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View an instructional video and access more information at outdoors.org/rivers.

Paddlers, spare that tree—or branch, or brush, or other woody, riverborne debris.

That's the basic conservation message being promoted by a new AMC initiative aimed at helping Massachusetts waterways retain a natural state. The goal is to benefit the waterways and the fish and wildlife species that depend on them for habitat.

Working in conjunction with the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game Riverways Program, and aided by funding from the Fields Pond Foundation, AMC has launched the new rivers conservation initiative, an online and on-paper effort designed to help paddlers of the commonwealth's streams become aware of the ecological importance of protecting naturally occurring, in-stream woody debris.

The initiative offers web-based information, including an instructional video, and a brochure titled, "Trees, Paddlers and Wildlife: Safeguarding Ecological and Recreational Values on the River." In addition to increasing awareness of the ecological value of in-stream vegetation, the information aims to help paddlers make decisions when dealing with such potential paddling obstructions.

Because downed trees, riverborne brush, and other so-called "strainers" can pose safety hazards, kayakers and canoeists often remove such obstructions from popular paddling spots. But Mike Gildesgame, AMC's Southern New England policy manager, says other methods can often be employed to reduce paddling risks while allowing for logs and branches to provide the shelter sought by fish, basking areas favored by turtles, and perches for birds.

"Most folks, when they see a log or any brush in the water, they think, 'I've got to get it out of there,' when, in fact, it's probably performing very important ecosystem functions," says Gildesgame. Those functions may include filtering pollutants and "moderating stream flow and providing stream channel diversity that attracts fish and wildlife."

"Paddlers, very often in spring clean-ups, will go out and strip all woody vegetation out of a stream so kayakers can just go zipping along," he says. The campaign is designed to encourage paddlers to think about the ecological ramifications and consider alternatives, he says.

In recognition of safety concerns, the brochure suggests the option of removing portions of hazardous in-stream vegetation while not necessarily removing it wholesale. Gildesgame says paddlers should consider the size of the debris, whether it spans the entire waterway, and whether it's possible to safely paddle over or around the object. "If it's not safe to paddle around or through (an obstruction), and portaging is not an option, an option you might want to consider is taking a few feet off of one end," he says.

The brochure notes that people involved in such work should be equipped with appropriate safety gear, including personal flotation devices. In addition, they should consult with landowners and appropriate agencies, such as a local Conservation Commission, to obtain any necessary permission or permits, before cutting or removing riverine vegetation.

Gildesgame says chapter-focused workshops on the issue are planned for April. Details are available by contacting him at mgildesgame@outdoors.org, or 617-391-6586.