September 24, 2013
First Shumsky to Beitner Flood Wreckage Removal Project
I was really concerned that this project would not get done because of lack of funding
but a very generous donor stepped up to help the BRCS get this cleanup completed.
Our thanks go out to him and his family.
Seven of us started out in 3 canoes and 2 kayaks to do a combined flood debris removal and trash cleanup in one day. The kayakers were our spotters and trash people and the canoe people worked on lumber and the heavy stuff. Here are some photos that tell the story.
Getting started. Note how clean we and the boats are. That soon ended.
Glenn and Karl's first canoe had two large holes in it so they had to go back to the
GTCD barn and get the yellow fiberglass one. That would not have been my
1st choice but it worked fine with these two experienced guys in it.
We got to work. Mike and John, in his new waders and boots, both did a great job.
This is the sort of thing we found. Around 20 pieces total.
This piece of plywood was a particular challenge.
It took a while but they made progress.
They carefully floated it across the river in the canoe.
We cut it into 4 pieces and put it in the canoe for transport.
Then it was lunch time.
Becky likes to sit in the sunlight to eat her lunch. That's a bright jacket - for sure.
Then it was back to work on these 150 pound set of steps.
Much huffing and puffing but they came out finally.
Becky arrived just in time to help the old men do the heavy lifting.
It got a lot lighter when she got there.
We got to Beitner tired but satisfied we had done good.
I even found a piece that I got out single handed until I tried to put it in my boat.
That's when Mike arrived to help the old man.
Here, Glenn shows why we do these projects - to get nasty stuff like this out of the river.
Here's the trailer empty.
Here's the full trailer after our day's work. Not bad for old folks.
And we left the steps because they were too big to get in the trailer safely.
We'll get them later this week. I would guess we took out about
1250- 1500 pounds of debris plus the trash we found.
Here's the debris safely nestled in the dumpster at Schecks.
Plus this 1/2 huge bag of trash our two kayakers found. Thanks Tracie and Becky!
The river is all set for the winter now. You two did a great job.
We'll do one more project in this section to take out the very large pieces
that will require a power winch and chainsaws.
Sign up now to help us if you can.
By Norm Fred