August 28, 2026
As our summer busy season comes to a close, our crew worked diligently to finish up deliverables. We made sure to finish our season off strong, spending plenty of time in the field wrapping up some of our stream restoration projects and getting a few final jobs checked off our list.
A major focus for the team was reaching our target for brushmats and cover logs, and our crew completed an impressive 12 cover logs just this week! After spending so much of the summer working on stream restoration, it was great to see just how much we could accomplish during our final week. We also completed two brush mats, which help trap sediment, stabilize stream banks, and encourage vegetation to grow along areas experiencing erosion. Brush mats have been a regular part of our restoration work this summer, so it only felt right to squeeze a couple more in before wrapping things up.
Our coastal work wasn’t finished just yet either, as the entire crew headed out onto the water to complete a survey in the Tryon estuary. We have spent plenty of time in Tryon this season, whether it was monitoring vegetation, working in the streams, or paddling through the estuary, so it was nice to make one more trip out onto the water before the end of the season. It was quite the treat to have the entire crew out for a day, enjoying the sun and listening to tunes. We were lucky enough to complete this survey right before the thunderstorm hit.
To finish things off, we traded our waders and field equipment for some tools and got to work building wildlife boxes! Our crew constructed several bird boxes and one bat box, which will provide additional shelter and nesting or roosting opportunities for wildlife in the area.
More than anything, this week gave us a chance to look back on everything we have accomplished this summer. From electrofishing, macroinvertebrate surveys, estuary monitoring and water quality testing to woody material management, brush mats, cover logs, invasive species removal, coastal restoration and community events, there was rarely a dull moment! We learned plenty, spent countless hours in streams and estuaries, got a little muddy along the way, and made some great memories as a crew. We want to thank you guys who followed along with our adventures throughout the summer and supported the work of the South Shore Watershed Association. It has been an incredibly busy and rewarding season, and we couldn’t think of a better way to end it than with one final productive week out in the watershed.
Until next time!
Love, SSWA
