Joe Brucia: District’s beaver control effort: A fantasy!

Re “Beavers are nuisance and benefit” (Page 1A, Jan. 7): It is time for the city, county and Merced Irrigation District to develop a written policy on preventing beaver damage along Black Rascal Creek. It is a safety issue for those who enjoy the area. Regardless of our local agency’s assurances, here are the facts:

▪ Black Rascal Creek flowing through the city (and portions of the county) is actually a canal. The real creek is diverted into Bear Creek, just east of Kibby Road at Fairfield Canal.

▪ Water flows into the city portion of the creek through irrigation pipes during the summer and from street drainage in winter.

▪ Entrances to culverts along the creek are often dammed by beavers.

▪ Large beaver dams create ponds of stagnant water each spring and, if there was no significant irrigation season, into the summer.

▪ High water from beaver ponds causes erosion damage to creek banks.

▪ Trees partially chewed are a hazard to walkers and especially to kids playing in the area.

▪ For flood control, the city removes a dam or clears a culvert. However, the beaver remains to rebuild.

▪ Within city limits, beavers are not beneficial to Black Rascal Creek.

▪ In the city, responsibility for beaver control is not clearly communicated.

▪ The city, county, MID and MCAG have not provided the public with any written information on their procedures or policies related to dam or beaver damage.

Let’s hope that our local governments can work together to devise a plan, communicated to the public, to solve the problem. It would be appropriate to request public input.

This story was originally published January 11, 2016 at 4:15 PM with the headline "Joe Brucia: District’s beaver control effort: A fantasy!."