A Letter to the Editor, orignially printed in the Martinez Gazette Tuesday, April 29th and reprinted here with the author’s consent:
The idea of Martinez having to decide to eliminate or remove any form of wildlife, put in the best light is confusing. One would guess this would baffle a majority of Martinez residents. The proof is on record in our city’s historic support of parks, open space and the Alhambra Creek itself.
Wildlife has played an important role in the history of Martinez in many ways. It has and continues to sustain human life and economies, both commercial and recreational, and continues to be part of our community fabric. A significant contribution to the Martinez quality of life is the presence of wildlife. Wildlife is sacred to many people who live in Martinez.
Coexisting is the only palatable option and is substantiated by the fact that we have solved almost all concerns, perceived or otherwise, flood risk being at the top of the list as in fact the dam washed out at one half the creek volume during a medium rain fall.
Another concern was water level and that has been put back to status quote e.g. tide level. Any concerns left can be solved as well at little expense, something akin to filling a pot hole or installing a fence.
Management of all wildlife should be the same, HANDS OFF. With maybe the exception of what the city has already done in terms of negating the flood risk by installing a breakaway system and lowering the dam.
The city should do some more flood mitigations as the creek has filled pre-beaver at the dam site and below. The flood plain above Marina Vista Bridge should be widened at the dam location and at an elevation above the dam to take advantage of flow volumes above high tide elevations. This can be characterized not as a beaver caused condition, but something the beaver have reminded us to do, monitor the creek.
The cost to keep the small band of friends is already offset by the benefits we have gained and there is more come!
EDUCATION
Management should be captured in this phrase:
These Particular Beavers In This Particular Creek At This Particular Time!
See Sierra Club letter in support of keeping the beavers. This can be viewed at www.martinezbeavers.org/wordpress
The main point is that most concerns attributed to the beaver were perceived and those that are not just perceived are easily addressed.
As for cost so far, they were generated first to justify eliminating the beaver including the initial flawed hydrology report presented before the beaver committee was formed. Other costs are exaggerated and means are available to cut costs in the future.
Julian Frazer
