River Tree and log cutting

[Blazerman]

I have had my place on the river now long enough to see where guys had cut trees and logs that were making it hard to run. In most cases the trees were in the water and blocking a channel or were hanging just above the channel causing issues. And earlier this spring my neighbor and I jumped in my boat and ran up and cut a large log that was blocking a chute and had to be jumped if you wanted to get upstream.

But the one thing I never knew was if it was legal to cut them. I had heard some people say it was and others who said it wasn’t.

This weekend, as we were running around, we came across another tree that had fallen in the same spot as the one we cut out earlier this spring and was blocking the same chute as before. Once again I decided to cut it out.

So we headed up there, got the boat positioned, and starting cutting. Right in the middle of doing it we hear a siren and turn around and there is the water patrol sitting just downstream with his lights flashing and he is hitting his siren off and on. And waving at us frantically.

My first thought was where in the heck did he come from and my second thought was well I guess it is not legal to cut on trees.

Because it was tight in there it took me a minute or two to get back downstream and out of his way. As he headed towards us I am thinking guess he is gonna give me a ticket or something. Well he pulls close and says got a boat crash upstream with an injury and need to get by and takes off. So now I am thinking guess he just needed to get by and I was also thinking I still don’t know if it legal to cut trees. 

Later, after the eclipse, (which was very cool to see) we all headed back to the river to cool off. While hanging out by the dock here comes the water patrol again pulling up at my dock. He looks at my boat and says was that you cutting that tree upstream this morning. So once again I think well guess I am getting a ticket after all. I hesitated when answering and finally I said “well it was in the way and blocking the shoot there”. He then said “well I came back by to thank you and tell you you are not in any kind of trouble. I just wanted to say we appreciate you cutting the trees like that when they become a hazard”.

I thought that was pretty cool for him to come back by like that and now I am thinking it must be ok to cut trees and logs when they create a hazard on the river.

 

[Johnsfolly]

6 hours ago, Blazerman said:

But the one thing I never knew was if it was legal to cut them. I had heard some people say it was and others who said it wasn’t.

Blazerman - there are just some things that are the right thing to do no matter if it is legal or not. Your story was just one of those "right" things to do. Glad to hear that this was also a legal thing to do as well. Thanks for taking the time to clear the waterway and for posting. 

[TroutRinger]

Seesaw of emotions lol

I do appreciate those that do this. Legal or not, it has to be done. If not, most of the popular float streams would be blocked at some point. 

[Blazerman]

27 minutes ago, TroutRinger said:

Seesaw of emotions lol

I do appreciate those that do this. Legal or not, it has to be done. If not, most of the popular float streams would be blocked at some point. 

i feel the same way. i really get tired of all the big shoal runners, and other big loud v8s that blast up and down and wish we could limit them. But i guess it is their right to enjoy the river any way they want since nothing they are doing is illegal.

[Old plug]

I guided a few times on the upper Meramec and floated it many times. i loved that river very much. when .i returned a few years ago I spent about 15 minute on the banks below Onandaga. All I can say is you all or NEVER see ao know the rover I knew. It makes me sock to my stomach to think what people have done to that river. 

[Hog Wally]

3 hours ago, Blazerman said:

I have had my place on the river now long enough to see where guys had cut trees and logs that were making it hard to run. In most cases the trees were in the water and blocking a channel or were hanging just above the channel causing issues. And earlier this spring my neighbor and I jumped in my boat and ran up and cut a large log that was blocking a chute and had to be jumped if you wanted to get upstream.

But the one thing I never knew was if it was legal to cut them. I had heard some people say it was and others who said it wasn’t.

This weekend, as we were running around, we came across another tree that had fallen in the same spot as the one we cut out earlier this spring and was blocking the same chute as before. Once again I decided to cut it out.

So we headed up there, got the boat positioned, and starting cutting. Right in the middle of doing it we hear a siren and turn around and there is the water patrol sitting just downstream with his lights flashing and he is hitting his siren off and on. And waving at us frantically.

My first thought was where in the heck did he come from and my second thought was well I guess it is not legal to cut on trees.

Because it was tight in there it took me a minute or two to get back downstream and out of his way. As he headed towards us I am thinking guess he is gonna give me a ticket or something. Well he pulls close and says got a boat crash upstream with an injury and need to get by and takes off. So now I am thinking guess he just needed to get by and I was also thinking I still don’t know if it legal to cut trees. 

Later, after the eclipse, (which was very cool to see) we all headed back to the river to cool off. While hanging out by the dock here comes the water patrol again pulling up at my dock. He looks at my boat and says was that you cutting that tree upstream this morning. So once again I think well guess I am getting a ticket after all. I hesitated when answering and finally I said “well it was in the way and blocking the shoot there”. He then said “well I came back by to thank you and tell you you are not in any kind of trouble. I just wanted to say we appreciate you cutting the trees like that when they become a hazard”.

I thought that was pretty cool for him to come back by like that and now I am thinking it must be ok to cut trees and logs when they create a hazard on the river.

 

Nick Mayer ( your neighbor) was the boat wreck. And Jason Hurt, the HP , is the nicest law enforcement individual you could ever meet 

[Smalliebigs]

1 hour ago, Hog Wally said:

Nick Mayer ( your neighbor) was the boat wreck. And Jason Hurt, the HP , is the nicest law enforcement individual you could ever meet 

you are correct Hog.....looks like Nick hit a rock below Sand Ford and threw himself out of the boat. https://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/WP03/AccidentDetailsAction?ACC_RPT_NUM=170538700

I saw a guy yesterday right above 141 take the North channel around Tweaker Shoal with both of his small kids with him and one sitting in his lap. He attempted to go over the waterfall basically, why I will never know??? Anyway he ripped open that Alweld and bloodied both of his sons faces who were wearing lifejackets but, it was one of the dumbest things I have ever seen. Then he ran down stream and made some horrific sounding rock contact on the shoal below the railroad bridge.....entertaining.   

[Mitch f]

48 minutes ago, Smalliebigs said:

you are correct Hog.....looks like Nick hit a rock below Sand Ford and threw himself out of the boat. https://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/WP03/AccidentDetailsAction?ACC_RPT_NUM=170538700

I saw a guy yesterday right above 141 take the North channel around Tweaker Shoal with both of his small kids with him and one sitting in his lap. He attempted to go over the waterfall basically, why I will never know??? Anyway he ripped open that Alweld and bloodied both of his sons faces who were wearing lifejackets but, it was one of the dumbest things I have ever seen. Then he ran down stream and made some horrific sounding rock contact on the shoal below the railroad bridge.....entertaining.   

Many a boat have met their Demeeez "1/4 mile below Sand Ford"

[MOPanfisher]

More often I hear people complaining wanting someone to go out and cut out the trees, I have never heard of anyone getting a ticket for it, or even getting a talking to.

[Seth]

36 minutes ago, Mitch f said:

Many a boat have met their Demeeez "1/4 mile below Sand Ford"

I saw one up close that met its demise a few miles farther down this summer as well.......