Tag: Igor Skaredoff

Homecomings

heidi08 Beaver Art, Beaver Behavior, Friends of Martinez Beavers, Who's saving beavers now? August 16, 2017

Another beaver extravaganza combining the Beaver tails art exhibit, a beaver tour, and movie night all courtesy of the Nehalem watershed conservancy.

Beaver Tales: on the land and the big screen

NEHALEM — To celebrate beavers and their contribution to the ecology of the North Coast, Lower Nehalem Watershed Council, The Wetlands Conservancy and community partners are hosting the Beaver Tales Art Exhibit and accompanying events in August.

Beaver Trail tour

The watershed council and community partners will lead participants on a tour of beaver habitat sites throughout the Nehalem Watershed 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19.

The tour will stop at two to four locations where participants will see different examples of active and historical beaver activity. Alix Lee, coordinator for the watershed council will lead the tour and provide narrative on beaver ecology, history and importance for maintaining healthy ecosystems on the North Coast.

Transportation between sites will be provided and has been funded by Tillamook People’s Utility District.

This event is part of Explore Nature, a consortium of volunteer community and non-profit organizations working to provide meaningful, nature-based experiences in Tillamook County.

Movie night: ‘Leave it to Beavers’

Join the watershed council at Alder Creek Farm 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19, for movie night in the barn featuring the PBS documentary “Leave it to Beavers.”

The hour-long documentary examines beavers in a new light, revealing ways in which “the presence of the industrious rodents can transform and revive landscapes,” organizers wrote. “Bring a comfy camp chair and settle in to learn about these fascinating builders and brilliant hydro-engineers.”

Sometimes my jaw literally drops and hangs open to see how many good things come can come together with the right collection of people pulling the strings. Hats OFF to the wonders of this Beaver Tails exhibit, which has been like a band of firecrackers going off at regular intervals for nearly a year now. The Wetlands Conservancy really created something astounding when they undertook this massive art show. You know it got folks around the state talking and thinking about beavers in a new way.

An speaking of beavers and wetlands, here’s something to celebrate. Our own watershed wizard Igor Skaredoff gave the Stanislaus rescue crews something to do this sunday and after a misplaced night was very politely found the following morning. Igor has all the skills and insights of a lifetime of mountain climbing, so I can’t think of anyone more suited to the task. He was also the first member of the beaver subcommittee to see that I might actually be saying something worth listening to so, God bless him. And hurray for safe homecomings!

Act of God-dammit

heidi08 Uncategorized March 25, 2011

It rained and it poured

For forty daysie, daysies

It rained and it poured

For forty daysie, daysies

Almost drove those animals crazy, crazies,

Children of the Lord

Yesterday’s incredible rain nearly erased all sign of the beavers in Alhambra Creek. All the dams were washed away, the filter to Skips flow device was seen floating down stream, and by evening the lodge was merely a hole where beavers used to live. City officials stood cheerfully on the bridge and watched the excellent work their sheetpile did at protecting a single property owner, and news media frantically telephoned to ask if the beavers had washed out to sea. A nice article from Lisa White at the Contra Costa Times here. Good summary from the Bay City News Group, too.

What wasn’t erased, though, was the place the beavers maintain in the hearts of the community. Supporters flocked to the creekside in droves, ambling up and down the banks with cameras. Robert Rust filmed an adult beaver in the afternoon after the lodge was flooded, and looking at the footage it is clear this was Dad. Bob saw at least two other kits hunkered near the black berry bushes, which was enormously comforting for supporters. Whatever happens the family is together, and whether they decide to start over or shake the dust from this complicated little town, we cannot know.

There are more bank holes they could have hunkered for the day. Or dad could easily dig a new one. The habitat is hardly hospitable, but I can’t imagine the Carquinez strait looks any better. Worth A Dam asks for your help keeping watch. Look around Grangers and near the creek for beaver sign – chewing, footprints, etc. We’ll do what we can to figure out what happens. What we know for sure is that our beavers didn’t ‘wash away’. Bob’s footage of Dad’s strong swimming proves that. He even filmed a muskrat swimming against the current so our kits will have no problem in that department. They might decide to leave, but it won’t be because they were whooshed out to sea.

What we don’t know is what will happen next.

(But if by some chance we happen to have beavers when this is finished, they are the best dam beavers in the world and I personally will never doubt them again.)

Words of wisdom:

Gary Bogue: (Animal columnist)

REALLY sorry about the loss of the dam … but very happy the beavers appear to be OK. They’ll rebuild, I’m sure. Please keep me posted. In fact, a short e-mail outlining what happened that I could run in my column so my readers know what happened would be good … that way we could let them know and give your organization a subtle plug in the process. /Gary

Mike Callahan: (Beaver solutions)

As you know by now, beavers are very resourceful and determined. They will rebuild.

