Lake Champlain Trout Unlimited

By Rich Redman

Over a two-day period, the Boquet River near Wadhams, New York got a facelift. Over 6000 feet of eroded banks along the river were planted with 1400 trees, some potted, some bare root and others live cuttings. The potted plants included red osier dogwoods, river birch, elderberries, cotton wood, sycamore, speckled alder, red maple, yellow birch. The bare root trees were swamp white oak and American plum. Live willow cuttings were taken on site from native willows. All the plantings were on private property. The Hainer, Pratt and Pierce families are willing landowners who want to improve the river ecology. 

The money for the project originally started with a donation by the Verizon Corporation. From there it went to the Arbor Day Foundation and Trout Unlimited National. The goal was to plant 1000 trees in the Adirondack Park. When word trickled down to the TU Chapter level, the Lake Champlain Chapter jumped at the chance to do more plantings along the Boquet River, so within a day or two of the requests for site proposals, the paperwork with maps were completed, and submitted. In this case, there was no hesitation and it paid off.

Over 2- or 3-months the planning and logistics of the planting were completed, and the word went out via environmental group newsletters, e-mails, and the local press. TU National purchased the potted trees and they were delivered 4 days before the planting dates, Friday April 26, and Saturday the 27^th, 2024. 

Over that 4-day period, the holes were pre dug by the Juniper Hill Farm (Hainer Family) staff using a skid steer and 4 inch and 12-inch augers. Potted plants would go in 12 inch wide, 8-inch-deep holes, and the 8-foot-long willow cuttings would be in the 6-foot deep, 4-inch-wide augured holes. The potted plants were set out on the various sites in advance of the planting dates, and the willow cuttings were in tubs filled with water to keep them from drying out and dying. This preplanning effort made the planting easier for the planters. It reduced wasted time.

The Plattsburgh State University Twin Valleys site was mission control, and cabins were available for long distance travelers. All the meals and drinks were provided and purchased by TU locally through bakeries, and coffee shops. It was a great coordination effort by all involved.

Tree planters included members of Trout Unlimited National, the Lake Champlain Chapter of TU, the Adirondack Chapter of TU, the Boquet River Association (BRASS) the local Essex County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), the Adirondack Council, and Ruffed Grouse Society, plus individuals who share the same concern to protect our rivers. Over 27 planters were on site the first day, Friday, and on the second day, we had 50 planters ranging in age from their teens to their 80’s.

If you review the mission statements of all the groups, we share the similar mission, to protect and enhance our cold-water streams for trout and salmon, to improve the quality and life within our watersheds, and to help preserve the water of the 6-million-acre Adirondack Park. For the individuals involved, we all share the same ecology-based wavelength! Likewise, minds, do likewise conservation work.

After two days of back breaking bending over, filling holes with soil, tamping out air pockets, watering trees, dragging buckets and hose, putting ribbon on trees marking them as completed, it was cold-water conservation work accomplished.

Our shared goal is to improve the riverine ecology. Trees will support the banks reducing erosion. The trees will also help collect sediment from flood waters. In the future the trees will provide shade to help cool the waters, and leaves will provide food for river invertebrates which will in turn feed the fish.

There is one simple thing about conservation. It is not about what political party you lean towards. All political parties share the same goal, wise use of our Natural Resources. We proved it, the community was brought together in a shared goal, the protection of our Boquet River. A Special THANK YOU to all of you folks who helped.