Today is water portfolio day in Capital Hill. When your own fish, wildlife and waterway experts gather together to brainstorm ways to keep water for a drying planet. Can you guess my suggestion? You can watch the entire presentation here.

Live stream of Commission meetings (when in session)

While the day gets started, I thought you might enjoy reading my added comments to the discussion. There is still time to send your own.

Beavers bring resilience to climate change

I’m hoping that whether the focus of the water portfolio is on drought resistance, fire resistance, biodiversity or water quality, it will remember the significant role that beavers and their dams can play. Research has demonstrated consistently that they dramatically increase water storage (both above and below ground) and that their persistent damming will filter water removing toxins and decrease nitrogen. Beaver wetlands create natural barriers to wildfire, and beaver forage reduces fuel and speeds recovery after fire. Salmon, trout, waterfowl, amphibians and all kinds of wildlife thrive because of their ponds and suffer without them.

Beavers are a tool in the water resilience tool box that California should take seriously.

For years CDFW has freely distributed depredation permits to landowners who complain of flooding or damage to landscape – they continue to do so DESPITE the fact that there are inexpensive, reliable tools for resolving problems. I know because my own city made the decision to coexist with beaver in our urban creek by installing a flow device to prevent flooding and wrapping trees to prevent damage. Because of our safe and beaver tended wetlands we observed more steelhead, heron, otters, woodduck and even mink!

It is time California makes a commitment to reward landowners who commit to allowing these important ecosystem engineers on their land. An environmental tax credit would be an excellent incentive to remind landowners to try letting these water engineers on their landscape. Education and resource distribution is important as well.

For far too long landowners have looked at beavers merely as a nuisance or helpful only in very remote locations. The truth is that anyplace that needs water needs beavers.
And California’s water portfolio should reflect that.

The photo attachments are relevant information regarding California’s new fire season showing beaver wetlands as protected oasis. Some great resources to read more about this are linked below, but I would be happy to connect you with other resources or information to get this conversation moving in the right direction.

I concluded by adding links to Ben’s book, Ellen’s book, and the beaver restoration guidebook. Then I included Emily’s fire video and these photos for good measure. I’m hoping they got the message.