East Fork Cadron clean up

[Jojosand]

As the Arkansas river guide says, the East Fork of the Cadron from Hwy 36 to 107 is more scenic than the North Fork. The bluffs while paddling through the tupelo trees is so beautiful. When the water level is between 4-5 feet the rapids are great and the waves are a blast. It is a more intimate stream than the Big Piney or the Mulberry. I have done it about 8 times in the past two years and want more people to use it. However, there are quite a few downed trees some of which keep you from going through some of the fun shutes. Last summer a friend and I cleaned out several of these as well as brush that hanged over the banks on curves (which tended to swamp inexperienced paddlers) but more needs to be done. I have kept a lot of information about water levels which I will post some time. I’m not sure how to go about organizing the clean up. Does a leader of the ACC need to be in charge? I have several saws and a canoe and am flexible about the day of the week since I’m a professor and have July free. I live just outside of Conway.

John

[Louiscov]

I'd be interested in helping if we're paddling some. Lots of dragging is no problem as long as the overall trip is by boat (canoe). Trying to add a few new streams to my list and could probably come and work any weekday (or weekend day) July 19 - 30. Just need help unloading boat due to left shoulder.

louis c

[Half Ton]

just be sure to do some research on the importance of streamside vegetation for holding the streambank together before you remove too much and be sure to research the negative implications associated with removing streamside vegetation improperly.

You might also just leave the vegetation so that inexperienced paddlers can have some incentive to learn more about steering instead of removing the streamside vegetation and them still swimming.

A creek aint' supposed to be manicured and most of them that are aren't in very healthy conditions.

If it ain't a killer tree or trees just let'em be.

$ 0.02

[Jojosand]

Thank you, half ton, for your concerns. However, I believe you are reading too much into my comments.

John

[Half Ton]

John, In regard to reading too much into the comments....

One reason that the Cadron is tight like mentioned in the book in comparison to Piney and Mulberry is that the streamside vegetation is mostly undisturbed. Big Piney and Mulberry have both had streambanks and stream channels altered by the resulting ramifications of removal of vegetation.

Of course, some changes to Big Piney, Middle Fork of White, West Fork of White, Little Piney, Saline, Mulberry, and etc. are also due to other watershed or streamside changes brought about by humans like road construction, storm culverts, clear cutting, un- restricted cattle grazing, and stream front cabin construction. Still yet they all have streamside disturbances in the form of vegetative removal which just is truly sad because most people have no idea that what they are doing is undermining their very goal and aiding in the streambank erosion process........and some people or agencies just say that their mission is to "build roads" or "keep the power comin'" all the while stream health is of secondary, tertiary, or non-existent.

For another example, a lot of folks living along the creek don't want briars, poison ivy, locusts, or in some cases any vegetation in the way of their view of the creek. why? They want to see the creek! Well, they will because the creek comes to see them as the eroding streambank migrates its way to their back porch. Then they have to pay $$$$$$$ to keep their house, barn, or shed from falling in. Next thing you know the creek doesn,t babble like a brook anymore because it is too wide and the fishing hole ain't there any more because it is all filled in with gravel.

When people start talking about taking out streamside vegetation alarm bells start going off in my head. The same stuff that has happened on other rivers can happen to those which have not yet suffered the touch of human kind. Therefore, reading between the lines was nothing more than reading the lines as they were written. The only difference is that the technique of removal and the quantity of vegetation to be removed was not mentioned and is an important detail for almost anyone engaged in such activities to thoughtfully consider.

[Wildwood]

Well said, HalfTon

[Chester]

Louis/Jojo:

I'm hear the alarm too, and it's a chainsaw running, yeehaa!

Now, maybe we can even get the infamous well organized group, ChainSawsRUs motivated.

We work for beer, and have our very own enviornmentalist as well.



$ 0.02

[Cowper]

I’m not sure how to go about organizing the clean up. Does a leader of the ACC need to be in charge?

No. Most events involving ACC members have no official ACC sanctioning, and have members and non-members alike participating. One like this especially would not be an “official ACC thing”, first, due to liability (saws are sharp!), second, due to the controversial nature of the proposed activity, as you have now seen…

Big Piney and Mulberry have both had streambanks and stream channels altered by the resulting ramifications of removal of vegetation…
The only difference is that the technique of removal and the quantity of vegetation to be removed was not mentioned and is an important detail for almost anyone engaged in such activities to thoughtfully consider.

