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Each year, heavy rains and melting snows move enormous amounts of debris into streams, rivers and the Chesapeake Bay. Tons of debris, both natural and man-made, are deposited along shorelines, in shallow water and in channels.
Large obstructions in waterways can be hazardous to boaters and should be removed or flagged. Garbage can be dangerous to wildlife and a health hazard.
But some natural debris is critical to healthy streams, rivers, shorelines and the Chesapeake Bay.
Beetle, caddisfly, stonefly and mayfly larvae graze on small pieces of driftwood in streams. Other insects use driftwood to crawl out of the water as they emerge from their larval forms into adults.
In Coastal Plain streams, large woody debris provides the principal substrate for insects such as stoneflies, mayflies and dragonflies. These and other insects, in turn, are one of the most important food sources for fish, as well as amphibians, reptiles and birds.
Woody debris plays many other roles in aquatic ecosystems. Wood in streams can alter water flow, creating deep pools that are quickly inhabited by certain species of fish. In larger streams and rivers, turtles climb onto partially submerged logs to bask in the sun.
Trees, branches and leaves are stranded along the edges of rivers after major storm events and flooding. These huge debris piles are quickly inhabited by a variety of mammals including mice, voles and chipmunks.
Rotting logs are a favorite place for many amphibians to deposit their eggs. Insect-eating birds forage on the abundance of insects and insect larvae in and on the debris.
During high water flows, huge amounts of debris can be carried downstream into larger rivers and deposited in and along the marshes and shorelines of the Chesapeake Bay. Natural organic matter in shallow water areas, while unsightly to some people, provides habitat for aquatic wildlife.
Driftwood is often used as nest-building material by ospreys, eagles, herons and muskrats. Partially buried logs and trees serve as perches for herons, gulls and shorebirds. Grounded debris may also help to stabilize eroding shorelines by trapping sediments. Decaying wood is attacked by wood-boring worms, clams and crustaceans and also serves as a nutrient-rich base on which plants become rooted.
Larger submerged pieces in the Chesapeake Bay provide natural physical structures for species like blue crabs, mud crabs and grass shrimp to hide from hungrier mouths. Fish - such as Atlantic croaker, killifish, mummichog, anchovy and striped bass - forage for food among submerged debris while hiding from predators.
As many sport fishermen know, fallen trees in tidal creeks are excellent sites for catching perch, bass and croaker.
Although this woody debris can be a nuisance to boaters, removing all large organic matter from waterways is not physically possible. Boaters, whether in canoes, kayaks, powerboats or sailboats, must remain alert to avoid hitting submerged logs.
If you live on the water, you probably regularly clear debris off your shore. Continue to remove trash and man-made objects that can pose a danger to both people and animals. But consider leaving some of the larger driftwood in the shallows and on the beach. This is especially important near developed shorelines.
Debris left in these sites may be the only natural habitat available to fish and other aquatic life. This habitat will attract birds, fish, crabs and other wildlife, far outweighing the aesthetics of a "clean" shoreline.
This article credits Bay Journal News Service
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