New Tree Hazard on Frog Bayou

[Larry Pearce]

A newly fallen tree from river left is all the way across the creek just below the second railroad tressel on the Lancaster Bridge to Rudy run. You can see the tree from well above the tressel. If you don't pull out on the gravel bar above the tressel, you have to catch the large eddy just below the tressel on river right. You can line canoes through the branches extending to the river right bank. The creek was about 2.2 ft. when we ran it on Saturday. You cannot safely get past the hazard anywhere except at the river right bank. At higher water the branches near the river right bank would still present a safety hazard.

[Fish]

Thanks for the heads up Dr. P. Hope life's treating you well these days.

- Fish

[Eric Esche]

Anything to add that a pack of beavers would need to know to clear out this hazzard? Tree diameter? width/depth of river at that point? anchor points for Z-drags? best way to get in there? What needed to bring?

Just curious.

[A Savage spanke]

Anything to add that a pack of beavers would need to know to clear out this hazzard? Tree diameter? width/depth of river at that point? anchor points for Z-drags? best way to get in there? What needed to bring?

Just curious.

As Marc and I were discussing on the Pink Nile section of the Illinois this last weekend, Gasoline.

[Larry Pearce]

I didn't get over to river left to measure the tree, but I would estimate it to be 12 inches in diameter. It is still connected to the left bank and is a birch. I have swum most of Frog Bayou, but I don't remember swimming this particular section, so I can't comment with any authority on the depth. Access to the left bank would not be terribly difficult. With a saw you could begin at the right bank and pretty quickly clear a path wide enough for boats. Larry

[Eric Esche]

I have heard of eager beavers who, unwilling to wait for nature to take its eventual course in a highwater event, assist mother nature by taking a bag of charcoal, a jug of starter fluid, and a roll of chicken wire (maybe even a roll of wide commercial width alumnimum foil) and then accidently have a match or a lightning bolt cause a spontaneous fire to the bag(s) of soaked charcoal wrapped to the hazzard tree by the roll of chicken wire and foil, burning away a hazzard. Depends on situation as to whether this fire would self extinguish or possibly spread, but this method has been known to work in several locations. This should only be done by beavers approaching from the down stream side of the tree, but most beavers already know that, and have also brought cutters/tinsnips to trim the chicken wire and wear rubber/leather gloves, containing inplements in a dry bag so not obvious just in case. Prechopping the break point down to a 4" thickness more or less guarentees the burn through, where as a 12" diameter log might require multiple lightning strikes.

I personally like the Chainsaws-r-us method with a comealong and z-drag kit to make sure hazzard removal is complete and permanent, not to show up somewhere else.

Never been there myself, so would prefer to go with someone else or have them come with me. I have access to a 4wd vehicle and most of the implements for either method if someone would like to arrange times to go with me next week at a mutually agreeable time, but i am still somewhat cripped up at times with knee and neck issues. My personal chainsaws should be out of shop by then and all tuned up. Even have biodegradable chainsaw oil, given to me just for this purpose.

Anyone got a "mule" OKA chainsaw winch? they work great too. I got a peavy, bow saws, axes, prybars, machetes, and cane axe.Safer with at least 2 beavers, but 6 or 8 is not a bad number either. If someone has a strong battery powered drill, I have 3 foot long drill bits that can assist a log burning through faster.

Eric Esche, sometimes known as Beaverman on other boards, and termite, and Boom-Boom in the distant past, but those are other tales in previous existances.

[Dr. Steve Yaney]

I'm willing to help! four79four61795four,text or call. Bet I could round up some other beavers too!