River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1925-06-18
Yoors trooly
Axel Peterson.
THE PASSING OF THE SOUTH FORK
By c. G. Stratton

The South Fork was originally as
nearly an ideal trout stream as one
is apt to find. Rising from deep
flowing, abundant springs, it wind
ing, alder clothed course offered
ample protection to the finest and
gamiest of speckled trout Today
its waters are as cold as ever, it's
life giving springs beyond the power
Of man to pollute or destroy, but
otherwise time has taken a heavy
toll. Erosion, ever quickened by
mans occupation of the land, has
laid heavy hand on this once
beautiful stream. Today its grace
full meanders are Strengthened, the
willows and alders ripped away and
instead of winding, shaded, grassy
banked brook there is broad. sand
checked trench, occupied by a shall
low stream exposed to the full glare
of the sun. AS the stream pursues
it's destructive work, acres of valu-
able pasture have been ruined,
fences destroyed and even building
threatened. The pools have been de-
stroyed or silted up and, with the
destruction of the bushes, the last
protection of the trout is nearly
gone. They are forced to take re-
fuge in the few remaining pools and
even these are SO unprotected by
vegetation as to be easily accessible
to the fly fisherman. 1t is apparent
that the South Fork is about to re-
peat the history of the Rocky
Branch and pass entirely from the
list of trout streams.
Many people of this vicinity
mourn the passing of the South
Fork. The Izaak Walton League
has not only restocked the stream
but has planted willows along the
banks. Their efforts appear to
have ayailed but little. Can any
thing be done?
1t would appear that if a stream
is to be successfully controlled, we
must work with nature rather thar
against her. Streams follow def
mite and easily observable laws. II
is remarkable that man, in his
dealings with streams, so seldom
takes these laws into account.
The life work of a stream is to re-
duce its basin to sea level. The
amount of sediment a stream can
carry-in other words, its destrue-
tive force-depends on its volume
and the speed with which it flows.
Again, on the same slope a large
stream flows faster than a small
one. Hence, a stream in flood flows
faster than when the water is low
and its destructive power is greater.
1t can be proved that if the speed
of a stream is doubled its power is
multiplied by sixty-four.
In the life history of a stream
we may distinguish three stages
youth, maturity and age. A youth
full stream has power to carry more
sediment than is washed into it
hence it erodes its channel and
lowers its course rapidly. As the
channel is deepened, the slope is
pa ada lace apd H. o,&nra,L n1o o1-o,, al
Presently there comes a time wher
the stream is just able to carry the
load supplied to it by run-off and
can no longer deepen its course. II
the course is deepened at flood time
it will be filled in as the flood pas
SEES because the weakened curren!
can no longer carry all of its load o.
sediments. The stream is now grad
ed, its downward cutting is very
slow and the gentler current causes
it to swing more easily from side to
side and presently we have the
flood plain developed, on which the
stream flows in intricate curves
called meanders. A stream ir this
condition is said to be in maturity
If there are outcrors of harder ma
Serial slong the course Of the steam,
there it will preserve its youthful
character in rapids. Between the
RAPIDS, it will take on the aspect of
maturity. Such a stream consists
of Breaches and Raj :ds."
There are certain occurrences
which may cause a stream to renew
the more violent character of its
youth, to be "Rejuvenated." Among
these are increase in volume, lower
ing of the outlet, and deforestration.
Conversely, there are various
changes which may enfeeble a
stream, cause it to take on the ap-
pearance of maturity or age.
Among these are decrease in volume,
raising of the outlet, construction of
dave ovJ ..aFnWn~&wnAs~.