BEAVERS ARE MOVERS AND SHAKERS

heidi08 Beaver Behavior, Beavers and soil, Beavers and water October 3, 2019

Are beavers good for streams? Dam straight they are. Very, very good. Don’t take my word for it. Check out this excellent new paper from the Methow Project.

Reintroduced Beavers Rapidly Influence the Storage and Biogeochemistry of Sediments in Headwater Streams (Methow River, Washington)

Rita K. McCreesh , Kena Fox-Dobbs , Peter Wimberger , Kent Woodruff , Gordon Holtgrieve , Thomas K. Pool

Abstract

North American beavers (Castor canadensis) were targeted within North American headwater landscapes by European loggers and fur traders in the 19th century, reducing beaver populations to near extinction by 1900. The extirpation of beavers from river networks has had profound effects on riparian zones, including channel geomorphology, temperature regimes, sediment storage, channel-floodplain connectivity, carbon storage and nutrient dynamics. i

Consequently, reintroducing beavers has been provisionally implemented as a restoration approach within some watersheds. We characterized how reintroduced beavers influence the short-term dynamics of organic material accumulation within the sediments of 1st and 2nd order streams within the Methow River watershed of Washington State. In collaboration with the Methow Beaver Project, we identified four creeks where they had reintroduced beavers within the past five years, as well as a control non-beaver pond. At each site, we collected shallow sediment cores from upstream, downstream, and within beaver ponds, and then measured organic material via elemental analyses of sediment carbon (%C) and nitrogen (%N) content. We compared those samples to sediments accumulated in local pond areas not created by beaver activity.

Our results show greater organic C and N content of sediments in beaver ponds than non-beaver ponds. C/N ratios indicate elevated accumulation of allochthonous organic material in beaver impoundment sediments that would otherwise not be integrated into headwater streams from the terrestrial landscape. These findings suggest that the reintroduction of beavers could be an effective means to promote restoration of whole ecosystem function.

Allochthonous means appearing other than where it originated, so material moved by the beaver and then by the stream the beaver influenced. Basically this article is saying that moving things around is one of the essential ecosystem services that beavers provide because these materials and nutrients are integrated into headwater streams in ways that couldn’t have happened without them.

I really really believe that.

JUMPIN’ FRIJOLES, BATMAN!

heidi08 Beaver relocation October 2, 2019

My father, like many fathers of a certain era, had several jokes he liked to tell over and over. I remember some of them fondly but am especially partial to his tale of the ‘city slicker who moved to the country’ to live a more natural life. He started off at the feed store to purchase two dozen baby chicks thinking of all those farm-fresh eggs he’d soon be enjoying.

A week after his purchase he was back again, complaining that the first batch had all died. The manager of the feedbarn was concerned and asked about the details of their care. Prompting the city slicker to observe,

“I don’t know. Maybe I’m planting them too deep?”

Cue the groaning laughter, because as we all know baby chicks shouldn’t be planted. Which you will understand right away why I thought of this joke when you read this curious beaver relocation article from New Mexico.

Beaver Reintroduced In To Rito De Los Frijoles At Bandelier National Monument

During the past week, three beavers were reintroduced in to Rito de los Frijoles at Bandelier National Monument marking the first time beaver have been above Upper Falls since the 1950’s. Beaver are a keystone species meaning that many other species and the ecosystem as a whole are reliant on their presence. Beaver raise the water table, modulate stream flow, improve water quality, and increase biodiversity. We have high hopes that our new residents will help increase water storage, control vegetation, reduce water temperatures, and improve wildlife habitat within Frijoles. Photo Courtesy NPS

Okay, so far so good right? I mean it’s a little comical to name a national park after beans, but it’s good they think highly of beavers right?

All three beaver came from the Taos area where their activity was conflicting with humans and without relocation the beaver would have been euthanized. The beaver all survived the reintroduction which is rare as the stress of relocation is commonly lethal.

Relocation is usually lethal? Now you know why I heard my dad’s joke echoing in my brain. What do you usually do to them? The entire National Park system of the United States, with all their research, vibrant staff and history, is saying that beaver relocation is usually lethal?

And they tried it anyway?

The mind reels. The jaw drops. Even when the Methow Project was reporting terrible numbers with beaver relocation the success rate was stil 50 percent! Hell, even when they tossed beavers out of the frickin’ airplane they reported only one death

Prompting the very serious question, what on EARTH does New Mexico do to its beavers?

