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Greening the desert... with beavers?

 
Brett Andrzejewski
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Hello desert dwellers,

I recently watched this Nature program on beavers. There is a section in the video (at about 20 minutes) where two ladies are describing a desert environment rehydrated by beavers. I believe they were in southern California. Has anyone else seen this, done this, know of any other examples?

Here is the video link:
http://video.pbs.org/video/2365243455/
 
Adam Klaus
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Location: Appalachian Rainforest of NC, 2200' elevation, 85" precip, Zn 7
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I saw a beautiful example of this out in Utah last month, at the Boulder Mountain Guest Ranch. In an arid environment, they have a badly degraded and eroded arroyo. Beavers have taken up residence in the arroyo, have built a complex series of dams, and the area is revegetating remarkably.

Beavers are the best water engineers on the planet.

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Jennifer Wadsworth
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Thanks Brett, for the video - will have to watch it after class.

Phoenix has been trying to increase its riparian areas for quite some time - and it is slowly succeeding. Now a few beavers have moved in and have taken down some cottonwoods and commenced dam-building. And the Riparian Council is all up in arms!

Adam - I took a look at Boulder Mountain Guest Ranch's web site but could not find a picture of the dam. Did you take any pictures you'd be willing to share here? I'd love to see it.

Subtropical desert (Köppen: BWh)
Elevation: 1090 ft Annual rainfall: 7"

 
Adam Klaus
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Sorry Jennifer, no pics. I will try to take some next time I am out there, possibly in September.

Order copies of my book, Dairy Farming: The Beautiful Way at
www.createspace.com
Help spread the word! Thanks!
struggle - hustle - soul - desire

 
nancy sutton
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Jennifer, please ask the council to watch the PBS video before they say anything more about beaver tree felling.... it is amazing :)

It's time to get positive about negative thinking    -Art Donnelly

 
Michael Cox
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Can't access it in the uk. Got an alternative like for the video?

Moderator, Treatment Free Beekeepers group on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/treatmentfreebeekeepers/

 
Charles Tarnard
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Location: PDX Zone 8b 1/6th acre
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Maybe this one?

http://www.klru.org/episode/nature/leave-it-to-beavers/
 
Michael Cox
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9_1FYtycL8

Found this one. Is this the right thing?

First few minutes looks great.

Moderator, Treatment Free Beekeepers group on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/treatmentfreebeekeepers/

 
Charles Tarnard
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That's it.
 
Jennifer Wadsworth
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Adam Klaus wrote:Sorry Jennifer, no pics. I will try to take some next time I am out there, possibly in September.



Awesome! I think those of us in drylands would really benefit from a collection of pictures and videos of various techniques (nature-made and manmade) that work. That lodge looks amazing - have fun!

nancy Sutton wrote:Jennifer, please ask the council to watch the PBS video before they say anything more about beaver tree felling.... it is amazing



I definitely will!

Subtropical desert (Köppen: BWh)
Elevation: 1090 ft Annual rainfall: 7"

 
Michael Cox
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Great video Brett - thanks for sharing.

Moderator, Treatment Free Beekeepers group on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/treatmentfreebeekeepers/

 
Andrew Parker
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Beavers are fairly prevalent here along the Jordan River. Trees chosen to survive are protected with chicken wire wrapped around the trunks. The beavers are allowed to thin the rest.
 
Topher Belknap
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Thanks for the video.

I can't help thinking of Geoff Lawton and his earthworks projects. He has a beaver deficiency. b

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Michael Cox
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I was thinking that Australia could benefit from beavers. They don't have anything filling the same ecological niche and I'm sure that they could turn many seasonal streams into permanent ones. I've been on sheep stations with parched land all around and a trickle in the bottom of a creek.

There is the issue with non-native species of course, but often that argument can be a red herring.

Moderator, Treatment Free Beekeepers group on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/treatmentfreebeekeepers/

 
Brett Andrzejewski
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Topher Belknap wrote:
Thanks for the video.

I can't help thinking of Geoff Lawton and his earthworks projects. He has a beaver deficiency. b



Too funny!
 
Meryt Helmer
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I just watched the video and it was so good! they are one of my most favorite creatures. I wonder if california had more of them if the drought would not be so serious here. my part of california is currently wet with rain so I am not being as affected by the drought but much of it is.
 
Dan Boone
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None of the older links to the video would work for me so I found another one:

https://dai.ly/x3umwir

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Tyler Ludens
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If humans don't have the help of beavers, humans can do the work of the beaver (even if we're not as good at it):



This is what we're trying to do on our place.

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