Month: January 2011

‘Dammed’ with Faint Praise?

heidi08 Beavers elsewhere, Creative Solutions January 22, 2011

Beavers: The good, the bad and the ugly

Katie Wilson

“They’re very industrious and build wonderful things” said Wayne Hoffman, MidCoast Watersheds Council coordinator, in a presentation, “Beavers: Engineering Healthy Watersheds” at the Seaside Public Library Wednesday night. The Necanicum Watershed Council, with the North Coast Land Conservancy, a land trust that owns properties from the Columbia River Estuary to Lincoln City, hosted Hoffman as a part of the “Listening to the Land” series. Humans and beavers can coexist, maintain Hoffman and the NCLC. It just sometimes takes creative solutions.

This article was passed on the AP with various headlines suggesting a delightful beaver-affirming read, but it starts out more like the compliment from a very difficult grandmother: you have to scour through the insults and read between the lines to find the good stuff.

” It’s easy to see they’re rodents.” Some beavers are just not master architect material, and he’s witnessed beaver activity that’s made him shake his head. “I haven’t had a lot of success in understanding the minds of beavers,” he said. These large rodents can be big pests, making water flow where it shouldn’t (onto roads, across property) and gnawing on valuable trees.

I’m not sure why one’s own failure to understand something makes that thing inscrutable…(it’s not like our doctors get away with saying, I have no idea why you feel sick, that’s weird!”) But I’ll give Wayne the benefit of the doubt because Len says he knows him and he’s a good guy and a beaver believer. Of course I promptly wrote to invite him to the State of the Beaver Conference but apparently the River Restoration Conference is at the same time.

They’ve agreed for the future to pick different dates so as not to force folks to choose (would you rather save beavers or creeks?). Looking at some of the negative messages my guess is that Wayne (or the author) is just doing that thing where you pretend to dislike something that’s unpopular so that you can win more trust from the crowd when you later tell them its a good idea. (What a cynical friend would call the “Obama hippie-punch that sometimes precedes bad news for the GOP.’)

So after he talks a bit of smack about beavers he gets to the good stuff.

Humans and beavers can coexist, maintain Hoffman and the NCLC. It just sometimes takes creative solutions. If a culvert is consistently getting clogged because of beaver activities, a bigger culvert or a bridge can be installed. There are ways to fund these projects if a landowner can’t personally afford to do it, said Hoffman and Celeste Coulter, stewardship director for NCLC. The NCLC, as a nonprofit, has access to all sorts of grants, Coulter said. “We’re always willing to work with landowners,” she said.

Well that’s better. No mention of beaver deceivers’/trapazoidal culvert fencing but its a good start. Len tells me that Celeste is a member of the beaver advocacy co mmittee and will be at the conference in February. That’s promising.

“Beavers can be pests,” Hoffman admitted, but having them around can provide both an ecological and a public benefit. “In my opinion, it’s worth the investment,” he said. Beavers encourage other plant and animal life in and around the ponds they make when they dam streams; they can change the hydrology of stream systems across land in positive ways; and, more importantly for this region, they create excellent salmon habitat good news for conservationists and fishers alike, Hoffman said.

Impressive. We’re only on the second page of the article before we actually get to the point. I’m inclined to blame Ms. Wilson, but who knows what happened to the story she originally wrote? Wayne, though, is a little cautious for my beaver-bold tastes. How about rather than “In my opinion” you say “The research shows us again and again that it’s worth the investment.” Hmm, maybe its not a very scientific-minded crowd. Then how about “I’ve seen countless landowners come to realize that its worth the investment”?

The dams create calm pond areas where juvenile salmon can feed and grow large and strong. These fish have a better chance of later surviving in the ocean. But beaver populations have been on the decline. There had been anecdotal information coming in for years: landowners who said, “Well, we used to have beavers, but we haven’t seen them for a while.” There were old dams that hadn’t been tended in a long time and evidence of places where ponds used to be. In 2006 and 2007, a series of studies Hoffman took part in, showed a decline in dams across the region. Between 1992 and 1997, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Aquatic Habitat Inventory recorded 71 dams in one area. However, in 2007, “We walked the same dams and found three,” Hoffman said. The story was similar almost everywhere they went, at the Tillamook Basin, at the Upper Five Rivers and at the Yaquina Basin.

