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

[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


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[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.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Rusty Spinner]

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


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Lots of projects planned for the Musky, Lopatcong Creek and others out west this spring. East Jersey is waiting on Oakland to line up all its funding to restore a 2 1/2 mile stretch of the Ramapo, but that requires a large track machine, not volunteer labor. They may be planting some willow cuttings in spring at a former dam site that East helped remove last summer in Cresskill.

 

[Pete]

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


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You can read it online, but to stay current, sign up for their e-mail newsletter, to stay current...
You don't have to be a member.

 

[mtthwnvk]

Thanks guys!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Pete]

Quoted from the July 2014 issue of Riffles, (as of 7/6/14 - not posted on the EJTU website yet).

..... In July or August we will schedule a day to make some adjustments to
the work we did last year on the weir on the Ramapo. Nothing big but
it will be easier with many hands. Please watch for an email announc-
ing the date that will be dictated by water levels.

Rich Malizia

 

[Rusty Spinner]

Quoted from the July 2014 issue of Riffles, (as of 7/6/14 - not posted on the EJTU website yet).

Was just thinking about this as I plan to help again. But this year I'll just be pointing at what needs to be done

 

[Pete]

Excerpt from an e-mail I just got from EJTU.
I altered Rich's email address for the bots.
Replace (at) with @ if you respond.

Conservation Project- 9/20/14
On Saturday, September 20th we will meet at 9:30AM at the Glen Gray Road bridge to fine tune the work we did last year. Please be prepared to work in the water. You will need gloves and pry bars. One or two wheelbarrows would also be helpful. There is not a lot of work to do so we should be done before Noon if we have enough help. Please contact me if you can attend at remqcp(at)optonline.net

 

[Rusty Spinner]

Wish I could help, but I have two TU events that day myself that will prevent my being there. Our chapter's pig roast (Ridge & Valley TU) on the Musky and later in the day the NJ Highlands Festival on the banks of the Musky where I'm presenting on fishing restored waters. Shameless in my plugs, aren't I?

 

[Pete]

Excerpt from Page 2 of the September 2014 issue of "Riffles".
It's not up on their website yet, this is the link in the e-mail.
https://gallery.mailchimp.com/5c2ebc93f7cdb38ee1f0eb32b/files/September_2014_Riffles.pdf

At 9:30 Am on Saturday, September 20 th, we will be meeting at the Ramapo River at the Glen Gray Bridge to make some adjustments in the weir removal work that was done last year. The work will include reinforcing the cross vane on the east bank and the relocation of some larger stones. We should be done in a few hours if we get enough volunteers. If you have been to the Ramapo this year, you should have observed the improved flow mid-river. Water is no longer being forced towards the banks. Our work has yielded the desired result.

 

[Thursthouse]

Excerpt from Page 2 of the September 2014 issue of "Riffles".
It's not up on their website yet, this is the link in the e-mail.
https://gallery.mailchimp.com/5c2ebc93f7cdb38ee1f0eb32b/files/September_2014_Riffles.pdf

Pete, I just shot Rich an email letting him know I am available if he still needs volunteers. Will you be attending?

 

[Pete]

Pete, I just shot Rich an email letting him know I am available if he still needs volunteers. Will you be attending?

I'm not sure..
I threw my back out, while fixing my furnace last week, and it's not getting better.
Lifting rocks may not be a good idea.
I did not send Rich an email because I don't want him counting on another helper.

Given what happened last year, sending him your email, was a good idea.
At least four people didn't get the word, when he had to postpone last year, due to high flows.

BTW: Last year they partnered with a local environmental group.
In case anyone is undecided..... no promises...but...
There were "college girls in wet T-shirts".

 

[Rusty Spinner]

BTW: Last year they partnered with a local environmental group.
In case anyone is undecided..... no promises...but...
There were "college girls in wet T-shirts".

I can personally vouch for that!

It sure was nicer than staring at a bunch of smelly old men!!!

 

[Pete]

Sorry, no "wet T-Shirts" this time....:crap:
There was a decent turnout from EJTU, including the chief of the Oakland Emergency Management (RoyB).
No other "Partner Groups" participated.

As I understand it the largest remnant of the weir was causing undesirable eddy currents during high water.
The objective was to reduce it, and widen the openings.
View attachment 11062

Rocks to big to handle in a wheel barrel were rigged and dragged to the side.
View attachment 11063

Roy's mini tractor came in handy for that.
View attachment 11064

Smaller rocks were brought upstream, and used to enlarge and expand the deflector on the east side of the river.
View attachment 11065

My back was still out, so I didn't do anything more strenuous than watch.
I told Rich to consider me a reporter...
I left around 10 AM.