Good points! I always point folks to this article from the American Whitewater pages, it only takes about 5 or 10 minutes to read, and gives you some things to think about as you hike or float the creek and think about which logs it might be OK to cut and which you should leave as you found them.

http://www.americanwhitewater.org/conte ... ody_debris" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Typically, if anything still has a root system, I try to either leave it alone completely, or cut only one or two branches in a “pruning” action that will leave it healthy and not kill the main trunk. I don't want to make creeks into manicured Disneylands, where things are so “safe” that people don’t build the skills they need when they get to a stream with real hazards that nobody removed for them. Case in point; there's a major log down on Cadron Creek which I looked at and then walked away from because the root system is still stabilizing the river-left bank. When it goes, I think some major bank changes are going to happen in the next flood, but mother nature needs to do it, not me.

We work for beer, and have our very own enviornmentalist as well.

You think he’s kidding. He’s not. We really do have our own environmentalist; she goes with us and keeps us from getting wild. Well, maybe not, but she keeps us from cutting things that should not be cut. There’s a fine line between maintaining a water trail so that more people will get out to enjoy and appreciate a resource, and doing something that alters the very thing you’re trying to love. I enjoy these discussions, ‘cause I don’t want to get on the wrong side of that line…

[Gink]

Thanks for coming to the rescue of the East Fork -- this is a beautiful stream that is made all the more beautiful because of the large assortment of woody debris (and upstanding trees) within the stream and riparian corridor.

From Ohio Stream Management: "Stream cleaning practices reduce the amount of organic materials necessary to support the aquatic food web, remove the vital in-stream habitats that fish utilize for shelter and spawning, and reduce the level of erosion resistance provided against high flows. In addition, LWD improves the stream structure by enhancing the substrate and diverting the stream current in such ways that pools and riffles are likely to develop. A stream with a heterogeneous substrate and pools and riffles is ideal for benthic (bottom dwelling) organisms as well as for spawning of desirable fish species like trout and bass."

Overhanging branches provide shading and help moderate stream temperatures -- during the summer when water flows fall precipituously this can have a profound impact on the habitat within isolated pools. And as far as those logjams -- they are the most environmentally important type of in-stream woody debris that there is -- ask any fisherman! Because of the backcurrents there is often a deeper hole on the downstream side and fish use this deeper aerated water for cover. Moreover it is these logjams that are the the catalyst initiating the run-riffle-pool sequence that not only gives the Cadron its character but which enhance the substrate and reduces high-water forces.

Nature does best when we leave her alone. Anyone who paddles the East Fork should just resolve themselves to the need to portage and duck their head every once in awhile. In my opinion woody debris should only be removed from a stream (or riparian corridor) only when it poses a distinct and obvious threat and I can't think of any instance on the East Fork where it is any more than a "nuisance" -- if you lack adequate boat control to deal with the logjams present on East Fork you really don't need to be on this beautiful -- and mostly "untouched" waterway.

Please leave as is!

[Half Ton]

I'm hear the alarm too, and it's a chainsaw running, yeehaa!

Now, maybe we can even get the infamous well organized group, ChainSawsRUs motivated.

We work for beer, and have our very own enviornmentalist as well.

yo, chester chainsaw's er us - Just so you know I 'm not against the chainsaw in the creek and cutting on the streamside veg when it is appropriate and needed from an environmental or practical viewpoint.

If you do ever feel the need to use the $hit out a chainsaw in a creek just give me a call. I have a long list of elderly folk who live in town and get flooded regularly because of log jams formed by the anthropogenic catapulting of cut-ice storm-wood that was mostly all pitched in to the creek by upstream dwellers. They would buy you and your gang plenty of

Cowper and Gink, those are great articles and references that you posted and I am pretty certain that your comments are spot on.

John, I hope I have not offended you with my pulling the ole soap box out and standing on it stunt. Just a topic that is near and dear and needs more discussion in general and especially in the good ole natural state of Arkansas.

Soap box is now put up. Great dialogue all. Even Chester Chainsaw

[Chester]

Glad we're all in greement then, the trip is ON.

[Shark Attack]

Set a date. I'd be willling to help a little bit. I've floated that area a couple of time, it has some great wave trains