Remind me to care about something easier next time. Like Koala bears. Or pandas. Something really cute but very endangered and hard to see with no chance of bothering anybody. Yesterday we got word that the beaver dam had been cut. Kind of a specific cut. Like a clean chunk taken out that let lots of water get away.

Water they won’t get back for months.

So of course we checked it out and asked around. They are  in the process of ‘goating-grazing’ the area to get rid of the grass. Once again I am left with a mountain of questions and a nagging worry, Like some giant beaver Clue game that is no fun to play and I’m condemned to repeat over and over. Was it Sr flood control with the shovel in the creek? Or was it the Capt goat herder with his staff in the water? Or maybe even Mr, Target employee with his pitchfork in the parking lot?

Of course it matters because of how likely it is to be repeated if the beavers repair things. At the moment there is no way to know. Who ever it is it’s is rotten that this happened now. No one has seen the beavers in 5 days and who knows if they’ll stick around to fix the damage. They might just decide the hell with pleasant hill and find a better place to hang. But I’m guessing they stay. Experience has taught us that urban beavers tend to be so happy not to be killed that they stick around a while.

Gosh it was a beautiful dam. One that I think was the work of more than one beaver. And a beaver with some notches in his belt. Look at that curve.

Will some one please tell Kansas?

Cheshire MP says beavers could be answer to flood prevention

CHESHIRE MP Mike Amesbury would support more research into whether bringing back beavers could be part of the solution to preventing flooding in places like Northwich. The Labour MP for Weaver Vale was given ‘food for thought’ after Cheshire Wildlife Trust invited him to see how a pair of beavers are transforming the landscape alongside Hatchmere Lake at Norley, near Frodsham.

He wonders if beavers could have a role to play as part of a multipronged approach to mitigating the risk of serious floods like those experienced in Northwich in 2019 and 2021. Mr Amesbury said: “We’ve lost 90 per cent of wetland habitats across the country.

“But at Hatchmere just two beavers have increased the amount of wetland after building an impressive 50 metres-wide dam, with predicted improvements for bio-diversity and improved water quality.” He added: “What’s given me food for thought is the dam slows water flow.

The death count in Kansas is up to 28, and many more are missing and unaccounted for. The hope is that folks will get somewhere safe before it gets any hotter. Temperatures are expected to climb. No power of course. No beaver dams. Just lots and lots of water.

“If released at strategic locations upstream, might beaver activity help keep river levels around Northwich low enough during heavy rainfall that surface water can escape, reducing the risk of flooding in the town centre and beyond?

“More research is needed because beavers are wild animals that are not controllable.

“What we don’t want are unforeseen effects that could cause other problems. But it’s something I would like to explore further with Cheshire West and Chester Council as the Lead Local Flood Authority.”

I’m mulling next year’s activity for the festival.  Beavers and climate seems like a real important theme – and becoming more important every day. I imagine a beaver tarot deck. Tarot and fate seems a natural fit, What ever fate brings there’s a beaver that can help. Kids collecting cards that show beavers helping stop fires, beaver helping stop flooding, beavers helping prevent drought. Beavers keeping temperatures cool.  My mind is wild with idea. So I thought I’d look to see what’s been done.

It’s a beaver tarot world out there. Stay tuned.

10 days ago – which has become the same thing as a year ago – I learned about the beaver dam in Pleasant hill behind target. My first reaction of course was suspicion, I’ve heard LOTS of false reports of beaver dams in my day. But when I was able to get some locals to photograph it and saw the actual dam I knew it was true. I did some hardy imploring of Cheryl who braved the heat and got the lovely video. And I was excited in this familiar yet novel way I can only compare to the sensation of falling in love.

And then I heard about the desilting plans and felt glumly trapped in the same chinese puzzle box I had stumbled through in 2007. Nothing had changed.  I was on a conveyor belt of threatened beavers. It would never get better but it could always get worse.

In truth, I despaired for those beavers.

