Category: Beaver Conference

THE SUN SHINES ON BEAVERS

I don’t know, you might be saying, does a beaver conference like the one they just held in Maryland even matter? Lots of experts talking to each other, but Is anyone really paying attention?

Deploying beavers to create dams could prevent Ellicott City flooding

Pickering is an ancient village in the Ryedale district of North Yorkshire, England, U.K. Descriptions of the place bring to mind Ellicott City, the old mill town in Howard County, Maryland, U.S.A. Visitors will find stone buildings along the main street in both communities. Both are nestled in valleys near public parklands. Both are tourist destinations. And both are situated on waterways and prone to damaging floods.

Pickering, in the drainage of the North York moorland, had considerable success in addressing its flood problems in recent years, but not in the big, costly way you might expect.

Oooh I wonder how. Don’t you? Hmm I have an idea,,,

“Pickering pulled off protection by embracing the very opposite of what passes for conventional wisdom,” journalist Geoffrey Lean reported in the Independent. “On its citizens’ own initiative, it ended repeated inundation by working with nature, not against it.”

Two beavers were released last year into a forest to build dams and help slow the flow of floodwater into the area. Just last month people who live in Yorkshire saw results. A storm by the name of Dennis came through and dropped what meteorologists call a “weather bomb” across England, with 90 mph winds and a one-day rainfall equal to what normally falls in two weeks. The storm caused extensive flooding, but apparently beaver dams upstream augmented the sticks-and-heather flood control already in place around Pickering.

“Beavers introduced to Yorkshire in 2019 may have prevented Storm Dennis flooding with their dams,” declared the Yorkshire Post on Feb. 20.

Alan Puttock, an environmental researcher from the University of Essex, proudly displayed that headline in Hunt Valley last week as he presented research at BeaverCON 2020, a gathering of professionals engaged in managing beavers and reintroducing them to places where their dam-building could benefit humans.

Yup, someone was paying attention. HURRAY HURRAY HURRAY! There was a beaver conference and a reporter paid attention!!! Hurray for Mike and Scott and Alan and Dan Rodricks!

So much of human activity causes flooding, it’s exciting to think about the possibility of bringing back beavers, deploying them where needed and where it makes sense, and letting them restore the landscape to its natural best.

We could consider it a team effort — combined human and beaver ingenuity to address serious challenges in land use, water quality and flood control. Could beavers have spared Ellicott City its recent trauma? I don’t know. But I know we’ve tried man-made solutions for a long time. Maybe it’s time to include a nature-based one.

Got that Maryland? Beavers are part of the solution. So stop killing and complaining and start celebrating! Let beavers do what they do best. And some things will work out okay.

‘A CASTOR CANDENSIS CONSENSUS’

heidi08 Beaver Conference March 8, 2020

We’re in for a treat this morning, because Worth A Dam ~~foreign~~ domestic correpondent Doug Noble of Pennsylvania, who attended the BeaverCom in our name has finally mulled and gathered his thoughts to gather to give us his notes about the three day beave=pallooza, Enjoy.

Thank You for the OP to attend the Beavercon2020. An Eye Opening experience. I am in ‘Awe’ of these Beaver Believers. I love “my” beavers even more. I’m not sure of the next step but I’m sure the moment will appear. The hardwork, physically & mentally, is inspirational. A unique Dedication & Respect to Our Environment as well as a future outlook unlike No other.

*Mike Callahan (Beaverman) when the beaver signal shines, he fires up the beaver mobile. “Let’s go Robin” >Unbelievable man & better person.

Mike Egan (Robin). Sidekick and expert pipe, drain, beaver psychology. Nice & very informative presentation. Loved the ‘retooling’ of hardware as the beaver was understood.

Skip Lisle (Clark Kent) mild mannered and knowledgeable Skip will morph into Super Beaver and devise mitigation plans for Our communities & Their environment.

*Stanley Petroski (Underdog) What a guy, what a Bio. A survivalists similar to Castor anadensis. Pennsylvania dude who has travailed thru thin & thick. TY for ur Service Sir.

*Alexa Whipple, Kent Woodruff, & Julie Nelson. (3 Beavers in a Tub). Very symbiotic, experiential beavr/salmon relationship. Trio was Fun, Informative, clarity & comprehension were nice.

*Leonard Houston/Son (Jeremiah Johnson & Jr. Johnson). Excellent GrassRoots efforts exceptional…. commitment, courage, community.

;”>*Roger Auster. (007) English intellectual with exceptional data. Exeter U. Very nice group from UK.tention

Chris Becraft. (Johnny Quest) Maryland dude. Could really relate to his work since I know the locales. Probably a good contact to begin the next track of beaver tunes.

