1 • Wednesday, July 12, 2017 - The Independent-Register
Brodhead
Independent Register 608•897•2193
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SHOPPING NEWS
922 W. EXCHANGE STREET, BRODHEAD, WI 53520
WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017
Parkview School District custodians win competition ...... 2 Green County Fair special section ..................................6 Library outing to the woods planned ...............................12
Spring Creek stretch rebuilt into an asset By Ryan Broege EDITOR
“We were really reluctant to do this at first,” said Brad Williams, who along with his brother Jeff keep roughly 1,500 head of dairy cattle on a concentrated feeding operation named Williams Bedrock Bovines. “All we wanted to do was cut some trees.” The Williams rent a plot of land from Bob Beckwith just north of Oakley on County Highway OK. Running along the southern perimeter of the field is Spring Creek, an appendage of the Lower Sugar River Watershed. The stream entered “rehab” nearly a year ago, and a field day was held July 7 to mark the progress made along the 2,770 lineal feet rehabilitated. When the project got underway, the section of Spring Creek was little more than a nuisance. Nearly every year, and in multiple locations, the creek would “blow out” its banks, said to Jeff Williams. According to Brad Williams, last year flooding claimed rows 60 feet deep into the field, creating water hazards that proved impossible for Williams’ auto-steer machinery to navigate. The original plan brought to Green County sought approval to remove some trees. However, the Williams’
and Beckwith were soon convinced to commit to a more stringent stream restoration project, and work got underway in August of last year. As originally planned, fallen trees were removed from the stream bed and its banks. Even upright, Willows and Box Elder trees have a poor chance along the creek, as both species are ill-suited for the habitat. Also gone were creek’s steep, unstable banks. They were reclaimed, and the 8-foot drop-offs gave way to gently sloping shorelines stretching more than 15 feet inland. The new banks were seeded with a native mix of grass seed, but the species take a while to take hold, according to Susan Lehnhardt, director of the Lower Sugar River Watershed Association. Lastly, log deflectors were placed along the bed. According to the Ohio DNR, log deflectors work by directing current away from the banks, which in turn creates slack water along the stream banks, dissipating the stream’s energy. On Beckwith’s land, the deflectors appear to be little more than serendipitously fallen logs. However, the logs are placed with extreme precision, and incorporated with live plant matter that can assume the deflection duties after
RYAN BROEGE PHOTOS Brodhead Independent-Register
This span of Spring Creek used to be the site of near-annual flooding, and last year poured 60 feet into a crop field. A year after a rehabilitation project got underway, the stream is the calmest its ever been, according to Jeff Williams, who runs the formerly-flooded acreage. Pictured on the left is a log deflector, which slows currents and reduces erosion.
With a touch of pique, he explains that they were forced to bypass the spot last year, and would definitely remedy the site this year. Early-going hesitation or skepticism seems to have given way to proud dedication to the project. Both Williams brothers praised the Green County agricultural offices and credited them with the project’s early success. “With being a CAFO, we work with the DNR and 590 organizations (oversees of CAFOs Nutrient Management
the log decays. Brad Williams was not an early believer in the deflectors. “When we heard 30 percent of the stream’s sediment is sourced from its own banks, we thought the log deflectors were a joke,” he said. “But we smiled and said OK, and they went on ahead.” Nearly a year later, as he points out achievements and progress in along the creek, Brad Williams pointed to more than a couple locations in the stream where a log deflector was needed, or a tree was left standing.
Plan, which painstakingly outlines soil data, projected plantings, manure spreading schedules and other details), I don’t think a lot of people realize how tremendous of an agricultural building we have,” said Brad Williams. Brad Williams also credited Beckwith, whose work on the project he characterized as “tremendous” and “the reason for doing this.” The work will continue on approximately Tuesday, August 1, with another 2,770 feet slated for improvements.
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Introducing our Brad Williams, tenant on the land adjacent to the stretch of Spring Creek receiving improvements, speaks to attendees of a July 7 field day.
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RYAN BROEGE PHOTO Brodhead Independent-Register
‘Cluck cluck I was takin’ a bath’
Bella Andrews, New Horizons club vice president, helps Abbi Andrews, age 10, and Elli Andrews, age 9, right, bathe a chicken on July 9 at Stone Brook Farm. The chapter met to resolve questions and begin final preparations for the Green County Fair beginning Wednesday, July 19, 2017.
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* Annual Percentage Yield. APY is accurate as of 5/24/17 and is subject to change. Fees may reduce earnings. Applies to new money only. No more than 6 transfers or withdrawals are allowed from this account. An excess debit fee of $2.00 per item may apply if the transaction limitation is exceeded. Other restrictions may apply.
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