A landscape without as many beavers, Hoffman said, is a landscape that’s not as good for fish and other ecosystems. When beavers build dams, they help distribute nutrients up and down water systems. Take away the dam, and nutrients tend to collect farther away from the headwaters, leaving the headwaters thin on nutrients while other places are glutted.

Not enough beavers! There’s the real story! The headline of KATU got it right. Talk about ‘burying your lead’! This is what the article SHOULD be about. Numbers dropped drastically? Gosh I can’t help but wonder if it had anything to do with ORS 610.002 which moved beavers to the “Predator status” so that they could be lethally hunted on private lands without any permit or cumbersome counting.

Beavers on Private land: Beaver are defined as a Predatory Animal by Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 610.002 on private land. Statute implemented by Oregon Department of Agriculture.

The funny thing is that beavers on public land are classified as a protected fur-bearer. Are there signs posts? I sure hope Oregon’s beavers can tell the difference. The article meanders through a host of possible explanations without mentioning the status issue, possibly blaming cougars or reed-canary grass. (It’s always good to blame the loss of one species on the encroachment of another provided that the encroaching species isn’t human). And then Wayne offers some possible solutions:

What’s the solution? Hoffman isn’t sure. He has some ideas, though: reduce trapping, make habitats safer for beavers, restore food supplies, get rid of Reed canary grass, and reduce the beaver-human conflicts by replacing small culverts with bigger ones. Maybe even provide compensation for landowners who are willing to let beavers stay on the land.

I like that last one the best. It’s easy enough to provide a property tax reduction for landowners who can demonstrate active colonies on site. I still like the idea of a salmon tax where you charge people to get RID of beavers and the funds go into watershed restoration and beaver management. Still, none of these ideas is possible until Oregon takes the dreaded step and withdraws beavers from 610.002. As long as private landowners can do what they please to colonies with no report and no paperwork you have no way to control the trapping that occurs.

Maybe its time to classify beaver as something OTHER than a predator?

2010 Kit feeding - Photo: Cheryl Reynolds

Triumph in Truckee!

heidi08 Beavers elsewhere, Creative Solutions, Environmental January 21, 2011

This came late last night from our beaver-friends in Tahoe. Remember they went to the city council meeting in truckee where a plan to restore Trout creek (that incidentally mentioned removing lots of beavers) was being reviewed. Reading Mary’s excited email I defy you not to remember our important council meetings!

WE WON! THE BEAVERS WON! THEY LISTENED! They are adding language to the MND to not harm beavers and work with us to use flow control devices and protect trees. Mike, they have your letter on file and there were copies for all in attendance. We will be making an appointment with the engineers and staff to review your video and go over specifics. On top of the world! Mary & Sherry

The Town of Truckee worked with the Department of Fish and Game, Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and an environmental consultant to address the beaver dams that have changed the flow of Trout Creek. Ryan Salm/Sierra Sun - 06

Congratulations ladies! Your group is doing a fantastic job of maintaining wildlife and wetlands by advocating for beavers! I am so excited for you and your accomplishments, and so affirmed in our decision to have offered you our first-ever beaver management scholarship. I’m sure we’ll have lots to talk about over a draft or nice chardonnay in Oregon when we all meet for the State of the Beaver conference! I’ll be the one with the beaver hat.

Here’s a copy of the letter Mike sent, just for reference;

I am writing to offer my expertise with any beaver management questions you may have regarding Trout Creek. The initial Trout Creek Restoration Plan was forwarded to me from some concerned citizens for my review. I would like to go on record as saying that since “a more stable and natural creek corridor with improved biological function and quality” is a stated goal of the plan, then maintaining an active local beaver population (which are a native species) should be an integral aspect of the plan.

Since 1998 in one of the most densely populated states in the country I have resolved over 700 beaver – human flooding conflicts with innovative, cost-effective water control devices. See the Beaver Management studies on our website at: www.beaversolutions.com. These studies have proven that installation of these simple water control devices provide better results than beaver trapping on the basis of flood damage protection, cost, environmental effects, long term success and humane parameters.

