So the midterms and democracy are important and all but this just got real. BEAVERS ARE ON THE BALLOT. And not just in Martinez but in the ENTIRE COUNTRY. I received a totally unexpected email yesterday saying that Congresswoman Suzan DelBene of Washington state is backing a beaver bill to fund flow devices and will likely introduce it in December of this term. REALLY. She is asking that the secretary of the interior fun flow devices. And I realize if the entire congress is filled with lunatics come January that will be IT for the foreseeable future. SO VOTE FOR SANE CANDIDATES THAT WILL SAVE BEAVERS!
The Bill is called the DAMS act for beavers “Developing Alternative Mitigation Systems” which focuses on establishing a federal grant program to help states, tribes, agencies, local governments, landowners, conservation organizations, and others invest in effective, nonlethal solutions to reduce property damage caused by beavers.
And No, I’m not kidding, Believe me. I have huge bruises up and down both arms from pinching myself over and over to wake me up if I’m dreaming and it hasn’t happened yet.
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a grant
program to assist projects that use nonlethal coexistence
measures to reduce property damage caused by beavers,
and for other purposes.
The plan is for USFW to doll out a million dollars a year for five years specifically for tools that allow coexistence and keep beaver on the landscape. Only being used for flow devices or sand painting of trees not being applied to beaver relocation OR BDAS. Priority shall be given based on education and outreach of the project and regional representation, so that the most dollars go to the most diverse states and everyone gets to play.
And no, once again, I’m kidding.
Of course this is from Washington State, because honestly where else would it be from? And of COURSE it will suffer the slings and errors of outrageous change when and it ever reaches the floor. It may never become anything. But executing the dream requires first that the dream exists. That the dream is laid out in clear achievable language. That the dream has a name you can speak aloud.
And this is the dream.
(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $1,000,000
each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027.
(2) LIMITATION.—Not more than 10 percent of
the funds made available each fiscal year under
paragraph (1) may be used for administrative expenses of the Program.
If every state participated in the grant program that would mean around 20,000 dollars a state. Which isn’t huge. But is WAYY more than zero. That would pay for about 5 flow devices in each state. Which is pretty stunning when you think about it. And of course the odds are that only 5 to 10 states will apply, and then the pot is much more substantial. And if those projects were visible and advertised then it could teach MORE places about why they matter and the whole thing could just snowball.
In addition it requires that the landowner given the grant agrees that for the duration of the project s/he will only use nonlethal measures to control beaver activity. So no trapping or no money. And that the project will only allow installation of a flow device by a TRAINED PROFESSIONAL. And no I’m not kidding.
Here’s the entire proposed legislation for you to review
DAMS for BEAVERS Act 10.28.22Congresswoman DelBene’s office plans to introduce this bill before the end of this session (likely in early December) and would love a strong list of endorsing organizations to accompany this introduction.
If you would like to endorse individually or on behalf of your organization, please fill out this form by Friday, 11/18 COB.
Just remember, THAT’S what’s a stake when you cast your ballot today! Take your souls to the polls for beavers!
