In general, small scale impediments include log and/or debris jams, pervious fill deposits (e.g., railroad ballast), wooden bridges or other landowner-constructed stream crossings, and reaches of invasive vegetation (e.g., reed canary grass and invasive cattails). The majority of these sites do not required detailed design, engineering, or permitting if little ground disturbing activity is anticipated or required. 

Small scale impediments are removed or remediated largely with hand labor and hand tools by County staff, multiple youth conservation corps including the Milwaukee Community Service Corps (MCSC), the Wisconsin Youth Conservation Corps (WisCorps), an AmeriCorps National Civilian Conservation Corps (NCCC), private landowners, and volunteers. These projects provide youth conservation corps with hands-on job training opportunities in a structured, supervised environment.