King’s Field Trout Habitat Improvement Project

Rootwads visible above the water surface behind the coffer dam during construction King's Field | Photo by Jen Wong

CPF is happy to announce the completion of a project to improve fish habitat and reduce stream bank erosion alongside Chittenango Creek at CPF’s King’s Field property. The project, completed in August of 2023, is located on the east side of State Route 13 (Rippleton Road), approximately one mile south of the intersection of Route 13 and Route 20, and just upstream from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) fishing access parking area.

Trout Unlimited and CPF consulted with Carl Schwartz at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and prepared a design using “toe wood” and “root wads” to stabilize the bank. This streambank protection technique uses native woody material to stabilize eroding streambanks. For the root wads, the bottom 20 feet of 12 large trees, with their tops removed but root balls left intact, were placed on their sides, perpendicular to the creek bank with their root balls in the water. Submerged root wads provide immediate stabilization and create an excellent habitat for juvenile fish. In areas adjacent to this, fully submerged large logs were embedded into the bank. Layers of rock and soil were placed on top of the logs and root wads. The area was then seeded, mulched and shrubs and saplings were planted. Over time, vegetation will grow and take over the job of stabilizing the bank, and the logs and root wads will naturally deteriorate.

Large limestone blocks were placed downstream of the root wads
to elevate the water levels at King's Field. | Photo by Jen Wong

After the toe wood portion of the project was completed, several large pieces of native limestone* were placed downstream to raise the water level in that section of the creek. In low-water conditions, it is now possible to rock-hop across to the east side of the creek in this location. [*A note to spring paddlers: It will still be possible to kayak this section of the creek, but be aware of the submerged or partially sub-merged rocks in this location and be prepared to “thread the needle” through the widest gap in the center of the channel.]

The streambank stabilization project was done during the Creek’s low-flow season, to limit the impact the work would have on fish migration. While the work was completed, a coffer dam—a temporary barrier to hold back water and create a dry work environment—was put in place to divert flow around the work area and reduce any downstream impacts related to the bank disturbance.

In the spring of 2024, CPF will reroute the informal trail from the DEC parking area to Chittenango Creek to direct visitors to the newly-enhanced fishing area.

A little background history: In 1994, the King Family donated 41 acres of undeveloped property to CPF. This gift of land included 10 acres of woodland, 31 acres of open land, and 2700 feet of water frontage on a section of Chittenango Creek. The property was donated by brothers Graham (Steve) King and Chester King, and their niece Julie Von Schrader (daughter of Carol King Von Schrader, sister of Graham and Chester). In 2012, CPF collaborated with DEC to provide and promote public access fishing along this scenic reach of the Creek. To accomplish this goal, CPF sold the fishing rights on both sides of the portion of Chittenango Creek that runs through the property, as well as a half-acre of land—now the site of the small parking area—to DEC. CPF’s continued conservation of this land protects the wetlands, upland forest habitat, and Chittenango Creek corridor in this location, and maintains the rural ambiance of the road from Cazenovia to New Woodstock.