Clearing brush and weeds from stream area

I have been doing a lot of heavy work in the yard - and having fun. On several occasions, I was splattered with mud from head to toe after a lot of clearing ivy and weeds from around the stream. One day as I was walking up the bank after another session of clearing brush, I thought to myself how much I enjoyed myself. It reminded me of using driftwood to build forts on the beach when I was growing up. Making something from nothing.
Here is a section of the stream area that I cleared and planted with mostly native plants, such as ninebark, red-twig dogwood, currant, and assorted ferns (also assorted hosta).