The beavers of Martinez - dam-builders even the Sierra Club can support

The city of Martinez is the home of John Muir. Where better for a successful creek restoration, followed by the return of one of California's keystone species?

In early 2007 a pair of adult beavers arrived in Alhambra Creek in the downtown of Martinez. The astonished city found itself the target of international attention. The city government decided to euthanize the beavers - but the public strongly objected. The California Department of Fish and Game said it would relocate the beavers, but relocation of beavers is generally not successful. At a public meeting in November the public strongly supported keeping the beavers in Martinez.

The family now consists of two adults and three young. Another kit died of a neurological disease. There is one dam and one lodge. The dam failed during the big January storm, and the beavers are busy rebuilding. (This is a normal beaver occurrence.)

Beavers are a great addition to a healthy freshwater ecosystem. They create habitat for many species including birds, mammals, and several fish species.

Concerns

Several concerns have been expressed about having a beaver dam in the middle of the downtown stream restoration, but fortunately they are easily addressed.

The city and merchants worry that the beaver dam is causing flooding. In fact, the downtown area has been flooded at least every other year since long before the beavers arrived. Any effects of the dam can be mitigated through devices to allow flow of water over the dam; a pipe and "beaver deceiver" are already installed and working. The problem of flooding is more an issue of poor planning along the creek, too much additional stormwater from upstream development, and increased storm intensity, likely a result of global warming. The flooding issue needs to be resolved, but the beavers are not the problem.
There has been some tunneling along the creek bank, though it has not been determined if this is by the beavers. If necessary, the tunnels can be blocked with wire to prevent undermining of foundations.
The creek in the downtown area was recently restored. Some are concerned that the beavers are destroying the vegetation. In fact, the beavers have removed some of the vegetation, but much of it is regenerating naturally as the beavers "prune" it. This is a natural process. That which does not regenerate can be replanted and armored until enough vegetation is established to support the beaver family. Until this can be accomplished, supplementation of vegetation is a good option. In general, beaver reproductive rate is regulated by the availability of food and dam/lodge maintenance materials.

Opportunities

The Martinez beaver family provides an excellent opportunity for education and increased awareness of natural ecosystems. The entire beaver operation (dam, lodge, and foraging area) is visible from the street and the bridge. It is wheelchair-accessible and easy for all to access - a unique opportunity to see these normally secretive creatures in the wild. It is drawing many people to the city - a benefit to local business. It also illustrates how, with a little ingenuity, an area that has been ecologically damaged can be restored and maintained to support the wildlife that was there long before the city.

Children from the community, along with adult residents and groups that have formed to keep the beavers, can assist in the restoration, and in problem-solving if problems arise. Food and dam/lodge maintenance material can be supplemented until the vegetation fills in completely.

The general community supports leaving the beavers where they are. This beaver family has received media attention around the world. It has local, state, national, and international support. The Sierra Club Bay Chapter Wildlife Committee has offered to assist the residents in problem-solving if any problems arise.

In November the Martinez City Council appointed a committee to study the issue and develop a recommendation. The committee report, released in early April, is available at www.martinezbeavers.org

Six of the seven committee members recommended strategies for allowing the beavers to stay in Alhambra Creek. At an April 16 public meeting, the Council declined to vote and deferred to a later meeting pending more information on the soil saturation and city liability issues. But we are worried that the Council wants to relocated the beavers. Mayor Rob Schroder had invited a surprise speaker to the meeting to rebut the report and challenge its findings. The speaker was involved in an Elk Grove action that resulted in the extermination of 51 beavers.

Forced relocation is a risky procedure that can result in family separation or death. Means for successfully managing the beavers are already in place. A non-profit organization, Worth A Dam, has been organized to help shoulder responsibility for habitat replacement and community education.

WhatYouCanDo

Broad public support and civic pressure have protected the beavers so far and helped advocate for their continued management. Contact Mayor Rob Schroder at:

City Hall
525 Henrietta St.
Martinez, CA 94553
(925)372-3501
rschroder -at- cityofmartinez.org

Urge him to allow the beavers to stay in Alhambra Creek, and not to relocate them.

This represents a unique opportunity to demonstrate humane environmentalism in the home town of John Muir.

Terry Preston, chair, Bay Chapter Wildlife Committee