Heidi Perryman
Here are pictures of the current state of the dam. The leveler pipe isn’t flowing because the water is too low. Paul Wilson was there when the city began work, and said that the dam had already been washed out on the west side. He said they began removing materials from the East Side with pitch forks. Mark Ross arrived when I was there and called Dave Scola to ask about what had happened. Apparently the cable which had been cut and repaired had been wrapped around the pipe, so that if it was pulled the leveler would be pulled out too. It is unclear whether this unauthorized action was pro-beaver or anti-beaver. Bob of city works called and talked to Mark as well, saying that branches had been lodged in between the cable and the dam, and were backing up. He said he took a photo of the debris before starting work and kept the debris in his vehicle. He stated firmly that he only took the debris that was clogged with the cable, however, because of the flow device forcing the water to split into two smaller channels on either side, the pressure is increased and removing more material. Mark felt that this was a compelling explanation, and has asked that people not over-react to the dam lowering.
I expressed my concern that the level was lower than I had ever seen it, with a sand bar visible for the first time near the lodge. However, I did observe that the level was higher on the “city lowered side” than it was on the “nature lowered side” and this suggests that there was some effort made to remove material cautiously.
Photos coming – I am working from dialup.
The experience again places stress on our beavers with fixing the dam, if indeed they decide to remain. Looking at the sight made some feel like the subcommittee is a farce and should be disbanded. I can understand it, and I feel discouraged, but I heard something today that made me hopeful. Councilman Ross was discussing the food issue and my concern that access to willow is problematic with the water height being so low, and he said that he invisioned in the future there being a feeding program that consisted of buckets at an angle along the bank where volunteers could place cut aspen. I had never discussed this idea with him, nor had anyone else to my knowledge. He really demonstrated thinking about these beavers long term wellfare, and that made me feel a little hopeful.
Come tuesday to the meeting. If we still have beavers, come with more solutions than frustrations, and if we don’t have beavers, come and cheer each other up.
