My 94 year old uncle told me he saw this on the teevee the other night but I was driving home from the sierras and missed it. Amazing that there’s even a mention of Martinez! (And what sr=ure looks like my video clip from lo these many moons ago).

Stanford University study explains how beaver activity may have long-term benefits on climate change

The data comes at a time of increased interest in nurturing beaver activity, even in semi-urban settings like Martinez, where one celebrated group had discovered dam building in 2007. In a separate paper, Felicia Marcus, a Landreth Visiting Fellow at Stanford University’s Water in the West program, connects the dams to a drought strategy known as “nature based solutions.”

Well now I’m fine with being lumped in with the likes of Felicia Marcus but I just want to point out that Martinez was saving beavers 15 years before it was what all the cool kids were doing.

Trend setters. That’s us.

She says a number of states have set up programs to compensate land-owners where beaver activity damages property. Meanwhile Dewey and Fendorf are hoping their study will focus attention on how natural ecosystems could be stressed by drought and climate change in the future. And the benefits of supporting natural populations that might be able to help.

A number of states? I guess 1 is a number. Okay I’m counting Washington’s legislation waiting in the wings. And maybe something in Colorado. Anywhere else? I’m all ears.

What’s NOT to love about that sentence? Way to go professor Fendorf. I’m hoping all this nice media attention gets you inspired to chair another beaver dissertation soon – maybe something about  how beavers on urban landscapes improve water quality or beaver depredation increases pollution.