Also Joe Wheaton, Kent Woodruff, Gerhard Schwab, Duncan Halley, Frances Blackhouse, Robert Hopper, and many other (Beaver Dwarfs)….spoke to, listened to, and bumped (ebola) elbows with numerous Believers. Ha. All “Whistling while they Worsummary!!”

What a fantastic who’s who list! Great work Doug. I am so glad these good folks got all your attention and won your heart, Having met many of them, I entirely agree. But wait, you’re probably thinking, something’s missing. What about Heidi? What did he have to say about the Martinez p[resentation?

*Heidi Perryman (Snow White)
A people person & now a Beaver Believer. Information dissemination, a backbone of Any Revolutionary or Riparian Cause. TY. Nice show. Informs all the Beaver Dwarfs Believers.

Hahaha, yes because if there’s one thing people always say after meeting and working with me, and listening to me bark orders or tell people what to do or make them feel guilty foe not doing it, its that I’m JUST like Snow White. Just ask Jon.

But seriously folks, it is truly wonderful that Doug could be there, and be our eyes and ears on a monumental day, I’m all happy that a resident of the “Keystone State: can bring these truths about the ‘Keystone Species’ back home for ask his neighbors to learn from. It sounds like he really learned a lot and was impressed with what he saw.

Individuals from ALL over the Planet with a PASSION…..I’ve Not Seen often…..

Doug. Out.

MISSISSIPPI IS LOOKING FOR HELP UNDERSTANDING BEAVERS

heidi08 Beaver Art, Beaver Conference, Beaver ecological impact March 6, 2020

Yesterday saw the successful completion of the very first beaver conference on the Eastern seaboard. Congratulations to Mike Callahan and Scott McGill for having the courage and fortitude to make it happen. And congratulations to all the incredible speakers and participants. By all accounts this was an event that deserves repeating, and it made a big difference to a big section of the country.

Our correspondent Doug Noble will have an summary to share soon but sent a slide show in the meantime we can just say HURRAY for a job well done! I know right about this time at the Oregon conference I’m starting to feel a little sick of beavers, so I hope they all have some great hikes or netflix to unwind with. The English folks are visiting the Smithsonian today, so that will be an excellent way to de-beaver.

On the western front we were very excited also to receive our souvenir ‘towels’ for the festival. They came out so lovely and are a very sturdy vintage look fabric., Amazingly, the company that made them is in Nashville, Tennessee ‘Canvastry’ – the very city that was hit by the horrible Tornado the morning the towels arrived! The man I worked with assured me that everyone in the company and their business was safe but many had lost power due to the event. He said it was a small price to pay when 24 of their neighbors were killed!

You can pick yours up at the festival. No kitchen is complete without one. Or two.

Now for the column out of Mississippi today that deserves a little bit of our attention. I would complain that it takes such a long time to consider anything positive about beaver but given where its from I think we have to cut Brad a lot of slack. I don’t think I’ve ever ready any good news about beavers from Mississippi. This is a first,

BRAD DYE: Seeking to understand beavers

The road covers roughly one mile from the gate to the field. Familiar, yet ever-changing, the stretch of land that I have walked hundreds of times contains a beaver pond that is a small ecosystem in itself. To me, the tract is more than part of a tree farm or hunting land. It is a living place where decisions can have lasting impact.

My immediate thought was that these pests needed to be removed. After all, their recent industrious engineering efforts had led to the water that was now flowing over the road, thus eroding it in several spots.

The mission was clear–get the water off the road before more damage occurred. However, standing atop one of the dams I found myself wondering what positive impact these bucktoothed ecosystem engineers were having on the land? What role did they play?

Lets get this in contect: 150 people were meeting at that very moment and had flown for thousands of miles specifically to talk about the many, many, many, answers to that very question. Couldn’t Brad know something about that? We all start somewhere. He was inspired by watching “The Biggest Little Farm”

In the documentary the Chesters discovered that the coyotes were actually keeping the gopher and rabbit population in check which benefitted their orchards and crops. What benefit, other than the wood ducks, were the beavers having?

Back home, I began my beaver research in an effort to “seek to understand.” According to Dr. Jessica Tegt of the Mississippi State University Extension Service, “Beaver ponds supply feeding and breeding areas for many species of waterfowl, reptiles, bats, birds, and insects. They provide essential edges and forest openings, create productive bottomland forest and supply moist-soil habitats for vegetation and wildlife.”

Isn’t this exciting? He’s on the actual CUSP of starting to understand something profound about beavers. We’ve all been there. I remember my own cusp lo these many years ago. Can I just say, too bad he’s in the Magnolia State? Not to be dismissive but that is one hard place to find answers.

Clearly, beavers provide benefits, but they also cause damage. Jim Miller of the MSU Extension Service recommends trapping as the most effective method of reducing beaver damage. However, again it seems balance is key.

