Suzanne Fouty is the retired Forest Service Hydrologist whose 2003 dissertation “Current and historic stream channel response to changes in cattle and elk grazing pressure and beaver activity” drew the attention of Mary O’brien of the Grand Canyon Land Trust and became the strong soil beneath so much beaver understanding ever since. Her teachings persuaded the young Jeff Baldwin who went on to host the California Beaver Summit at Sonoma State and she laid the foundation for Ben Goldfarb’s incredible book that has inspired every single person who touched it, Suzanne shaped the forest service attitudes towards beaver contribution for many years, and believe me when I say, it wasn’t always easy.
During her ‘time on the squad” she was a patient, measured voice for beavers, wolves and streams. And when I met her I misunderstood how hard she was working to stay below the water line. Working for a huge federal agency takes stamina and restraint. When she retired I started to hear a new energy in her voice, a little like we heard from Obama after he stopped being president. She got bolder and more forceful on behalf of beavers and streams, and now that ODFW has refused to protect beavers even though they know it’s the right thing to do, she has become…
well…kinda like me.
This is the most unfettered, bold and direct interview I have ever heard her give. I am reminded of the quote by Glenda Jackson, “I look Forward to growing old, wise and audacious.”
Beaver Field Trip Along the North Fork Burnt River
A couple months ago we talked with Suzanne Fouty, a hydrologist who worked for Wallowa-Whitman National Forest in eastern Oregon as a water resource and soils specialist. One of her specialties is beaver and at that time she was working with a group trying to get legislation passed to ban the trapping of beaver on public lands in Oregon. That bill never made it out of committee but the importance of protecting beaver and the important role they play in creating diverse, fire resistant and climate friendly landscapes has not lessened.
On the second day of summer I recorded a field interview along the North Fork Burnt River, 45 miles west of Baker City, Oregon, with Suzanne, and on our hike she showed me several beaver dams and the amazing impact they have on the landscape. On this episode of Locus Focus you get to join on us on that hike.
Something tells me you’re going to enjoy this.
