Dam fine job on Sonoma’s Fryer Creek
The beavers along parts of Sonoma’s Fryer Creek just got a bit of a makeover, courtesy of the Sonoma County Water Agency. Nature’s natural engineers, the beavers built two dams on the creek tributary that are so effective at holding water that the water agency feared flooding might occur during the next rainy season.
The idea is that ample water will remain above the dams, keeping a safe and secure habitat for the beavers, while ensuring that the homes bordering the creek are not threatened by rising water.
An agency representative explains the job. A large-diameter pipe made of plastic runs across each of the dams, positioned so that when the water reaches the height of the pipe, it begins to drain to the lower sections of the water below the dams. There is a large slit cut into the top of each pipe allowing air to enter; this ensures that the pipes do not become siphons that lower the water above the dams too much.
The beavers have been hard at work, and evidence of their engineering skills can be seen in the trees felled by their own sharp teeth. The pond created by their efforts now provides a swimming hole for ducks, and some of them can be seen nesting in the weeds and rushes bordering the creek.
The return of beavers to local creeks is a matter of excitement and a sign of ecological health. This is the first beaver dam mitigation project undertaken by SCWA, and the project also provides an opportunity for ongoing study of beaver habitat, habits, and adaptation.
— Larry Barnett
