Forest Service seeks input on grazing and beaver trapping: Protection of watershed at issue
The U.S. Forest Service is asking for public comment on a proposal to reauthorize livestock grazing on the Pocatello, Midnight and Michaud allotments. One environmental group claims water contamination in the recreational area calls for closing two of the areas to cattle grazing.
The Yellowstone to Uintas Connection, or YUC, has also called for the Mink Creek area to be closed to beaver trapping.
“Beavers stabilize the streams, and their dams store water and restore the streams from livestock damage,” Carter said. “Beavers should be protected so they can restore the streams, increase water storage and improve fish habitat and water supplies.”
Be still my beating heart! Remember this day. That on the first Sunday of 2014 when the USFS Idaho recommended keeping beavers IN streams and trappers and cows Out! Already we’ve heard remarkable beaver arguments from Washington, Oregon, Utah, Colorado and even Nevada. We know we have secret beaver supporters in the USFS California. Wyoming and Arizona have already used beavers to manage streams. We have dedicated beaver stream restoration as far as New Mexico and Montana.
But it’s the wall that follows that stops everything in it’s beaver tracks. Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska and the Dakotas. (Well, one of them anyway. For the most part, North Dakota has been a breath of fresh air and surprising beaver intelligence. And anyway if they keep up all that fracking they’ll be might protecting anything that makes clean water soon.)
This means beavers have federal support across the west and much of the east. I don’t think we’re too impossibly far away from a day where public lands are encouraged to keep beavers and private lands earn a tax credit by doing so. Maybe I’m unrealistic. Certainly all the states don’t need beavers.
Only the ones who want clean water.
Three years ago, a beaver dam on the South Fork of Mink Creek was causing road flooding, and Hammes said he secured a grant to move the road and return the riparian area to the beaver.
In a separate project at the Bannock Guard Station, meanders were restored to a stretch of Mink Creek to restore beaver habitat. The beaver moved back in and a huge wetland has been created as a result.
“We’ve been able to have a positive impact on beaver populations not only on Mink Creek, but on all Forest Service-managed lands,’” Hammes said.
Someone get me a tissue, I’m starting to tear up.
Public comments are requested on this issue through January 30th. You can send your very important remarks by email here. Go on. What are you waiting for?
