IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO SAVE A BEAVER

It’s late fall in the Sierra foothills and winter still feels like its a mile a way, There’s no beaver news in my inbox so it seems like as good a time as any to share the remarks that came with the citizen of the year award. I have since learned that in addition to Mark Thompson who delivered it was helped along by Sherida Bush of the John Muir Association. So thank you both very much,

When a family of beavers moved into Alhambra Creek 12 years ago, the City Council yielded to pressure from downtown landowners and decided it was best to kill them. Apparently, the Council decided they were more powerful than Godzilla and would ultimately destroy downtown by flooding it.

Heidi, believing there was a better way than killing these beautiful animals, which had gotten a lot of attention downtown. She spearheaded a meeting to organize the community to fight this travesty. She’s been the catalyst for forming an organization called “Worth a Dam,” and convincing this city that there are better ways to handle beavers moving into town than to kill them.

She started the first Beaver Festival before the Council had made its decision because she figured it would be harder to kill the beavers if there was a party for them. There has been a festival every year since. She consulted experts and highlighted the “Beaver Deceiver,” which would allow the beavers to build their dam and coexist without the threat of flooding.

Due to her efforts, with community support, the Council capitulated, and the beavers became nationwide celebrities. Heidi has been great with garnering publicity and support of all kinds for our local beavers, and beavers in general.

She has had influence internationally through her research and scientific connections as well as connecting with just plan folk. People from other parts of the country have come to Martinez to see how we co-exist with the beavers. Heidi has highlighted beavers as true “ecosystem engineers.”

She has brought awareness that beavers are not only a keystone species (which means they have a disproportionate effect on their environment), they create a community of diverse plant and animal life wherever they settle. More people are educated to the benefits beavers bring, as well as their importance to our ecosystems. She has also helped to teach cities, ranchers and landowners how to co-exist with them, instead of viewing them as a nuisance animal that needs to be exterminated.

Locally, of course, her impact is known. People may not know what a wide impact she has had in other areas. She co-authored a research paper on the historical range of beavers in the Sierra Nevada in California, where they were not believed to have lived before. This is huge for the future of the animal in these areas. Beavers can now be considered a native species where they were presumed to have never lived.

What started as a crusade to save a little family of beavers has grown exponentially to save so many more. In turn, that has supported ecosystems and wildlife of all kinds. Heidi has been busy as a ….well, you know, championing these animals and has helped re-frame the perception of them and their place in our rural and urban communities.

The beavers in Martinez created a better ecosystem, with a much greater diversity of fish, birds, reptiles and mammals. Heidi also helped create a community of people who care about the environment and the wildlife it supports.

Not only have the beavers created a better ecosystem in Martinez, but so has Heidi. Her ongoing efforts most notably the Beaver Festival have offered not only aeducation on our beavers, but also a venue for many other local environmental and community groups.

With all Heidi has done for Martinez and continues to do for our community, the Thousand Friends of Martinez is proud to present her the Citizen of the Year award for 2019.