According to Miller, “Diligence and persistence is necessary for landowners to keep beaver damage at a tolerable level.” To me, that says strike a balance, find a way to live with them and limit the damage they cause.

So, what to do? I found several options to keep the beavers from clogging the culvert. I will start there. Will we trap again?

Brad needs us. Brad needs answers, If he keeps watching the pond he’ll find out ‘why’ to save beavers. But he’ll needs some help with the ‘how’. You can email Brad and tell him all about what we learned about how and why to live with beavers at: braddye@comcast.net.

Perhaps, however, we will do it with a goal of maintaining balance and limiting damage, not elimination . I’ll keep you updated on how these coexistence efforts work out. I look forward to seeing you out there in our great outdoors.

BEAVERS IN MARYLAND: DAY ONE

heidi08 Beaver Conference, Beavers March 4, 2020

By all accounts yesterday was a splendid beaver day, with presenters from around the world really swinging the bat hard for beavers. To the right is Frances Backhouse posing with conference organizers Scott McGill and Mike Callahan (in disguise). Here are some highlights from yesterday Sharon and Owen Brown of Beavers: Wetlands and Wildlifeand were presented with the lifetime achievement award, Skip did a very well received presentation on the history of the beaver deceiver (summarized by Malcolm Kenton) and here’s a brief run through of what I’ll be presenting today.

The only mess-up of the day is that Emily Fairfax didn’t get time to present her awesome fire dissertation – It was a packed schedule and either things started late after lunch or James Wallace couldn’t squeeze her in – but she was hoping to be able to say something about it last night and in her connections with people She was a good sport of course and Lord knows we’ll be hearing from her again soon!

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Check out these great notes by Malcolm on Skip’s Presentation, Worth A Dam’s Emsissary Doug Noble said he stole the show.

Skip Lisle, inventor of the “Beaver Deceiver,” speaking at #BeaverCON2020:
– The Beaver Deceiver is a flow device, but not all flow devices are beaver deceivers!
– We’re like moose — we like wetlands and we know where to turn to make healthy, productive ecosystems. We need to develop a common language & history.
– We’re lucky to live at a time when there are tremendous opportunities to save society a great deal of money with creative long-term remedies and create tremendous habitats.
– There’s a lot of pushback out there because people are used to wetland areas being drained – the culture associates wetlands/swamps with stagnation, disease, “wasted land” and various unpleasantness. So many places inefficiently keep killing beavers in the same places over and over again.
– In my career at the Penobscot Nation, my friend and I kept trying and building junky flow devices until we came up with the successful trapezoidal concept. The trapezoid had to get larger because they’re attached to the dam. Dam-leak separation makes a flow device more robust. Though they’re smart, beavers don’t do much deductive reasoning and can’t grasp the hollowness of a pipe.
– There’s a lot of controversy about where flow devices can work, but I don’t have any problem with zero inches/feet of water. A dry flow device can do a great job protecting beaver habitat upstream. Getting people to stop killing beavers is another issue — there are wide-open trapping seasons in most of these places.
– Every site is different so I need to put in a lot of thought as to what device best suits the place. Some culvert protectors need floors and some don’t.
– We’ve done enormous damage to wetlands after draining them, but beavers can repair all that if we just stop killing them. One beaver in one month (before moving on) brought so many birds to a site I worked on that weren’t there before. It’s miraculous! Remarkable wildlife viewing spots can be created in very short order. Every town can do this.
– I build simple wood structures to guide beavers’ damming — I don’t use the term “beaver dam analog” because it doesn’t need to look like a beaver dam to get them started.
– You can have a long beaver dam parallel to a road and have the water level much higher than the road, with a few pipes through the dam and under the road, and the road stays dry.
– There’s also an aesthetic and spiritual value to keeping beavers on the land — they’re dynamic, fascinating and all different. They bring a lot of joy to our lives.

A packed house with Doug Noble sitting next to Sherry Guzzi of Tahoe!

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AT LONG LAST! IT’S SUPER-BEAVER-TUESDAY!

heidi08 Beaver Conference March 3, 2020

Happy SuperBeaver Tuesday!

It’s the day when these states vote in the primary, with California declaring relevance for the first time EVER in a presidential contest and these folks step up to the microphone at the first ever East Coast beaver conference. That humm you hear in the air is the vibration of change trickling through the waterways across America and perfuming the open spaces with the sweet sweet smell of freedom and beavers for all.

And that’s just the line up before lunch! After lunch there’s Emily Fairfax and Glynnis Hood and the plenty more. Hopefully they’ll be some snippets to share with you tomorrow. I can at least share my part of tomorrow’s lineup, which I hope comes off with minimal technical difficulties. In the mean time just look at that lineup and think how much luckier every beaver on the Eastern Seabord just got because of today!