Once upon a time, a very long time ago, there was an article in the Washington Post with very beautiful beaver photos in it reportedly taken by somebody named Ann Cameron Siegal.The article was imminently forgettable but the photos were not – so of course I looked her up and wrote a glowing fan letter.
She wrote back Surprisingly she said she loved beavers SO much she and her husband skipped their fancy dinner reservations on their 2oth anniversary just so they could watch them. That was the start of a long correspondence.. I have since introduced Ann to many a beaver friend on the east coast.. She has donated her books to the festival. We have learned that our politics are polar opposites but we have stayed friendly because of BEAVERS
Well just look who’s in the Washington Post this morning.
With beavers in the suburbs, park officials look to balance needs of humans and ‘nature’s engineers’
By Ann Cameron Siegal
Throughout the country, suburban areas such as Greenbelt, Maryland, and Arlington, Virginia, have wetlands, lakes and streams that were created or reshaped by large brown, flat-tailed, orange-toothed rodents.
Beavers, like humans, change their surroundings to fit their needs. Known as nature’s engineers, they topple trees to build lodges to live in and dams to raise water levels for protection from predators. Dams also slow water’s flow while filtering sediment and pollutants that would otherwise flow downstream. The resulting wetlands often attract wildlife diversity where none had existed.
There are challenges, though. Beaver dams sometimes cause flooding, and most people prefer trees alive and upright. Communities face a delicate balancing act learning to coexist with beavers.
Just imagine. This article about urban beavers presenting challenges that are solveble in the Lifestyle section. Ann tells me it is considered “For children”. These dearly held things that so many in Martinez fought tooth and nail to make come true is now just an acceptable footnote of fact in the Washington Post.
In late 2019, many people enjoying Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) trail near Glencarlyn Park in Arlington became beaver fans as one furry family transformed Sparrow Pond — a sediment-filled, man-made storm-water management area — into an oasis for muskrats, birds, frogs, turtles and deer.
Yet such activity caused concern. As beavers worked, they raised water levels about five feet. The increased depth allows beavers to survive underwater if the pond ices over in winter. But county officials were concerned about how higher water would affect the steep soil bank supporting the paved hike and bike trail.
“As a local government, it’s our job to find a good balance between protecting the W&OD trail and the beavers,” said Lily Whitesell of the county’s environmental services department.
In April, the county installed a “beaver baffle” — a pond leveler. Beavers often rush to plug leaks in their dams. Baffles stabilize water levels by creating a hidden exit for high water to escape through the dam, unnoticed by the beavers.
Snap! And just like that the world changes and history marches on. This old beaver baffle? Oh its nothing. The county installed it, Everyone knows that flow devices work to control beaver flooding. Don’t make a fuss.
Beavers inhabit Greenbelt’s Buddy Attick Lake Park. Visitors love seeing them but also love the park’s mature trees.
Recently, Eagle Scout Andrew Jones, 18, organized a tree-caging event — putting wire mesh around large tree trunks to protect them while conserving beaver habitats.
About 20 volunteers caged 60 trees, to discourage beavers from gnawing them and overeating. It also protects people from injury due to random trees falling,” he said.
“We cover the trees we don’t want them to eat, while providing others they like,” said Luisa Robles, Greenbelt’s sustainability specialist. Some new trees are periodically planted just for the beavers. “We need to learn to yield a little of our wants to share the Earth’s resources,” she said.
20 Volunteers wrapping trees to protect them rather than killing beavers over and over again:? Oh pffft. It’s nothing. A trifle, Beavers are hardly a difficult problem to solve. Any fool could do it.
When water levels or food sources decrease, beavers move on. At Sparrow Pond, summer rains caused more sediment to flow in, while the baffle prevented water from rising. Beavers weren’t seen for weeks. Saffiya Khan, 8, whose family periodically visits the pond to watch wildlife, said, “If the beavers are gone, I’ll really be sad.”
Heavy rains in late September brought good news for Saffiya. A beaver returned — doing what beavers do — checking out the dam for any needed repairs.
Sparrow Pond’s 2023 restoration project will improve sediment management, restore proper water depth and improve wildlife habitat without creating problems for the trail. “A beaver baffle will also be included so beaver families can make the pond their home in the future,” noted the project’s flier.
The balancing act continues.
WONDERFUL ANN. WONDERFUL WASHINGTON POST FOR PRINTING THIS AS IF IT WASN’T EARTH SHATTERING. Nothing about the many many benefits of living with beavers but next time.
This is the very best thing that has ever happened to urban beavers. Well, second best,
Martinez, CA
