Norwalk River restoration in CT

[Bucksnbows]

For those that enjoy habitat restoration and enhancement, this is a half mile restoration of the Norwalk River in Wilton, CT we are currently working on. Today is day five of approximately 9 for this stretch, our second half mile project for our good friends at Mianus Trout Unlimited on the Norwalk. This is a wild brown trout fishery in addition to state stocked brook, brown and rainbow trout, but our efforts are for the wild fish. A month ago, we removed a small dam on a tributary to this river for native brook trout. 
 

We diversify habitat types to create a biological “lift” for the entire riparian community. CT DEEP diadromous fisheries biologists stopped by yesterday and liked what they saw as we are also creating spawning habitat for the soon to be released sea lamprey now that the Dana dam is being removed and sea run native fish like lampreys will once again have access to spawning grounds.  

[cj3a]

Nice work.  Do you know if anything is going to happen in Oakland NJ. They still have a pile of rocks by the railroad tracks 

[Bucksnbows]

23 minutes ago, cj3a said:

Nice work.  Do you know if anything is going to happen in Oakland NJ. They still have a pile of rocks by the railroad tracks 

Yes, they still plan to do a river restoration project. I am involved as a consultant right now. Long story about issues and delays, but it should be moving forward once again. 

[nywaw]

Awesome!  Love these posts!  Very cool work you do!

[Bucksnbows]

2 minutes ago, nywaw said:

Awesome!  Love these posts!  Very cool work you do!

Thanks, Matt, but I got my office chair wet today. Hope it’s not a problem….

[Bucksnbows]

We got a lot of rain last night. Not in a big hurry to get to the job site this morning, but always good to see the river ripping in newly restored areas. 

[Bucksnbows]

1 hour ago, Rusty said:

Great stuff Brian!  

Not to worry, more pictures later today. Had to repair the excavator bucket this morning and just getting started.  The flows are dropping fast and it’s not too off color to work in. 

[mowin]

59 minutes ago, Bucksnbows said:

Not to worry, more pictures later today. Had to repair the excavator bucket this morning and just getting started.  The flows are dropping fast and it’s not too off color to work in. 

Bust off a few teeth? 

[Bucksnbows]

4 hours ago, mowin said:

Bust off a few teeth? 

Pins fell out. We lease, but sometimes our vendor employees don’t get the message of how we use their equipment. We have both teeth, just no spare pins. And their bucket is crap. We have a brand new one coming sometime tomorrow.  Told them to send me a 36” because this 30” is too small and to spot weld the pins. 

[Bucksnbows]

First thing this morning, we swapped them to make the three left work together. 

[Bucksnbows]

Today we finished a hardened crossing/ford that doubles as an insect producing riffle. The farmer needs to reach his property on the far side of the stream.
 

We are currently working on what had been an existing shallow pool. The steep drop you see will mellow greatly when we back it up downstream with our next structure. We have a nice maple root wad and about 15’ of trunk buried under those boulders you see, sticking out into the hole to provide habitat for the wild brown trout in this particular river. 

[mowin]

33 minutes ago, Bucksnbows said:

Pins fell out. We lease, but sometimes our vendor employees don’t get the message of how we use their equipment. We have both teeth, just no spare pins. And their bucket is crap. We have a brand new one coming sometime tomorrow.  Told them to send me a 36” because this 30” is too small and to spot weld the pins. 

That bucket has not had a easy life. 

[Bucksnbows]

26 minutes ago, mowin said:

That bucket has not had an easy life. 

 We use them to dig in cobbles and fines, hold 4’-8’ boulders, and pound in large rocks into refusal. We hit ledge but try to dig into it and often with success. We will wear out a brand new set of teeth on this job if we had only one bucket.  Longest I’ve seen a set of teeth last us was 14 days. 

[Bionic]

Great thread, thanks for sharing.  

[Bucksnbows]

22 hours ago, mowin said:

That bucket has not had an easy life. 

And now it is retired!  Here’s his replacement…