42 Nebraskaland • April 2022
"So then an added benefit was the
fact that it was mature forest all the
way around the stream, and by taking
these trees down and hinging them
into the water, it opened up a ton
of diversity for more wildlife species
outside of just the aquatic side."
The project paired well with other
habitat work he was doing in the
woodlands above the stream. There,
he cleared a solid stand of cedars from
beneath a stand of oaks to restore a
savannah. He was able to place most
of the trees in the stream rather than
piling it and later burning it.
"I got three things accomplished for
one area," he said.
He can now find 30 species of
grasses, forbs and shrubs growing
where there were only cedars, all of
which can feed deer throughout the
year, especially when leftover grain
in crop fields is covered in snow. And
he regularly finds deer bedded in
the regrowth, including the Boone &
Crockett-class bucks he's managing
the property for.
Chromy and his father are enrolled
in several other CSP practices, as
well as more in the Environmental
Walk along Chromy's stream and turn over wood and you can find a variety of aquatic life.
Pictured clockwise from top-left are: water strider, leech, mayfly larvae and millipedes.
