Update:

From member LB:

Just got back from a trip to the dam (3:45). Water level is down quite a bit and the bank looks pretty good. While we were checking out the lodge we spotted a beaver out and about. Looked OK and it seemed like it was just checking things out. The water was running a lot slower up by the old lodge. He dove under and came up again. Swam over to the old lodge and went part way up the bank and seemed to go into the old lodge. They probably all have cabin fever.

Just made another trip down to the dam as the article I sent you said that there would be a high tide around 4:00. Water flow still a lot lower than when Jon and I were down there. There were three egrets enjoying themselves and as I was walking back down to the main dam a very large beaver came up and over where the gap is and swim up to the lodges. You could see all of him walk over so there has got to be a dam under there someplace.

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Here’s a glimpse of the water level this afternoon. These photos were taken by Jon at 12:30. This is the dome roof of the beaver lodge. Obviously the inside is under water.

The saturated soil runoff filled the creek to its maximum. Although the streets are clean and the gutters are doing their job at the moment, the water height near the lodges is up on the bank. In fact, only the top foot of either lodge is visible. This means our beavers are camping out somewhere, probably a bank hole down stream, maybe somewhere near their new damlet. It’s a little scary to see, but we have to remember that they’re way better at this than we are. They only drown when traps or ice keep them underwater. The family might split up temporarily to each take a separate dry nook or cranny, but they’ll be back together when this madness stops

Talked with city staff who assured us that the creek is moving fine and without snags. They’ve definitely seen worse. There was some discussion of the three truck loads of trash staff took out of the creek a month ago, and the clear wish that people would stop dumping and take the issue seriously. Amen to that, we say.