Speaking of beaver hardiness the Sierra Wildlife Coalition recently posted this heart-melting video, which proves to me that Beavers are much cooler than anything you can imagine and work way harder than people which are lazy toads by comparison.

Don’t you just Love them? And yes that’s the first snow in the Sierras at the end of September, and since you asked neither rain or snow or dark of night shall prevent a beaver from his important work. Post office be dammed.

BEAVERS LIVE IN INTERESTING TIMES

heidi08 Attitudes towards beavers, Beavers and Culvert Protection October 1, 2019

They say an old chinese curse reads “May you live in Interesting Times“.

These days are horrifically interesting, and its up to all of us to live through them and make something better on the other side. I’m doing what I can of course, but life is very weird and unreal feeling. Case in point?

Yesterday’s conversation with Zane Eddy a Humboldt State Sociology Masters student who is thinking about doing his thesis on the Martinez Beavers story as a way to understand the overlap between wildlife management and social ecology. It turns out his advisor, Laurie Richmond, also on the call, runs this research lab.

Human Dimensions Research Lab Humboldt State University’

Welcome to the website for Dr. Laurie Richmond’s research lab where student, faculty, and community collaborators focus on the human dimensions of natural resources with an emphasis on marine and coastal issues.

Of course it’s my considered opinion that the Martinez Beaver story is endlessly fascinating and that there could not possibly be a better way into the important nexus between beavers and humans than through our remarkable story. I tried to pitch it in a dispassionately convincing way that made the story sound intriguing and accessible enough to be studied. But I couldn’t tell if I sounded like a very compelling research subject or an just old kook who likes to talk about beavers.

The jury, of course, is still out on that one. I’ll let you know what they decide.

In the meantime there’s wonderful news from Maine of all places who it seems is coming to grips with culverts.

‘Beaver deceiver’ takes aim at rodent-related flooding’

WILTON – On Wednesday, employees of public works departments, land trusts and state agencies gathered on Bennett Road in a bid to outwit a common menace to culverts, trail systems and rural Maine roadways: the beaver.

A training opportunity hosted by Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife biologists and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services built a water control structure at the intersection of Bennett Road and the Whistle Stop Trail. Consisting of a protective fence and incorporating a water leveling device, the structure is designed to keep the culvert that runs beneath the road from being blocked by the industrious rodents. Stretching off on either side of the Bennett Road are wetlands, thick with reeds and other aquatic plants.

The article doesn’t make it entirely clear who trained the training, but I do remember Skip Lisle doing to presentations in Maine last year so maybe he had something to do with this? This sure sounds like Skip.

A common response to a situation like the one on Bennett Street is trapping the beavers. While that can be a short term solution, Lindsay said, if the conditions remain ideal eventually more beavers show up. Additionally, beavers themselves are an important part of the local ecosystem: their dams help create and maintain freshland wetlands, which in turn filter out sediment and allow microorganisms to remove pollutants.

Gosh if you’re heading over to see the fall colors it sure looks like its going to happen soon. I bet that water was a bit chilly!

This final photo just doesn’t look like either Skip or Mike had anything to do with it. I could be wrong but it seems like a Vermont state game design. For some reason they insist on reinventing the wheel even though the wheel lives in their own state, Well. we’re hopeful.

Even if beavers block the fence, the opening of the leveler is out of their reach, Lindsay said, preventing any flooding from overrunning the trail or road.Lindsay said that MDIFW and the USDA Wildlife Services offered the training last week to public works crews, MDIFW and other state wildlife agencies and land trust employees: all groups that may have to deal with beaver dams. Another, similar training will be held this week, on Thursday, Oct. 3, in Buckfield.

Um. Of course you realize if the beavers succeed at making a dam the pond will rise and that leveler will be in their reach, right? Well, good luck boys. Just promise me if this doesn’t work you will blame USDA and not flow devices, okay?

BEAVERS CAN HELP JEFF BEZOS AND TNC

heidi08 BDA's, Beavers and climate change September 30, 2019

Well, well, well, What do you know. Amazon is partnering with the Nature Conservancy on the Right Now Climate Fund to the tune of 100,000,000 dollars for natural climate solutions including forests, peatlands and wetlands. (I guess if you never pay taxes you have a lot of spare change to toss around.) The laudable part is that it will make Amazon carbon neutral 10 years ahead of the Paris accord schedule.

