In case you need a little reminder of how we got here, here’s a dose of inspiration:
The Wednesday evening city council meeting turned out to be a remarkable example of civics and community. The meeting was an electric combination of “Mr. Smith goes to Washington” and the final ten minutes of “It’s a wonderful life”. For nearly three hours the animated crowd expressed their wish to keep the beavers which have become a unifying presence in a town that can often feel uncertain of its center. Offers from the Sierra club, the Humane Society, the Superintendent and private residents stressed the easy implementation of flow-management techniques to control for the threat of flooding. Additional creative suggestions included using the beavers as a revenue building attraction for the city, allowing the environmental studies class to help install and maintain the devices, and the application of a live-action camera at the site (the aptly named “Dam-Cam”).
Council members were challenged for failing to understand the city’s attachment to these creatures and missing a golden opportunity to redefine Martinez and bring needed business downtown. (As one pithy comment put it “Maybe the beavers need to stay and you need to go”). Emphasis was made on Martinez being the home town of John Muir and an ideal location for environmental preservation. After hours of impassioned pleas, the council agreed to form a subcommittee to look specifically at the idea of keeping the creatures here. In the meantime, the city manager can work towards installing devices to lower the water level in the creek. Sharon Brown, a biologist for Beavers, Wildlife & Wetlands has been in contact with councilman Mark Ross and has made herself available for ongoing consultation. The first step in calming downtown flooding fears is to reduce the water level by using means that will not trigger the beavers rebuilding efforts. Then the dam can be safely lowered.
The amount of energy and dedication demonstrated at Wednesday’s meeting was remarkable in its singular focus. Certainly the town does not lack for enthusiasm or a sense of community spirit. Perhaps the most convincing aspect of the response was its breadth. The movement was almost entirely organic, with the youtube videos arising from this author, the vigil arising independently from resident Joey Piscitelli, the Sierra Club and Humane Society notified by other residents, and Superintendent Triolo responding on his own. This was more like a bee hive than a spear headed movement, and that helped convince the city to take resident concerns seriously.
Ahhh memories. And for another reminder of taking courage, check out the finest inspriation ever written. I would only change one line. “We few, we happy few. We band of beavers”.
Heidi P. Perryman, Ph.D.