Jeff Alvarez (The Wildlife project)

The strength of an animal to survive and persist is second to nothing I know. I don’t believe that these beavers have a sense of loss or fear of stochastic events in the same way that we do. Spending the night in the water or on the bank doesn’t have the same risk as if these beavers were exposed to significant predators. My seemingly emotionless (yet not so at all) guess is that they will see the debris that has washed down the stream as a great source of materials from which to rebuild. Until then, I suspect that they might move around to various secondary bank holes.

Joe Cannon: The Lands Council Beaver Project

oh noooooo! so sorry to hear that! We all know they relentlessly return to places they like, so I’m betting they’ll start setting up shop in their old haunt before we know it. I wish I could send an aspen bouquet to encourage them back! I’ll stay tuned to the site, and let me know if I can support in any way.

Leonard & Lois Houston: Beaver Advocacy Committee South Umpqua Rural Community Partnership

pretty scary when they are flooded the fact they remain is very encouraging sometimes they disappear for days during runoff events but seem to always return, beavers usually continue to use the same site until food supplies are exhausted or dams fill with sediment don’t seem to be the case here so unlikely they will move on.

Craig Cannon: (TV News Stringer East San Francisco Bay Area)

How quick we forget about our furry little treasures just down the road. I videotaped for broadcast, the town and creek flooding. Having lived in the Sierra, I had no doubt the Beavers would come through it. It was just heartwarming seeing the little kids, families, and friends of the beavers, standing in the rain at the creek, with worry, and concern, all rooting for the beavers. I even interviewed Steve Weir, who was anxiously watching the creek, in the area of the former dam. Even in a hardened job like mine, there is something about those beavers that amazes me, and my son. I look forward to the re-build, if we are so blessed. I look at this as a cleansing of the creek. All the man made impurities gone now, the beavers have a fresh place to re-build and prosper. I wish them all the best.

Joanna Chaves:(supporter)

I love the Martinez Beavers and I have fond memories of the stories my mother told me of how the beaver came to be. I love the beaver and since I was a child that was what friends would call me. Of course, I am older now and just appreciate this kindly and beautiful creature. I am so happy there is this organization to make sure the Martinez beavers are looked after. Thanks, Joanna Chavez

A Beaver in Every Creek

heidi08 Beavers elsewhere, City Reports, Creative Solutions, Friends of Martinez Beavers September 26, 2009

I thought today would be a good day to update folks generally on what’s been happening and what to expect in the next month. Alex is preparing his final “beaver management” summary from the conference, and while he’s busy looking up words in English (can you believe what a good job he’s done?) I can let you know some news.

First of all, I had lunch yesterday with Friends of Alhambra Creek Igor Skaredoff to talk about a project for testing the water quality at the beaver dam. He discussed tests for temperature, salinity, flow, bacteria, detergent and BMI (Benthic Macro-Invertibrates), how they could all be accomplished, and who the key players were to beg favors from to do this on the cheap. Igor knows and is loved by absolutely everyone, so I wrote down everything said and nodded gratefully a lot. The idea would be to work with Rona Zollinger and the ESA students to get the project going. She’s already expressed interest, so the next step is to contact my beaver experts and learn what’s most important for beaver health, and then shorten the list. If you’d like to be involved, especially if you have any expertise to contribute (maybe you’re a whiz with spread sheets or research?) drop us a line and I promise you will never feel more loved or popular.

In other news, beaver friend Mike Callahan was invited to the State House in Massachusetts thursday with the MSPCA to present on beaver management. One of the interested parties in attendance was the chief of staff for Senator Antony Petruccelli who, as it turns out, is the chair of the committee for the Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture (in charge of beavers!) and vice chair of the committee on climate change. The chief of staff was very very interested in Mike’s presentation, stayed to ask questions, and invited him back for another presentation. Given the hit job the Department of Fish and Game got the New York Times to do on beavers earlier in the year, it would be excellent to have a key player on our side.

Scott of JournOwl has been very close to some good news about his burrowing owls, and posted about it here. Looks like the developer and the city are starting to take the owls seriously, so that’s a great achievement.

Our calendar for October is looking fairly insane but the beavers surely appreciate the advocacy work.

October 3: Wild Birds Unlimited, Pleasant Hill

October 6: Presentation to Parks, Marina and Cultural Commission, City Hall

October 10: Jugband Jamboree, Martinez Marina

October 11: Native Plant Fair, Tilden Park

October 17: Girlscouts Amazing day, Flyway Fiesta Sugar Loaf, Walnut Creek

October 22: Presentation to the Kiwis Club, Martinez

Get the picture? We’re gonna be busy.

By the way, I just got back from a trip North and saw these wonderful interpretive signs at MacKerricher state Park in Fort Bragg. They were conceived, made and designed by Sea Reach, an Oregon based Company, so I just had to call and ask how they felt about beavers. Great conversation and ideas, and definately got me rethinking the idea of our interpretive signs.

A related note about my conversation with Dave: In the commercial breaks we chatted about woodpeckers and badgers and I tried to get him interested in the stories. He knew about these stories from Carolyn Jones’ articles in the Chronicle, so step one is get her attention!

