I doubt you’ll forget THIS one!
It’s the cover for what happens to be a very good story about beavers from the Scotts Valley, but in case you’re wondering, that is a groundhog.
The beavers of Scott Valley: a quick look
By David Smith
Depending on who you ask, beavers might be incorrigible critters or a helping hand, but their presence in the Scott Valley presents unique challenges for those who would preserve the creature while helping farmers and ranchers mitigate the mischief.
The biggest trouble with beavers, according to Danielle Yokel of the Scott River Watershed Council, is that they like to build dams; however, that activity can also be a benefit. On the downside, she pointed out that beavers have a tendency to build their dams right at a water diversion, reducing much-needed irrigation water to a trickle.
On the upside, Yokel explained that if the dams are built on a stretch of river and not at a diversion, the pooled water behind the structure can provide salmon with beneficial habitat. In addition, she explained that current studies have suggested that the slowed, pooling water behind beaver dams can recharge groundwater supply better than faster-moving water in the channel.
I have said before that if California ever gets an infusion of beaver intelligence, it will come from our many beaver friends in Scotts Valley and the Klamath. They are as protective of their watershed as hungry dobermans in a shipyard, but they have learned the hard way that seeming too ‘environmental’ is red flag for the farmers so they are as cautious as they can possibly be in their defense. It’s a very puzzling (but effective) combination. Here’s an example:
In the meantime, Yokel pondered Wednesday whether there might be another benefit from the beaver dams along the Scott this year; given the dire predictions for water levels, she hoped that the beaver dams might preserve water a bit longer and mitigate some of the dry year issues.
Just an airy ‘by the way – we’re having a drought year and maybe beavers can help save some of our threatened water. ‘It’s just a crazy idea I had.’ I have to think that ‘Yokel’ knows very well that beaver dams raise the water table and save water, but she is working by isometrics to not appear too much like a beaver advocate. Honestly, it is almost a religion.
(Once, when I commented on an article that ‘beavers were the trickle-down economy that works’ I got four anxious emails from beaver friends in the area warning that that sentence would offend republicans/libertarians and they needed to keep their beaver communications unpartisan.)
Remember too that Columbo always solved the crime while pretending not to understand it. It’s a technique therapists often use to approach an answer from the back and let a client claim it for their own. It’s a hard way to work, but if there are enough of you in prominent places, you can afford to be subtle.
Just to be clear, in Martinez we needed a mack truck to stop the killing machine. We could not afford to be subtle, and it worked.
I’m perfectly content to be the ‘bad beaver cop’ in this dance. Be as oblique as you need to be, but your papers should at LEAST be able to tell the difference between a beaver and a groundhog.