And then I had a “we ride at dawn” phone call with Ann Riley of the waterboard who is a big believer and beaver buddy. And she suggested a conference call with the county supervisor and all the interested environmental groups, And I was like, wow You can do that? And she was like, NO. YOU can do that and I’ll participate. And I realized I already had an environmental award signed by the same county supervisor and that the group in charge overseeing the de-silting project was the same group that gave our grant for the beaver festival every year.

So I timidly contacted friends of pleasant hill creeks and the chair had been a board member of that committee and approved our grants and was a big fan of Worth A Dam and a friend of Riley’s. And her two co-chairs were both board members of MDAS Audubon who had attended my beaver talk in 2019. And everyone was so excited about beavers and appreciative of my knowledge and background and thought everything I said was a great idea. Except they didn’t want to have a supervisor meeting, they wanted to go straight to flood control with my suggestions because they had recently hammered out a very good relationship and they thought that was the best route.

So I had a nice chat with the liaison of the desilting project and sent the video on to speak for me and things look brighter – possibly much brighter for those Pleasant Hill beavers. And I realize whatever else I may be in this big world my beaver reputation proceeds me and I am a something when it comes to beavers in Contra Costa. Maybe not a force exactly, but a kind of tractor beam it is hard to completely ignore.

So I guess what I mean is that, yes I am still going in circles. But on a spiral staircase. And the view is definitely getting better. Stay tuned,

Well the beavers mitigate climate change Op-Ed got a weeks worth of news. It’s running this morning in Illinois. Everyone wants a hero in these dark days. But that doesn’t mean folks aren’t still killing heroes whenever they get in the way.

Beaver dam to be removed at Idlewild Park

The City of Cranbrook will begin removal of a beaver dam at Idlewild Park following the recommendations of engineering consultants and the Provincial Dam Safety Officer.

In July 2021, staff first noticed that a beaver had taken up residence in the Idlewild reservoir and was beginning to build a dam upstream of the Idlewild pedestrian bridge and raising water levels on the upstream properties. Discussions to relocate the beaver have been ongoing since.

Later in the winter, the Provincial Dam Safety Officer contacted the city about the operation of the Idlewild Dam. A subsequent inspection by the Provincial Dam Safety Officer included a recommendation to remove the beaver dam to ensure the continued safe operation of the Idlewild Dam.

Although the city has not been formally ordered to remove the beaver dam at this time, the province could order the city to do so.

There’s a provincial dam safety officer? Seriously? That sounds so Canadian. Do you think he ever says “yup that dam is totally safe. leave it right there?” Nope I don’t either.

BBA Engineering, who designed the Idlewild Dam in 2016, was consulted following the recommendation by the Provincial Dam Safety Officer. BBA Engineering also recommended the removal of the beaver dam to protect the Idlewild Dam.

In June 2022, Keefer Ecological Services Ltd. was contracted to lower the beaver dam and reduce its size of due to significant upstream flooding and damage to adjacent private property. Staff noted the foundation of the walking bridge was also starting to be damaged due to the overflow. Subsequently, the beaver dam was lowered by Keefer Ecological Services Ltd. and city staff have continued to monitor for any beaver dam rebuilding activity.

As of July 2022, using cameras monitoring the site, there has been no beaver activity.

The decision to remove the beaver dam was not taken lightly. City staff will begin work with a local biologist to determine the best timing to complete removal of the dam.

At this time, the city will not be removing any beavers in Idlewild Park, although the biologist or the province may deem the relocation of the beavers as a necessity prior to the dam’s removal.

Ahh so there’s a manmade dam AND a beaver dam. The manmade dam is what the provincial inspector inspects. The beaver dam just needs to skeedaddle. Manmade dams are way better. Here’s their photo when they started work. And oh, saying that we’re watching to see if the beavers are “moved” is a lie. Beaver relocation is illegal in Canada. They only place they an be moved to is the afterlife.

City council and staff will review the decision on the beaver dam in Fall 2022 and provide any additional updates as to whether the dam is rebuilt or any future action regarding the dam or the beavers will be taken.

Sure it’s not problem, now. because it’s summer. The beavers aren’t going to work on their dam until the rainy season. No water to save means no dams to build.