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Re: Rivers anyone???

Aquatic ecosystems depend on woody debris deposited into the stream from
trees and shrubs that line the bank of the river.  Some organisms depend
the 
debris (called detritus) as a substrate to carry out part of their life
cycle.
The immature stages of many insects are aquatic to attach to and it is a
source of carbon.  The immature insects often are the base of the food
chain in many aquatic ecosystems therefore detritus is very important. 
Log jams are good or bad depending on your point of view.  Log  jams can
divert river currents toward the banks causing them to erode thus
increasing the amount of sediment in the stream.  This is not usually
considered to be a good thing.  Log jams can dam up water in the stream
and interfere with drainage systems in adjacent crop land fields.  In
east central Illinois that won't fly if farmers drainage systems are
impeded.  Log jams will be removed.  Log jams and bank erosion are
natural phenomena in streams.  If bank erosion and drainage are not a
concern then there is no reason to remove log jams.  In fact deeper
pools of slow moving water created by log jams is generally a good thing
for fish and other organism even upland wildlife benefit from them.
The reality however is that Salt Fork is located in a place called East
Central Illinois.  East Central Illinois has some of the most productive
farmland in the world (if it is drained).  Any thing that impedes
draining this farmland will be summarily dealt with.  Some think this is
good others do not.  In East Central Illinois that is just the way it
is.

Brett Roberts
State Conservation Agronomist

Joan Lane wrote:
> 
> This site has been extremely helpful in suppling me(a homeowner along the
> Salt Fork River) with information about questions I have concerning the
> restoration of  my property )a part of which is in a flood plain).  I now
> find myself at odds with a policy that the (Champaign County) forest
> preserve is doing.  They are removing fallen trees from the river.  They
> say to prevent log jams.  However, there are no log jams for miles around.
> I will be the first to admit that this is an area I know little about.  But
> I wonder what impact this will have on the river.(flow, habitat, banks,etc)
> If you know of ANY studies or information relating to this topic please let
> me know about them or refer my to another site. Thanks
> Joan Lane
> 1207CR 2500E
> St. Joseph, Il 61873
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