Finally, Cheryl did some great sleuthing and sent me this last night. It’s the blog from Jenny Holden of Scotland, Field Officer for the Scottish Beaver Trial. Check out her pictures from the conference. Sadly, I don’t see our t-shirt, but we’ll work on them for next year.

A New Civic Complaint About Beavers

heidi08 Beaver News, Educational April 24, 2009

Apparently, in Virginia, they aren’t working hard enough.

Beaver dam breaks, wetlands drain.
By Village News Online
Apr 22, 2009 – 3:40:19 PM

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Steve Morris, with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, was quick to answer the call of a concerned citizen.

Several citizens in the community took notice to the wetlands on Chester Rd. this week and saw a dramatic drop in water within a day’s time. The wetlands is home to a multitude of wild life including a flock of swans that have brought much attention to the area.

Steve Morris with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality was on site Wednesday after receiving a phone call from a concerned citizen. “I came out because the issue may have been something that would effect water quality,” he says.

Morris says the beaver dam, which is built near the drainage area had been knock down a little probably from the rain the night before. “We had a lot of rain the night before and it [the flow of water] probably knocked the tip of the dam off.” He says the dam is still there and the beavers will rebuild the height on the dam.

How much do you love this story? The citizens are concerned by the sudden water drop and call their DEQ right away, and demonstrate on a grand scale the role of beavers in the ecosystem. Sweet. I won’t even hurt my head trying to imagine this happening in Martinez, but its lovely that a community can value the good done by dams, instead of just the hazard.

Interestingly, when Igor Skaredoff attended the beaver conference in Oregon, they talked about the difficulties of reintroducing beavers into certain habitats. Streams that were steeply downcut because they had been without beavers for 100 years were poor candidates for dam success without a little extra help. The department of Fish & Wildlife actually tried something totally new in that instance, and built little “starter dam frames” for the beavers to develop. This helped maintain the dams even in very high flow and did not result in as many washouts.

Hear that Steve? They might need your help to keep the wetlands ideal for a while. Two hours work should do it, they’ll do the rest. Think of the swans.

Delta Chapter Gets the Beaver Gospel

heidi08 Uncategorized March 14, 2009

So Igor and I piled in his jaunty hybrid and drove out to Antioch last night to talk watershed. The scout involved with the tree-planting came too so he could listen to our overview and catch up to date. Igor spoke first about the way watersheds work and it was a great opportunity to think about our creek and how we have treated it.

One of his main points is that creeks need room to live a normal creek life. They need to meander, to move their banks, deposit sediment, and build up resources. When healthy creeks encounter high flows the water is absorbed by the floodplain and things return quickly back to normal.

Very early on we decided creeks were property lines, and we didn’t want them changing on us. Imagine if we used clouds for property lines? We confined creeks with sheetpile and cement to keep our feet and acres. However, creeks that can’t “meander” simply cut deeper into the earth, so we end up with faster, harsher high flows that are threatening to property. One thing he said last night that I had never heard was that confined channels, whether its concrete or sheetpile, have a life expectancy of about 60 years. It’s not like you build them once and all your problems are solved. In fact many of our impermeable surface creeks in California have reached the end of their life span, and require significant maintenance.

I found this description from Toby Hemenway a while back and was fascinated by the implications of how we changed our waterways when we decimated the beaver population. Add to this that a downcut stream has a lower water table, so tree roots can’t reach it and the vegetation along the bank dies off.

You know what a stream looks like. It has a pair of steep banks that have been scoured by shifting currents, exposing streaks and lenses of rock and old sediment. At the bottom of this gully—ten to fifty feet down—the water rushes past, and you can hear the click of tumbling rocks as they are jostled downstream. The swift waters etch soil from first one bank, then the other as the stream twists restlessly in its bed. In flood season, the water runs fast and brown with a burden of soil carried ceaselessly from headwaters to the sea. At flood, instead of the soft click of rocks, you can hear the crack and thump of great boulders being hauled oceanward. In the dryness of late summer, however, a stream is an algae-choked trickle, skirted by a few tepid puddles among the exposed cobbles and sand of its bed. These are the sights and sounds of a contemporary stream.

You don’t know what a stream looks like. A natural North American stream is not a single, deeply eroded gully, but a series of broad pools, as many as fifteen per mile, stitched together by short stretches of shallow, braided channels. The banks drop no more than a foot or two to water, and often there are no true banks, only a soft gradation from lush meadow to marsh to slow open water. If soil washes down from the steep headwaters in flood season, it is stopped and gathered in the chain of ponds, where it spreads a fertile layer over the earth. In spring the marshes edging the ponds enlarge to hold floodwaters. In late summer they shrink slightly, leaving at their margins a meadow that offers tender browse to wildlife. An untouched river valley usually holds more water than land, spanned by a series of large ponds that step downhill in a shimmering chain. The ponds are ringed by broad expanses of wetland and meadow that swarm with wildlife.

The entire article is a great look at the way our beaver-huntin’-habit changed the face of America in ways we never considered. It also reminded me of the fact that our beavers now have increasingly harder jobs of keeping up creeks formed by years of downcutting.

Good thing they aren’t slackers.