Our good friend Susan Kirks writes the following about Cheryl’s recent Sonoma re-discovery. (Go click on the link please so she gets full credit for her smart work.) Turns out that Sonoma is well aware of these beavers, and wants to take this chance to learn more about the animals. Tom Rusert of Birding Sonoma Valley (who just did an amazing job helping raise awareness with the Burrowing Owl Consortium that is near and dear to our friend Scott’s Artis heart) is working on this years Valley of the Moon Nature lectures and is interested in having me to come talk about beavers. He knows Cheryl because he sometimes picks up extra birds from IBRRC, and is very excited to teach about the relationship between birds and beavers! Think for just a moment about the important connections these beavers are making in the world….Susan-Scott-Tom-Cheryl…I’m thinking that’s the best way to encourage new advocates for these Sonoma beavers is to talk first hand about their impact on our urban creek. I’d be thrilled to do a little wine country, Jack-London trip that benefits all our friends. (No sacrifice too great…) Speaking of which my parents were having lunch in Calistoga last year, wearing their Worth A Dam shirts and met two other people wearing the same shirt! Small world about to get smaller!
by Open.Spaces
While we in Petaluma await in-depth information regarding the recent Petaluma River oil spill and cleanup, there’s good news to report about fresh water happenings in nearby Sonoma.
Cheryl Reynolds of the Martinez Beavers protection nonprofit, Worth a Dam, recently visited Sonoma, following up on beaver dams she’d observed a couple of years ago. She discovered 3 dams in Sonoma Creek, constructed by the efficient beaver engineers.
The Sonoma Beavers are using both rocks and sticks to build their dams.
Unlike human constructed impervious dams, some benefits of the naturally engineered beaver dam include creation of wetlands through natural water backup, supporting key habitat for other species, and slow filtering through the wetlands of environmental contaminants (Wild Neighbors, John Hadidian, Humane Society of the United States 2007).
Experience of the Martinez Beavers group in installing a water flow control device in Alhambra Creek awaits if ever needed in Sonoma Creek. Meanwhile, the Beaver, an herbivore eating mostly bark, twigs, roots, leaves and aquatic plants (Natl. Geographic), is busy as can be in Sonoma.
Thanks so much Susan for your beautiful nod to flow devices. Well timed! We appreciate your steady friendship more than we can say!
As if all that isn’t exciting enough, I heard yesterday from Bob Cellini that they are planning the mom memorial installation for Thursday at ten. The Contra Costa Times and Gazette are coming to photograph and Paul Craig’s lovely metal beavers will soon grace the sheetpile. We are thrilled about the development, and you’ll just have to go see it for yourself soon.
Look what showed up in the comment section for Gary Bogue’s recent article on the Martinez Beavers! A guide to living with beavers from the Born Free Foundation. Click on the thumbnails below to read it or on the logo to download your own copy.
I sent the article in the East Bay Express Blog to the Niels Udsen, co-owner of Castoro Cellars and 2010 ‘wine industry person of the year’. He made a generous donation to the Silent Auction last year and I wanted to let him know what we were up to. He wrote back, “Dam, that’s fine reading!”