Sorry about the picture quality. Right now my best camera is a cheap cell phone.

 

[Thursthouse]

Sorry, no "wet T-Shirts" this time....:crap:
There was a decent turnout from EJTU, including the chief of the Oakland Emergency Management (RoyB).
No other "Partner Groups" participated.

As I understand it the largest remnant of the weir was causing undesirable eddy currents during high water.
The objective was to reduce it, and widen the openings.
View attachment 11062

Rocks to big to handle in a wheel barrel were rigged and dragged to the side.
View attachment 11063

Roy's mini tractor came in handy for that.
View attachment 11064

Smaller rocks were brought upstream, and used to enlarge and expand the deflector on the east side of the river.
View attachment 11065

My back was still out, so I didn't do anything more strenuous than watch.
I told Rich to consider me a reporter...
I left around 10 AM.

Sorry about the picture quality. Right now my bear camera is a cheap cell phone.

I didn't even know you were there! Didn't see your name on the sign in sheet...

That's me in green in the bottom picture...watching everyone else work.

Sorry I didn't get a chance to introduce myself but the work seemed to be effective

 

[Pete]

I didn't even know you were there! Didn't see your name on the sign in sheet...

I believe I was the last one to sign in, and the first to leave. I was the old phart on the bank, who took some pictures with a cell phone, and then left.

That's me in green in the bottom picture...watching everyone else work.

Sorry I didn't get a chance to introduce myself but the work seemed to be effective

I can't explain why, but I suspected that might be you. I planned to ask if you were wearing a green shirt, but there were three people in green shirts.

BTW, I have two pictures that were too blurry to post, where you are actually working.

 

[golden beetle]

The chubs thank you for your hard work.

 

[Future Fanatic]

The chubs thank you for your hard work.

Really odd habit of referring to yourself in the third person...

Just say "thank you"...

 

[Rusty Spinner]

Sorry I didn't get a chance to introduce myself but the work seemed to be effective

You mean you doubted my plan? :crap:

I'm looking forward to my next trip up that way to see how it came out. I was quadruple booked for Saturday, so the Ramapo had to fall on the back burner. But I was there in spirit!

As for IDing Pete, just look for the old Red Ball waders!

 

[Pete]

Excerpt from an EJTU e-mail:

Thanks to all the members who turned out to put the finishing touches on the weir removal on September 20th. Many hands made the work go quickly. Thanks, Roy, for the ATV. He was able to drag some of the bigger boulders out of midstream with the team of guys who were harnessing the rocks. We reinforced the vane on the East bank which should reduce the flow of water along that bank. Some of the washed out areas have already filled with sand. The flow midstream was good even though the water level was very low.
- Rich Malizia, Conservation Chair

He included the picture of Thursthouse "supervising"....
Information from East Jersey Trout Unlimited

 

[Pete]

More follow up work had been scheduled for today, but it's being delayed due to high water flows. Depending on how quickly the water drops, it will be either tomorrow, or next Saturday.

Excerpt from EJTU e-mail dated 08/18/2017:

Cross Vane Project Postponed

River levels are up so we will postpone the work on the Ramapo until Sunday morning August 20th at 9:00AM.
We will meet at Glen Gray bridge parking area.

PLEASE CHECK THE WEB SITE BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME ON SUNDAY.

If water levels do not drop enough, we will reschedule for Saturday August 26th.

http://www.ejtu.org

Note: This is unrelated to the infamous Oakland Project. This work site is on the Mahwah side of the Bridge and a bit upstream.

 

[Rusty Spinner]

I was all set to help lead on Saturday, but was busy with family obligations yesterday and couldn't make it. Hope it went well. Maybe East Jersey TU can do the whole thing since the Borough of Oakland's hired Brand X guy can't seem to get a permit to move forward.

 

[Pete]

Tune-up August 17, 2019

https://www.facebook.com/eastjerseytu/photos/a.264847100356565/1251996081641657/?type=3&theater

 

[Rusty Spinner]

Tune-up August 17, 2019

https://www.facebook.com/eastjerseytu/photos/a.264847100356565/1251996081641657/?type=3&theater

Good luck, Pete. All is very quiet on the Ramapo front. Wonder what the town's next move will be?

 

[Pete]

Good luck, Pete. All is very quiet on the Ramapo front. Wonder what the town's next move will be?

Lew's been fairly silent on the subject.
His most recent project involved replacing damaged gabions on the channelized portion of Allerman Brook (aka Pond Brook).

I hope he doesn't let that crew go anywhere near the river.

 

[Pete]

Off Topic (Re Allerman Brook)

Anyone ever heard of AGNOLI ENGINEERING?
Now that Brian won't hang around with him anymore, they're Lew's new buddies.