Mario’s deft handiwork has transformed a dull concrete bridge into a vibrant living canvas. I love looking back and thinking about how we got here. Of course the proper slideshow ought to include multiple meetings, daunting contracts in triplicate and struggles for insurance, but hey, it’s a start!
The narrow gap between ‘sides’ should be closing today or tomorrow, pop by and take a look.
This news story made me remember being a very little girl, and thinking that if I stole my mom’s lighter she might stop smoking. My five year old self nobly committed the crime and breathlessly waited to see whether my heroism saved her. Of course she found it in my drawer later when she came in to put away the laundry, but never suspecting me as she thought it had gotten misplaced in the washing.
I bet the Alberta police never suspect me either. Bwahaha…
Thieves made off with an unusual haul after breaking into a home in Delhi, police say. Norfolk County OPP officers responded to a break-in late Tuesday morning, at a home on Imperial Street.
Taken from the home was Canadian cash, as well as three dozen beaver traps. Police describe all of the traps as being black and rust-coloured. They say they want to hear from anyone who has noticed the traps around the community or has potential information about the theft.
This made me actually laugh out loud when I read the headline. Do you think we’re dealing with some rogue member of Furbearer Defenders? Or an opportunist from Saskatchewan who wants in on the cash prizes? Surely we were both alarmed to learn there was a Delhi in Canada. Apparently it is in Ontario, just across Lake Eerie from Cleveland and was named for a fond postmaster in honor of what was at the time a jewel in the crown of the British Empire.
Today is the first day of Mario working on the bridge mural. Or its supposed to be. I realized late yesterday that we don’t have any official paperwork yet from the city yet and given the beavers stellar history if he starts work without it (even though it was already approved) Mario or me will probably be arrested. So the only thing for SURE that is happening today is that 3000 dollars are changing hands and Mario mapping the sight and setting up. And I’m gonna keep nagging the city. Hurray!
On to some cute news, because there’s never enough beaver cute in the world.
It took a while to find out, but ZooMontana has determined the sex of a baby beaver named Shiloh that was born at the zoo in June. Shiloh is a girl, according to a Facebook post from the zoo Monday night. Her gender was in question because beavers do not have external sex organs.
And you’re a frickin zoo and you just figured that out? Never mind, these are dam cute photos. So I’m sharing them anyway.
Yesterday they finally released the agenda for tomorrow night’s city council meeting. I’ll be presenting on the mural project and the city council will vote on whether or not to approve it so it can start happening. It was October when I first talked with artist Mario Alfaro about the idea and we’ve jumped through many hoops since them. He is being a very good sport and driving up AGAIN from San Jose. Worth A Dam folk will be there to show support, and we will all gather on my porch afterwards to toast the BEST DAM MURAL in Martinez.
Literally.
This part kind of made me dizzy. I’ve never been named in a WHEREAS before. Whereas is legal speak meaning something like ‘due to the fact that’ and this proclamation won’t be approved until they vote that night. But there’s a space for signatures AND two lovely images of the mural and where it will go. Which has got to be good news, right?
The whole process is a little intimidating, but when I feel awed I just remember that Mario was forced by the city to paint over an unauthorized beaver, and they still fight every year to get him to paint over the tail on his signature.And now the city council is voting on letting him paint a bridge full of them.
Although an alleged recent sighting of a lone beaver in Martinez might bring some hope for their return, it still seems no answers have been forthcoming regarding the sudden disappearance of the Alhambra Creek beaver colony late last year.
According to Heidi Perryman of Worth a Dam, a beaver was spotted near Creek Monkey Taphouse on February 18 by a Martinez resident. The sighting is the first reported since September of last year, around the time when several young beavers suddenly and inexplicably died in the Alhambra Creek. During that time several adult beavers also disappeared, leaving the creek void of beavers for months.
Perryman says the lone beaver is likely what is known as a “disperser,” a young beaver seeking territory to mark as his or her own. She explained that currently there is no evidence that the beaver decided to stay in the creek.
Months ago, the California Department of Fish and Game oversaw the necropsy performed on a young beaver at UC Davis, however tests were inconclusive. Disease, toxins, and some poisons were all ruled out as well.
