I was realizing that I never really GOT the importance of the Vermont Fish and Wildlife installed flow devices before. I’ve been focusing on why they ignore Skip or call it something weird like a woman upset people are incorrectly using the salad fork to enjoy a feast of California Condor or Galapagos Turtle.

The cutlery isn’t important. The naming isn’t important. Even the design isn’t important. The important thing is that VERMONT FISH and WILDLIFE is installing flow devices. How did this happen?

Who made it happen?

When did it start?

Was it because the state had seen so many of Skip’s devices work for so long? Is it because Vermont is a crazy liberal state that was the first to recognize gay marriage? Did Bernie Sanders have anything to do with it? I don’t believe any other state wildlife agency does this. Even Utah and Washington don’t do this. California surely does not do this. How can we make it happen here?

State installing water control devices on beaver dams

MONTPELIER — To prevent flooding on nearby roads and private property, Vermont Fish & Wildlife staff have installed 11 water control devices on beaver dams this year throughout Vermont.

Known as “beaver baffles,” these devices allow some water to pass through the dam without breaching it and destroying the wetland.

With funds granted from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and generated by waterfowl hunters through the Duck Stamp Program, the Fish & Wildlife Department has installed more than 300 beaver baffles in Vermont protecting over 3,000 acres of wetland habitat since the program started in 2000.

I found this article referring to the funding for the program coming from the FWS duck stamp program. Smart duck hunters know why beavers matter so this makes perfect sense. I want names. I want phone numbers. I want to find the man or woman who thought up this crazy scheme and proposed it at some board luncheon where all the forks noisily clattered to the floor.

I want to shake their hand and buy them a beer. This is what we need in California.

How can we make it happen?