As reported in the June 17 issue of the Northwoods Call, a storm hit the Mason Tract on Memorial Day weekend. Bernie Fowler and I put our river boat down the wooden steps above Downey's the following day. The weather bureau classified it as either a tornado, or a "line storm." As we went by DogTown, the damage began to appear. Numerous, large, bankside cedars were uprooted. Their large but shallow root systems lined the bank. Several bends below DogTown, an entire hillside was virtually denuded with only a few trees (entirely stripped of their limbs) left standing upright. They looked like the masts of sailboats moored for the night.
When we rounded the bend at the base of that hill, we realized that there was more "large woody debris" than we could take care of that day. We continued downstream, cutting and clearing a path only wide enough to get the boat through. As soon as we cleared a path through one river blockage another would appear in front of us. We had no idea how far downstream the storm extended, so we gave no thought to the final clearance plan. But, we worried if we could get the boat through before dark. As we approached Canoe Harbor the damage lessened and we had only one large blockage downstream from that point.
The next day Bernie and I, with Jim Gates and Alex Lafkas in a second boat, put in at Chase Bridge to make certain the river above Downey's was clear, and to open a safe route through the blowdown area.
Our winch (which had been donated to the Anglers) was well used as we pulled large red and white pines into position to clear a passageway and, of course, to make trout cover. Jim and Alex did great jobs. Without them we would not have finished that day.
The section of the South Branch hit by the storm is permanently altered. Nature provided trout cover far beyond anything we could have planned. It is sad to see the big old pines gone, but they are doing far more good in the river than as saw logs. Susan Thiel, DNR Grayling Forest Unit Manager, has informed me that no salvage operations will be planned. She does not want to disturb the river bank or to construct any logging roads. I firmly agree with this plan.
My wife Peggy and I went into the blowdown stretch in late July to trim some obstructions uncovered by lower water (Bernie was in Alaska). We were again impressed with the great force of nature. It will be very interesting to observe the effect of this mega-dose of large woody debris over the following years. The old runs, pools and riffles in that stretch are completely changed. Where will the new trout feeding lanes be? A new challenge to the South Branch angler. RWOL
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