My Weekend (Newton County,EFLB report)

[ScottH]

Went north this past weekend and HOLY CRAP! What a mess. Worked on Richland road Saturday and hiked up to Cindy’s to see no ice damage at all around the creek. Was feeling pretty positive and hopeful at the end of the day. On Sunday did a little work around Dale and Pam’s cabin and then headed over to EFLB. If you want to see something depressing, drive up hwy 7 then over to Deer on hwy 16. The damage is unimaginable.

Three of us headed towards the putin for Sandy Springs. We spent several hours clearing half of the road that parallels the creek (maybe 500 yards). I went ahead and walked down the rest of the road to the turn around and then on down the creek to the first drop (that 6-8 foot ledge). I am guessing it will take a crew of 5 a couple of weekends to finish clearing the road and clear the creek just down through the first drop. Looking down steam looked even worse. Left feeling pretty whipped. Driving back down hwy7 I started thinking that I have at most 15 more years of creeking left in me. And then started listing all the creeks I will probably never get to run again around here. It made me want to cry.

After a shower, some sleep and reading on this board the effort put out by so many I am feeling more optimistic. What I gathered from the weekend is that the ice damage seems to be in pockets (although some very large pockets in places). These pockets seem to be related to elevation and the direction the ridge faces. So I continue to hold out hope that all of the runs will just have “sections” that need work and not entire creeks.

If I was guessing I would think the first couple miles of Richland are bad. Most of Sandy Springs, Long Branch, Shop, Step and the upper EFLB are real bad. Off of Hwy 7 looking towards Boss Hollow looks to be about the worst area.

Every drainage is going to have to be examined in its entirety to evaluate its conditions. And certainly things are going to be changing for a long time. Every chance I get I will be heading “to the hills” to look around and to work. Everyone needs to keep getting out and keep those reports coming in. I hope my “guessing” is all wrong.

Scott

[Fish]

One at a time... One at a time.

We need to get some groups to do some focused work on the creeks we want to run. It sure won't all happen this year, but the summer is long and dry, and we often don't have much better to do...

- Fish

[Drew J.]

Damn, crazy how much a weather event can change the paddling landscape...never thought of ice storms like that before.

We're looking at having a pretty good season out west, so make sure you get in touch if you have plans to come out this way.

The USAF might be sending Seher and I back to the Natural State in the near future, so maybe we can help clean up some of the mess!

SYOTR, Drew