My River Was Being Destroyed… So I Brought in the Excavator

Something was changing the river… and it wasn’t for the better. Over the winter, rising water and fallen timber created a serious blockage that started altering the flow and putting pressure on the riverbank. Left alone, it would lead to erosion, loss of land, and long-term damage to the property. So I brought in the excavator. In this video, I work through the process of gaining access, cutting out obstructions, and carefully pulling material out of the river—while trying to do it the right way. Not just clearing the problem, but thinking ahead to restoration and how to use what’s there to strengthen the bank for the future. There’s also a real element of risk here—unstable footing, heavy logs, moving water, and working alone. This is the kind of job where small mistakes turn into big problems fast. If you’ve ever dealt with land, water, or heavy equipment… you’ll understand exactly what’s at stake. ⏱ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 The problem reveals itself 1:30 Cutting access with the saw 2:00 Why I carry a tourniquet 3:30 Opening up the work area 7:00 Bringing in the excavator 9:00 First pull attempt 11:00 Bowline knot + rigging setup 12:00 Crossing the log jam (sketchy) 16:00 First big log out 19:00 This one gets serious 22:00 Pushing the limits of the machine 24:30 Time for the big saw 26:00 Measuring and cutting for reuse 28:00 Unexpected firewood score 30:00 Wrapping up + priorities river restoration, excavator work, log removal, land management, homestead projects, heavy equipment, chainsaw work, off grid living, property maintenance, erosion control, logging tools