Ramapo River rock rolling project Saturday (Aug. 10th)

[Pete]

Another article on page 52 of the Winter 2014 issue of "Trout" magazine.
TROUT Winter 2014

[golden beetle]

Many of the rocks to be rolled are on tires, which will make the job pretty easy.

[Rusty Spinner]

Who's that guy, Brian Cowden? He sounds a bit sketchy to me..........

[Pete]

Who's that guy, Brian Cowden? He sounds a bit sketchy to me..........

The only guy that got mentioned by name.... must be some kind of glory hound.

If you go to the pictures posted by MEVO, you can see a shot of him "pointing".

[lightenup]

Who's that guy, Brian Cowden? He sounds a bit sketchy to me..........

didn't he hurt his elbow...patting himself on the back?

[Rusty Spinner]

For the record, I did not write or contribute to the article. I was surprised to read my name, lol. Don't know who at East Jersey submitted it (?). But good to see a NJ chapter getting the recognition it deserves. Add the dam removal on Cresskill Brook and East Jersey TU is on fire with conservation projects. Next will be (hopefully) a 2 1/2 mile river channel restoration on the Ramapo!

[NJpatbee]

I haven't fished the Ramapo since before I could drive in the 60's, and although there were some scenic spots and a WTS trib or two, I never considered it prime trout water due to warm summer waters. What is the latest thinking - can this river hold trout with the proper TLC?

[Rusty Spinner]

I haven't fished the Ramapo since before I could drive in the 60's, and although there were some scenic spots and a WTS trib or two, I never considered it prime trout water due to warm summer waters. What is the latest thinking - can this river hold trout with the proper TLC?

No, not year round except in the coolest of summers. But it can be a much healthier river, transporting sediment and having far better trout habitat for stocked fish and the odd wild fish that comes in from tribs. This river has suffered a death by a thousand cuts (sounds all too familiar for an eastern trout stream, doesn't it?). Our goal would be to make what is there healthy as we can.

[Pete]

I haven't fished the Ramapo since before I could drive in the 60's, and although there were some scenic spots and a WTS trib or two, I never considered it prime trout water due to warm summer waters. What is the latest thinking - can this river hold trout with the proper TLC?

I can't speak to the NY side, but in NJ, it's a 8 or 9 month fishery for stocked trout. Every summer, sometime in late June or early July, we get lethal temperatures, that end trout fishing until the fall stocking. During the summer, it's a bass/panfish fishery.

Just about every major tributary, has one or more man made ponds with top release dams, sending warmed water and Fecal Coliform down to the river. Siltation is also a problem. The TP tribs, are mostly the lesser tributaries, that nobody bothered to Dam. The WTS is blessed with a very high gradient (evaporative cooling), and some of it's own cold water tribs.

One of the worst violators is the Bergen County park system. Although they didn't build the dams, theyr'e maintaining them. Others include State Parks and Forests, a Lake club, and a handful of private landowners.

As far as I know only two or (maybe) three of the ponds are natural. Ramapo Lake, and the Franklin Lake, predate development. I'm not sure if Bear Swamp Lake is entirely man made..... BUT the river supported brook trout in colonial times.

If the TLC included some ruthless dambusting and remediation, it might be possible to make it a TM stream. It depends on how much warm water is being contributed by runoff from the paved surfaces that were put in place as the area was developed.

[mtthwnvk]

Are there any projects planned for this spring or summer? I'd live to help out if it's needed


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[Catskill Mountain Man]

Welcome.

I'm sure there are projects planned for next season.

Pete or rusty spinner will know

[mtthwnvk]

Thanks CMM. I also did the non-lazy thing and found the EJTU website, looks like a neat resource.


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