The vast majority of beaver-related flooding threats to human infrastructure can be resolved without removing the beavers. In fact, keeping the beavers in place provides many benefits to people and the environment, including creating the opportunity for the most cost-effective stream restoration possible. Beavers are North America’s “Keystone species”. This means that they are critically valuable for biodiversity. Stream restoration studies have proven that beavers are a key component to restoring biological diversity and natural stream flows. They do their stream restoration work naturally, and for free.

In addition, when we are forced to remove beavers from an area it is almost always a short term solution. New beavers often recolonize the trapped areas within 1 year, recreating the same flooding issues. There is a better way.

Please revisit the decision to remove the beavers from Trout Creek. The environment and the citizens of Truckee will benefit most if the Best Beaver Management Practices are followed and the Restoration Project incorporates beavers in the wetland habitat.

Feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns regarding beaver management.

Sincerely,

Michael Callahan, President

Beaver Solutions LLC

Southampton, MA

Office: (413) 527-6472

Web: www.beaversolutions.com

E-mail: mike@beaversolutions.com

Congratulations again ladies! It couldn’t happen to a nicer creek!

A reminder

heidi08 Uncategorized January 20, 2011

Not much time to post today. Just a quick note to say we got some stirrings out of Truckee saying “we don’t wanna kill the beavers just rip our their dams and move them out while we do our magic creek work so don’t be mean.” and an update from Rick hot on the trail of an Southern Pomo word for ‘beaver’ which puts them historically in the Russian river, which, you know, they ‘weren’t’.

I offer this reminder for your enjoyment:

Truckee Talks Beavers

heidi08 Beavers elsewhere, Who's Killing Beavers Now? January 19, 2011

7.1 PUBLIC HEARING – Adoption of the Trout Creek Restoration Project Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation, Monitoring and Reporting Program Capital Improvement Program 60-03-37.

Recommended Action: Conduct a public hearing on the Mitigated Negative Declaration (SCH #2010122026); and adopt Resolution 2011-03 adopting the Trout Creek Restoration Project Mitigated Negative Declaration, and Mitigation, Monitoring and Reporting Program.

Though they are not considered species of concern on Trout Creek, the American beaver has garnered a lot of attention. Opinions vary on whether or not they are native residents of the Truckee Tahoe region or if they were introduced early on to encourage trapping and exploration of the West. What is clear is that they significantly modify the habitats that they live in by removing woody vegetation and altering channel morphology. In Trout Creek. their presence has been considered detrimental because their dams create discontinuities in sediment transport that can result in flooding. Beaver dams constructed in the area have caused the channel to braid into several low flow channels and produces some head cutting of meadow sods on the floodplain. If present, it is the Town’s intent to remove beavers and/or beaver dams throughout lower Trout Creek as part of and following the restoration of Reaches 1 and 3 in order to maintain creek function.

Mitigated Negative Declaration

It’s November 7, 2007 all over again! Tomorrow evening will see the city council in Truckee consider the Trout Creek Restoration plan, which has received a great deal of funding and support from the higher-ups and probably represents the kind of backroom real estate trade (you give us a strip mall here and some high density housing here and we’ll fix your little creek) that you often see in today’s watershed restorations. The special thing about this one is that it is based on a Mitigated Negative Declaration that happens to reference the removal of beavers in at least 16 different paragraphs. Of course by ‘removal’ they mean ‘killing’. Seems that all those beavers are ruining their nice ‘natural’ creek, and Truckee is having none of it.

First snow of winter, Trout Creek, December 2007

I’m sadly not hopeful about the outcome here. The local paper ran a four page beaver-slam and hasn’t done a great job of printing opposing letters to the editor, even the one written by Mike Callahan of Beaver Solutions. No one has even taken our Sierra Wildlife friends up on their offer to wire wrap trees to protect them. The fine minds involved are clinging to the fraying thread of opinion that says beavers aren’t native and ignoring every piece of research that violently contradicts the notion that beavers are bad for creeks so they can go ahead with their beaver-less plan. The less fine minds are dreading the endangered species lured by the lush beaver habitat that will stop this development dead in its tracks.

Maybe I’m too cynical, but I smell a done deal with a lot of hardscape. If I could suspend my disbelief I’d tell the thoughtful folks of Truckee to go read about what beavers do for the soil, the trees, the birds, the landlocked Kokanee salmon or the see-faring sockeye salmon. I’d suggest they read about what happens when supposed advocates give spurious reasons for trapping beavers. I’d say go read about the historical evidence of beaver in the sierras and then we’ll talk. But I have a feeling this fight isn’t about data.

