There are all kinds of things that could be written about last night’s meeting but I want to start here: our side did a helluva job. We did our homework, knew the material and made the best possible argument for responsible stewardship. From Mitch’s compelling hydrology summary, to Igor’s outstanding announcement of supporters, to Councilman Ross’ assertive and confident fiscal challenge of the mayor at meetings close, the field was ours. Our beaver t-shirted public (thanks santa) was smart, compassionate, and remarkably patient. We had read the report and understood where to ask questions. We knew the issues to focus on and could demonstrate the clear benefit of our time. If some didn’t know before, last night showed clearly whose team to be on and whose footprints to watch. The council wouldn’t vote last night and we’ll have to do it yet again but all great performers are asked back for an encore and now we know just what to wear.
The contrast was stark and compelling. It was a “powerpoint-vs-folded-cardboard” kinda night. Well done!
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This was sent by Skip Lisle to the council yesterday and read at the meeting by our own Cheryl Reynolds.
Dear Martinez City Council Members,
You are on the brink of an important decision on how to deal with your beavers. As you know, there are only two fundamental, and very different, ways to address beaver-human conflicts. One is through “extirpation,” which requires the removal of beavers now and, typically, in perpetuity as others continue to arrive. This might be described as a “soft” defense because it leaves nothing physical in place that reduces the vulnerability of properties between the time that new beavers arrive and when they are, once again, trapped. The other alternative is to build tangible, “hard” defenses that protect properties in a long-term manner regardless of the presence of beavers. The flow device we installed in January, which controls water levels by controlling damming behavior, is an example of this approach.
Martinez is not alone in confronting the beaver issue. Conflicts between beavers and people are widespread in both urban and rural areas. Across this continent and in Eurasia, beavers are recovering and slowly reoccupying their historical range, including Martinez, after being nearly destroyed during the Fur Trade (ca. 1600–1900). Partly because of this modern reality, I have spent the past 15 years resolving beaver-human conflicts in many areas of the world. Everything in my experience has convinced me that a hard defense is almost always more effective, efficient, and economical than just endlessly interdicting animals. In addition, it allows for the possibility of capturing the many values associated with having this native species, and other wildlife, present to view, study, and enjoy. In Martinez, there is also the added and fairly unique potential for ecotourism. Moreover, given that this issue is politically contentious—as it often is in other communities as well—non-extirpative defenses represent an excellent compromise that keeps political conflict at a minimum.
I admire your commitment to protecting the properties and property owners of Martinez while also weighing the attitudes and opinions of a diverse public. For a variety of reasons, I believe that a strategy based on controlling beaver behavior will serve your city’s interests far better than one based on eradication.
Skip Lisle, M.S., President
