Status of Boardman River projects and the Rotary Gourmet Game Dinner September 19th

Posted by Cynthia Ruzak

Running with the Milross noise making theme, Tim Burden introduced speaker Steve Largent with a few blows on whistles and duck calls declaring the upcoming event to be 3F – Fun, Fantastic Food, and Fast. Funds from the dinner have provided $150,000 so far toward the completion of a number of projects that have enhanced the Boardman and Brown Bridge areas specifically for public use.

Where that money went include:

2004 – Update inventory of flora, fauna and fish

2006 – New exhibits

2007 – Sustainable access

2008 – Streambank restoration and recreational trail signage

2009 – Scenic overlook and access steps

2010 – Nature Center recreational access

2011 – Stream Crossing improvement

2012 – Brown Bridge Dam plantings

2013 – Planting 6,000 trees and shrubs

2014 ongoing through 2016 plans for and building of a Signature Bridge.

This is the 4^th year of soliciting funds for this walking bridge at Brown Bridge, and funds from the Gourmet Dinner will go directly to supporting this project.

Steve talked about ongoing projects to reconnect the river’s flood plain by pulling back banks, putting in shallow wetland. He gave a bit of the history of Brown Bridge as a mill and stage stop, but encouraged buying the book “Currents of the Boardman” for more information. And of course a visit to the website www.friendsoftheboardman.com is always recommended.

Already a significant (count last time was 10 versus 160 now) increase in trout has been witnessed in conjunction with the cooler water (about 9 degrees) after the removal of the dam.

The Tim and Steve show ended with some down home tales of Tim’s teenage lean toward delinquency throwing rocks at the abandoned dam building, but with the clear message of how important this resource is not only to anglers but to everyone who loves the great outdoors. So please buy a pin, make a donation of goods or services, be a dinner sponsor at $250 and up, and then come to the dinner and bring friends. That’s September 19^th at the Country Club.