Seaplane or Amphibian
Flight Crew Sea; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 16; Flight Crew Total 4052; Flight Crew Type 3834
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Inflight Event / Encounter Object
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors
I was returning to ZZZ from ZZZ1 and encountered a turbulent down rotor on landing approach to a seaplane base.  As a result; the aircraft dropped abruptly and struck the top of a lone 120 ft. tall tree with left wing; about 1/2 way out.  There was no loss of control because of the tree strike; and despite damage to left wing; aircraft flew well; to an uneventful water landing.  The damage is confined to the leading edge of the wing; invoking dented and torn skin between two ribs (about 2 ft.); and slight damage to the leading edge of both of those ribs. There were no injuries to the persons on board. Winds were 10-15 kts. coming over a 500 ft. hill; so no turbulence this strong was expected.  A higher gust must have formed between the two adjacent ridges to explain the down draft. I have [numerous] years and 100's of hours flying seaplanes in the [area]; although I have done most of my flying in [state].As seaplane pilots we are taught to come in low over lake shore trees to minimize the distance required for landings; because there are no distance markers on water; and every 50 ft. of altitude over the trees means up to 1;000 ft. of lake needed to land. I believe I'll stay a bit higher over the trees in mountainous areas in the future.I apologize if this incident doesn't qualify for a report; but as is usual in seaplane flying; everything seems to be a 'gray area'.
Seaplane pilot reported clipping a tree while attempting to land in the water.