The log rafting era
The log rafting era is a testament to remarkable ingenuity and resilience. During a time when roads and railways were scarce, vast quantities of timber were successfully transported to coastal industries, relying solely on the power of our vibrant waterways. This innovative approach laid the foundation for the economic prosperity and societal development we benefit from today.
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At the same time, we must recognize the enduring ecological challenges left behind. The alterations made to our waterways during this period disrupted natural ecosystems, underscoring the importance of restoring balance and protecting our environment for future generations.
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Closed side channel
BEFORE FLOATATION ERA
Boulders lay scattered in disarray, and fallen trees were a common sight. These provided excellent hiding spots for fish and contributed to a highly diverse watercourse, both in depth and width.
Floodplains are the flat areas adjacent to waterways
that are regularly inundated, helping to slow down
water flow during high floods. The vegetation
on the floodplain has a purifying effect on the
water as it passes through. Side channels
branching off from the main stream
created a safe environment for aquatic
species to grow. The forest along these
side channels provided ample shade
and nourishment in the form of
leaves and plant material, which
became food for insects
Dead wood (fallen trees)
The floodplane
Stone wall
AFTER FLOATING ERA
The side channels were sealed off from the waterways simply by blocking them completely. Using manual labor, horses, winches, and crawler tractors, nearly all boulders and stones were pushed to the edges of the waterways. This was necessary because timber could get stuck if stones remained in the water. The displaced boulders formed elongated mounds, known as stone embankments. These embankments now create a barrier between the water and its surroundings, preventing the adjacent land from absorbing water during high flows.
Wedge stone walls were constructed using angular stone blocks that were split from bedrock or large boulders with the help of wedges.
Wedge stone walls
Side channel
To facilitate the movement of timber, waterways were straightened into canal-like channels and cleared of boulders and stones. Large rocks were blasted away with dynamite, and dams were constructed in smaller streams to release water as needed. Gravel and sand were washed away as the lack of boulders and bends in the watercourse resulted in high water velocity.
This made it difficult for many aquatic species to live, move, and reproduce in an environment with excessively fast-flowing water. Numerous animal species in and around the water have become threatened and now rely on our efforts to restore their habitats.
Dams
Dams were built in smaller watercourses to be able to provide extra "water boost" to the larger watercourses when needed. The dams were often placed at a lake outlet or seal so that masses of water could be stored.
Brick walls
Can be valuable from a cultural-historical perspective. An antiquarian works in ecostreams who inspects all routes to be restored. This is so as not to damage valuable environments that tell our history during the restoration.
Stone ramparts
Rock walls can be hard to see to the untrained eye. Since a large part of the clearing took place about 70 years ago, there may be full-grown forest on the embankments!