The Nature Conservancy and Amazon Partner to Bring Natural Climate Solutions to Scale

Today, The Nature Conservancy is announcing a $100 million commitment from Amazon to restore and protect forests, wetlands, grasslands, and peatlands around the world. Amazon is partnering with The Nature Conservancy – an organization with a proven track record of using the best-available science for conservation – to identify, design, and implement natural climate solutions initiatives.

The two organizations have entered into an exploratory phase to assess carbon reduction programs and to identify, design, and implement natural climate solutions, which will be supported by the Right Now Climate Fund. The fund is one part of the company’s efforts to achieve net-zero carbon emissions across its business by 2040 – 10 years ahead of the 2050 target outlined in the Paris climate agreement.

Are you thinking what I’m thinking? 100,000,000 is a lot of money. 2 million per state. It is enough money to put BDA’s in every 10 miles in all the headwater streams in the contiguous united states. If you invested all that money in beavers they would make sure your investment paid off.

We know that TNC has done great things for beavers, and terrible things for beavers in its history. The acting director now of The Nature Conservancy is Sally Jewell, the former Secretary of the Interior under Obama. She’s a Washington-State outdoor loving former oil engineer so we have to assume she knows a thing or two about beavers.

I hope she remembers this article written in their own magazine not too long ago.

Beaver Mimicry Projects Could Be Key to Restoring Wetlands

Left to their own devices, streams are messy. They wander and wind, pushing up against one bank before turning to swirl around another. In the spring, they pour over the top of the walls created to contain them, flooding wetlands and bringing water and life to everything from willows to deer.

Recent research is beginning to show that if humans create dams to mimic those built by beavers, the final result can lure beavers back and ultimately result in the same positive effects for fish, wildlife and vegetation.

Let me just repeat again. You can build an awful lot of BDA’s with 100,000,000 dollars. And after you do beavers will move in and do the rest for you, saving water, trapping carbon, enriching biodiversity, improving habitat for hative plants.. The Nature Company knows this and has told Jeff Bezos, right?

Just to make sure I sent them both a note yesterday. Maybe you should too.

“Now is the time to think big and work toward innovative solutions to climate change,” said Kara Hurst, worldwide director of sustainability, Amazon. “We need a partner like TNC to ensure we apply the best conservation science and develop strategic programs to reach our goals.”

We couldn’t agree more, Kara.

A MISSED VOICE FOR WILDLIFE

heidi08 Friends of Martinez Beavers September 29, 2019

This one matters.

Wildlife Columnist Gary Bogue has died. “Bogue, whose legacy includes founding the country’s first wildlife rehabilitation hospital and inspiring the creation of Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation, died Thursday in his Benicia home. He was 81.”

Gary was the original curator at the Lindsay Wildlife Museum and started up the operation lo, these many years ago, with one valiant rescue worker at his side. This happens to be our own beloved VP, Cheryl Reynolds, who regarded him as a dear friend and was heartbroken by his death. In fact it’s hard to imagine a world where Cheryl ever got interested in our beavers without that first life-shaping chapter.

Gary was the first respected voice of support for the Martinez Beavers, writing often about them in his column and nudgingpublic opinion in their favor. Beyond this he was the respected member who persuaded the East Bay Sierra Club to get involved in the first place. When I was called unexpectedly to appear before a council meeting one night in downtown berkeley and they voted to draft a position letter on the beavers one of the groups leaders told me privately they never would have gotten involved if it weren’t for Gary. Their unusual letter (At that time the Sierra Club rarely got involved with wildlife issues) was a big factor in the outcome of the beavers fate.

But the Martinez beavers are just one of the many, countless wildlife stories Gary’s compassion touched and saved. (In my narrow mind of course the most important one, but he affected the lives and hopes of many many wild things and people.) Think of all the children that grew with Lindsey Wildlife and went on to become docents and are now working in related fields as adults.

“He taught certainly a whole community, if not a whole world, how to respect and live with the natural world around them,” said Bogue’s wife, Lois Kazakoff, who retired from The Chronicle in May after 26 years at the newspaper.

Their are lives that make a difference, and lives that make a sea change. Gary was the latter. He forged a path to the wild world that countless numbers of adults and children are still following. He touched our hearts and made us remember that we ourselves were wild once and needed a kind of rescue.

However you spend your windy Sunday afternoon, take a moment to watch a seed-gathering bird, a scurrying squirrel, a lean coyote slipping over the horizon and think of Gary Bogue, who made the wide wild world familiar to us all.

Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting —
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.

Mary Oliver