Beavers – Page 14 – Worth A Dam

Beaver Fever: New Believer

heidi08 Beavers or Social Ambasadors, Festival, pictures September 6, 2008

Hey now that’s a Dr. Suess book just waiting to be written. Check out your gazette this morning which says that this Art in the Park had the largest attendance of any in memory, with visitors numbered in the thousands.

Now I just want to point out that based on indendent analysis and solid science the increase in attendance covaried with the increase in beaver displays (r=1.0 p>.0001). I’m not saying Worth A Dam should get all the credit, but it seems silly to hide our beaver light under a bushel.

Combining the beaver festival and Art in the Park, Worth A Dam can boast some 65 new memberships and nearly 2500 dollars raised in small donations. Thanks to everyone who helped and invested in the Martinez Beavers. We’ll make sure your gift to them will keep on giving.

Looks like we may not need an Ark after all….

heidi08 Beaver News, pictures March 19, 2008

Last night’s penultimate s/c meeting was centered on the updated Hydrology report regarding the dam’s impact on flood conditions in the lower portion of the creek. PWA projected likely impact of the dam based on its original height, and then minus 1, 2 and 3 feet noting to what degree the creek capacity would be altered. They also outlined the possible benefit of a proposed broadening of the flood plain area allowing a natural spillway for high flow periods and how that would affect capacity.

Based on a 2 feet reduction in dam (which is a conservative estimate of what was removed back in January) there is very limited difference to flow capacity above the mainstreet bridge even when compared to no dam at all. This is of course assuming that there dam remains during a rainstorm, which is a huge assumption given the fact that every time we received at least a half inch of rain in a 24 hour period, the dam has washed out. In addition the city staff still is reporting that they will pull the cable if needed to for emergency dam removal.

All in all, the hydrology options looked much brighter for the beavers last night, and the mood of the meeting was encouraging. Next week the final and fourth draft of the report will be reviewed. That meeting will be on Monday and we’ll make sure to get the report up as soon as possible. If all goes as planned the full report will be presented to the Council for vote at the April 2nd meeting. Mark your calendars.

Photo by Cheryl Reynolds

High Sierra Beavers

bruce85@mac.com Beavers, pictures March 11, 2008

Last weekend I drove up highway 88 past the snowfalls and towards thevhigh desert. On the Washoe reservation land we came across a very active beaver site, with a dam, lodge and several secondary dams. Looks like they were made out of successfully coppiced cottonwood trees, that apparently love their new keepers. It was delightful to see such a healthy habitat, with clear benefits for the rugged terrain. I thought I’d share some photos. The last is of an American Dipper on the Consumnes River, singing his heart out for a possible mate.