LETTER: New role for Canada’s beavers in the conservation of water

Editor: At one time beavers were emblazoned on our currency, given to the queen as a gift and revered as a founding economy of our country. But today, beavers are considered a nuisance.

As a secondary school student in Walnut Grove, I studied and wrote an article about the beaver dam on Anderson Creek (Langley). From our own history, I could see the significant role of the beavers in forming and starting the nation.

Today, Canada is well represented by preserving many Aboriginal cultures and arts used in its tourism economy.

But will the beaver also be respected and preserved regarding its new role in the community?

The beaver dam on Anderson Creek could become a concern for the property owners living in the area if rising flooding interfered with roads and houses.

However, from the biologist’s perspective, beavers are actually conserving water to prepare themselves and the whole community to deal with the problems of hotter and drier weather.

As beavers work hard to make a new wetland and provide healthier environments in B.C. shouldn’t they be highly appreciated, especially, since not many people are conserving water?

Recently developed flow devices are also helping beavers become successful co-habitants with the community.

Therefore, shouldn’t we urge people to not only look at beavers as part of the past but also as a vital part of the future?

Seeone Kim,

Walnut Grove Secondary

How much do you love this letter? Smart ecology tailored to our own inescapable self-interests. I went hunting for Seeone online who is starting 11th grade this year at one of the biggest high schools in Vancouver. (One that looks rosy enough to make it into the Canadian Disney hit 16 Wishes). Obviously Seeone has much bigger goals than that heroine. I found the article about her project which was overlooked on this website by the strange coincidence of slipping into the black hole of festival week. You will want to go read it yourself, but here’s a highlight.

New neighbours help conserve water

As the City of Langley and the Township move to Stage 3 water restrictions during the hot and dry summer weather, one group of residents have successfully mastered the art of conserving water.

A newly constructed beaver dam on Anderson Creek in Surrey is helping maintain healthy water levels in local streams, creeks and rivers.

As a summer writing project, co-ordinated by English tutor Joan Gibson of Langley, two students from Walnut Grove Secondary School — Seeone Kim, Grade 11, and Cormick Campbell, Grade 9 — are studying and writing about the new dam construction and its effects on nearby habitat.

The beavers began building last January and today, have created a beautiful dam that spans the creek from bank to bank.

Stage 3 water restrictions. That sounds serious. We wouldn’t know anything about that her in CA right? I’m really starting to think water is going to be the unavoidable issue that helps people see beavers differently. In fact I spent a good part of yesterday on this 30 second PSA which I’m pretty happy with.