While it seems no answers or progress have been made on determining the cause of the beaver deaths, Perryman and Worth a Dam are hoping to honor their legacy in Martinez.
Worth a Dam has been working with the city on a wildlife and beaver mural to adorn the cement surface of Marina Vista Bridge Wall. Back in November Perryman pitched the idea to the PRMCC of a mural located on the south facing side of the Marina Vista Bridge at Alhambra Creek.
“The beavers made a real impact on Martinez, and that’s something we want to capture with this mural,” said Perryman. She hopes the mural reminds people of the “living creek” that runs through the center of downtown Martinez.
The artist for the mural is Mario Alfaro, who has also worked on the Joe DiMaggio mural on the Main Street Plaza Bridge. The cost of the mural will be covered by Worth a Dam for a total of $6,000. The organization hopes to cover the cost with grants.
The art committee of the PRMCC approved the mural design, so the next steps come with the city council. Perryman noted that, because the city council meeting agenda is fully booked for the month of March, the project likely won’t be on the council agenda until April.
I’m always happy when accurate and positive information about the beavers and Worth A Dam is printed. Thanks, Joseph Bustos. You made the mural even more inevitable by linking it in the press to the loss of the beavers. Hopefully it will help nudge us a little farther along queue for getting on the Agenda for city council! Fingers crossed.
Imagine how surprised I was to come across this yesterday with the help of a friend. I don’t know how I missed it in the flurry of the holidays and retirement. But imagine how especially surprised I was to read the bold sentence from Dr. Michael Pollock himself;
At Wenas Creek, they are putting in manmade beaver-dam analogues by pounding posts into the streambed and then weaving branches among them. A few workers can run a post pounder with biodegradable hydraulic fluid and achieve hydrological results similar to those of an imported-beaver colony. The result, says Tobin, is that, “fish and farms coexist in the same reach.”
The natural solution: beavers. In the past, “problem” beavers have been relocated to streams in need. Their dams back up the water, raising streambeds while still allowing passage for salmonids. The downside is that it costs money to trap beavers and house them prior to relocation, and despite the offer of seemingly ideal habitat, they sometimes leave. Besides, says Tobin, manager of the North Yakima Conservation District, “you can’t control where they’re backing up water.”
Enter Michael Pollock of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, who pioneered the idea of reinforcing blown-out beaver dams with posts. “That’s the best strategy, because they’ve already done all the work,” says Pollock. “We’re just reducing the dams’ failure rate.”
Pollock suggested dispensing with beavers altogether.
SACRILEGE! Some one hand me the smelling salts, I’m feeling faint. And tell me, how are repairs going to be made on those dams once injury occurs? Will a team of humans be living on sight just in case? Will they also dig in the mud to encourage invertebrates? And how will the trees coppice with no one to chew them?
Of course a sentence like that could NOT go unchallenged. So I sent him this last night:
With the exception of this aberrant infraction, he’s still mostly a good guy and at his heart a beaver believer. He quickly wrote back:
You are having way too much fun with your new found skills. 🙂
Which I confess, is wholly true. That was the most fun I had all week.
Last nights presentation at PRMCC was very cheerfully received and recommended for committee. The art review will make a recommendation then to City Council, and address any concerns or funding issues. I like all of these most responsible participants, and they were gracious and informed. One member asked if we knew anything more on the fate of the beavers.
Right at the end of the presentation Mario walked in the door complete with a mini mural for display, which he brought up to share with the committee to oohs and ahhs. I love the brightness, the flow device, the children and the beavers. We’ll do some tweaking with the rest. But imagine how well this was received.
The very best part about last nights meeting was the coordinator clarifying the location and saying “oh I thought you meant the Martinez-Benicia bridge”
Hahahaha, I told her I planned to start smaller, but someday, someday.
No wait, I lied. The VERY best part of the meeting was when I saw this. I didn’t notice it until we were back at the house. In case you don’t recognize it this is the same kit Mario was forced to paint over originally. When I pointed this out, Mario beamed and said “He’s Back!”