I’m worried it’s more of a ‘my minds made up don’t confuse me with the facts’ kinda deal. Only a room full of beaver voices will make any difference to this trap-happy steam-roller. Any locals who can possibly be there should, and bring a camera and some children’s drawings.

Although the American beaver is not a special status species, its presence is clear throughout the lower reaches of Trout Creek. Several beavers have created numerous dams along the lower reaches of the creek which causes water levels in the stream to fluctuate frequently based on the stability of the dams. As part of the proposed restoration project, all beaver dams and associated earthen materials will be removed to accommodate channel restoration. Beavers will likely not be present during construction, however, there is the potential for one or more to occur within the project area. Trout Creek and associated riparian habitat are within the jurisdiction of the California Department of Fish and Game. Activities that would affect the bed, bank, or channel of Trout Creek, and consequently have a significant impact on wildlife, would require a streambed alteration agreement with the California Department of Fish and Game pursuant to Section 1602 of the California Fish and Game Code. As part of the streambed alteration permit the California Department of Fish and Game would determine if potential irnpacts to wildlife are significant and identify appropriate mitigation measures. Mitigation measures could include short and long term mitigations to aid in wetland function as well as riparian community stability.

Beavers and Bats

heidi08 Beaver News, Beavers elsewhere, Environmental January 18, 2011

Looks like the BBC (which may just stand for Bring Back Castor!) is catching on to beaver fever. They launched this headline yesterday.

European beavers construct ideal habitats for bats

By Ella Davies Earth News reporter

Reintroduced beavers construct ideal habitats for bats, new research reveals.

By felling trees, beavers thin out the canopy, scientists have found, leaving fewer obstacles in the way of aerial-hunting bats as they pursue insects. Also, river-damming by beavers boosts the numbers of these insect prey by creating large waterlogged areas. Scientists say this study provides further evidence of beavers’ essential role in maintaining woodlands. In particular, aerial-hawking bats including common pipistrelles (Pipistrellus pipistrellus), Nathusius’ pipistrelles (Pipistrellus nathusii), soprano pipistrelles (Pipistrellus pygmaeus) and common noctules (Nyctalus noctula). “Bats are very skilled fliers, but those species who hawk prey in the air, cannot effectively hunt in a very dense forest,” says Mr Ciechanowski. Aerial-hawking bats hunt by echo-location, bouncing sound off their prey and listening for the echo, which identifies its location

What a fine start to an article! Thanks for the excellent read. Our sierra beaver friends sent me the original research which you can read here: Reintroduction of beavers may improve habitat quality for vespertilionid bats foraging in small river valleys (Ciechanowski et al., 2010) Of course, the news article does a pretty good summary. I especially liked this part

Mr Ciechanowski believes this study complements conservationist’s arguments that beavers are an essential or “keystone” species in woodland habitats. “It simply supports the idea of beaver reintroduction… not only for that magnificent animal itself, but also as a tool to restore habitats biologically depauperated by ourselves.”

Not only does the BBC here do a great job of spreading the ‘beaver gospel’, it also brings me a brand new word ‘depauperdate”! Dictionary.com tells me it means “Lacking in numbers or variety of species“ which is certainly something human development causes and beaver habitat cures. I shall keep this word and use it as often as possible!

If that isn’t a refreshing enough read for you check here for a lovely review of our beavers and their website on “Writing in the Raw“. Sarah Summerville of Unexpected Wildlife Refuge pointed it out to me this morning, and I’m always impressed when dial-up in the New Jersey woods catches something before Heidi-at-her-zippy-computer! This was quite a catch too, as the author (Melvin) gets every single detail of our beavers and their family correct and makes us sound fairly heroic. He is slightly off in suggesting that the drawing of a Clemson is less complicated than a Flexible lever or Castor Mastor (quite the opposite) but his point that flow devices are cheap and easy is well taken and well made. I can’t comment on the site or I would ask are you local? Do we know you? and how did you know about us? It’s fun that he mentioned my Crannog and ethnobotany post, though because I’m thinking that might (along with “don’t cause a nativity scene’‘) be amongst my favorite research posts ever. Anyway, thanks for the nod and please keep us in mind when you run across any beaver stories!