuprofen capsules.
We were scheduled to return to Duerst on Saturday, November 15. Ha, ha, ha, no way; done with that. See the next article for a great final chapter to the season at Donald Park.
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Posted: December 2, 2025 by Drew Kasel
DONE!
About 20 SWTU volunteers arrived at Dane County’s Duerst property on the Sugar River for the second of three work days to clear invasive brush, mostly honeysuckle, in Phase 1 of the County’s restoration of the river on this property. James Brodzeller, in charge of the County’s trout stream program and other wetland restorations, led the effort with Jim Hess.
This is a tough site. The honeysuckle has been growing for decades on a narrow embankment created from dredge spoils from the river. Removing that mound of dirt and reconnecting the river to its floodplain, wetland, and springs are the principal aims of the restoration. That narrowness means we’re working in tight quarters, always a concern with chainsaw operations. And it’s a long walk in, the last part through another miserable invader, reed canary grass.
Always game, we got to work. A bit more than an hour in, we spotted the County boundary sign. Reach that and our part of the project is DONE. As in, no more work days at this site. We worked a bit longer, refueled with Dyan’s homemade blueberry muffins and cinnamon rolls, and then decided we are finishing this task today.
By 11:30 we had. The amount of clearing we’ve accomplished this spring and today is awesome. The Sthil chainsaw crew that will volunteer in May should cut through the box elders like a warm knife through Landmark Creamery butter. The County will then be able to remove the embankment.
We had a great mix of sawyers and haulers. Maybe even better was the mix of some of the regulars at our workdays with some great newcomers. One said his wife had read our work day notice and told him, “You fish the Sugar all the time; you should help.” A true helpmate and partner. BTW, our magnificent efficiency might have been even better if we would have had another sprayer or two. For all our focus on sawyers and haulers, sprayers and folks who can check folks in and direct them to the site are every bit as essential to the success of a work day. So don’t let the facts that you don’t run a chainsaw or can’t haul brush stop you from being part of fun and productive work days.
BTW2, one of our most welcome newcomers made another great point. Some folks would like to join the work days but find the transportation or the length of some of the trips difficult. The Board is working to make this excellent suggestion a reality for the spring work days.
Huge thanks to everyone who showed up today and put this project to bed. Special thanks to James and Jim for their planning and direction of the day. I think we should ask whoever makes ibuprofen to sponsor SWTU work days. Cutting and hauling that old, gnarly honeysuckle requires stooping, bending, squatting, pulling and tossing. I’m ready to reach for the bottle of ibuprofen capsules.
We were scheduled to return to Duerst on Saturday, November 15. Ha, ha, ha, no way; done with that. See the next article for a great final chapter to the season at Donald Park.
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