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QUESTION:"I love that smell. Don't you just love it? Nothing smells better to me,"
says Sherri Tippie, inhaling deeply. "I was born for beavers."
Story about a beaver lover who relocates the cuddly critters to less
endangered areas. Evidently, the creatures are quite docile and friendly.
http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_6802233
Reminds me of a story from many years ago. The Interior Dept was having fits
with seasonal flooding in remote wilderness streams. They tried all manner
of solutions, mainly centering around how to move heavy equipment into the
Montana outback to build levees and earthen dams.
One forest ranger tried a trick. He gathered pairs of beavers (possibly from
the woman mentioned in today's story) and parachuted their paddle butts into
the affected areas. Within a couple of years, beaver dams abounded and the
flooding problem stopped.
Total cost per dam: Helicopter ride: $1000. Beavers: $1.00/each. Paperwork:
$31,000. Still way cheaper than air-lifting a dozer.
ANSWER: Then there is this one:
This is a copy of an actual letter sent to Ryan DeVries, from the
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, State of Michigan. Wait
till you read this guy's response - but read the entire letter before
you get to the response.
Mr. Ryan DeVries
2088 Dagget
Pierson, MI 49339
SUBJECT: DEQ File No. 97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20;
Site Location: Montcalm County
Dear Mr. DeVries:
It has come to the attention of the Department of Environmental Quality
that there has been recent unauthorized activity on the above referenced
parcel of property. You have been certified as the legal landowner
and/or contractor who did the following unauthorized activity:
Construction and maintenance of two wood debris dams across the outlet
stream of Spring Pond.
A permit must be issued prior to the start of this type of activity. A
review of the Department's files shows that no permits have been issued.
Therefore, the Department has determined that this activity is in
violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource
and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994,
being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Michigan Compiled Laws
annotated.
The Department has been informed that one or both of the dams partially
failed during a recent rain event, causing debris and flooding at
downstream locations. We find that dams of this nature are inherently
hazardous and cannot be permitted.
The Department therefore orders you to cease and desist all activities
at this location, and to restore the stream to a free-flow condition by
removing all wood and brush forming the dams from the stream channel.
All restoration work shall be completed no later than January 31, 2002.
Please notify this office when the restoration has been completed so
that a follow-up site inspection may be scheduled by our staff. Failure
to comply with this request or any further unauthorized activity on the
site may result in this case being referred for elevated enforcement
action.
We anticipate and would appreciate your full cooperation in this matter.
Please feel free to contact me at this office if you have any questions.
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