I first met Jeff Baldwin in 2010 at a California Beaver meeting in OAEC where Brock Dolman called on all beaver leaning buddies to gather together and discuss a team plan. The Sierra California paper had just been accepted by the journal of fish and game and was being edited for publication. There was general thought of working on the next one. Kate Lundquist had just started at the water institute on the beaver campaign. It was so long ago there were no beaver books, not Leila’s nor Ben’s nor Frances.
Although there was this website of course.
Jeff is in the middle of the photo to Brock’s right. He was a student of Suzanne Fouty’s back in the day and the first one I approached about the idea of a California Beaver Summit that really seemed to take it seriously. Because he was the head of the department at Sonoma state he had a certain amount of pull and I remembered being thrilled when he asked for permission for the college to host the conference.
It took a long time for them to decide about the crazy idea of a virtual beaver summit. I tried not to be a pest but for a long time Jeff started every email with an apology for their not being a decision yet. But then there was.
Sonoma State announced that it would host the first California beaver Summit which mean we would have access to their reputation, technology and know how and a zoom account that could host 1000 attendees.
All because of Jeff. Which I offer as a background for saying that Dr Baldwin retired last year and moved back to Oregon. But apparently he has decided not to get off the beaver bandwagon.
AUDUBON SOCIETY/LIBRARY TO HOST BEAVER PRESENTATION
The Umpqua Valley Audubon Society and the Roseburg Public Library will have a presentation on how beavers impact landscapes and improve habitats on Wednesday March 27th at 6:30 p.m.
A City release said the presenter Dr. Jeff Baldwin is an emeritus professor in the Department of Geography, Environment and Planning at Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park, California. Baldwin will discuss how the beaver changes land and waterscapes, stream suitability for the rodent and their recolonization. He will end with an introduction to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s three-year action plan for beaver-modified landscapes.
I am so glad for Oregon that it has won another team beaver player back, but I am still sorry for California!
The program will be held at the library on NE Diamond Lake Boulevard. It is free and open to the public. For more information, contact library staff at 492-7050 or at: library@cityofroseburg.org
I’m sure it’s going to be an excellent program. If you’re in the area you should definitely seek it out.
