One can only write so many BBQ-beaver/better-kill-them-my-basement’s-flooded posts before one feels ready for some dam good news. Fortunately, the internet(s) provide. How about this story, published yesterday in the Burlington Free Press about the ecological value of beaver dams and their vast superiority to the water-blockers man creates?
It’s not a far stretch to suggest that the earliest North American humans learned how to dam streams by observing Castor canadensis — the common beaver.
Apparently beaver dams are better for the environment because they are made of biodegradable materials and allow seeping water to be filtered and stored.
Twenty-first-century ecologists say our engineers’ efforts continue to fall short of the large rodents’ long-term view of habitat health.
The best part is that these alarming words of praise come from Ron Wentworth of F&G (which apprently in this case does not stand for “factless” and “gullible”!) He says beaver dams are good for trout and water quality.
Upstream fish migration: Allowed by seasonal overtopping and periodic wash-outs.
Water quality: Formation of pollutant-filtering wetlands upstream, and gradual release of sediment, nutrients, and debris downstream create healthy, “porous” habitat.
Biodegradable and recyclable: Beavers abandon their dams when food sources decline. Several years later, as plant diversity rebounds, beavers will return and engineer another stream cycle.
That’s some mighty sweet talk about beavers! Remember this is from Vermont, so we can assume Skip spent hours educating F&G about their particular value in the habitat. Good work all! And let’s hope beavers get to build their special dams in every town soon!
Dam in Progress at the Mendenhall Glacier: Bob Armstrong Photographer
By the way, remember this photograph and our friend Bob Armstrong? Worth A Dam’s Lory Bruno is heading to Juneau soon and will meet up with Bob and tour the beaver habitat. I told her we want an “eyewitness account” for the blog!
