Mud Bay Creek has been decimated by beaver
dams in
recent years. The creek crosses Hwy. 19A just east of the
E&N
railway crossing north of the Mud Bay log sort. As it is
illegal to disturb beaver dams, locals have been worried about
flooding, both downstream (if a dam broke) or upstream (if the dam
didn't break). Also the Ministry of Transport had been
nervously watching the dams cause erosion along highway shoulders,
and produce softening of the highway bed. The dams were on
both
sides of the highway.
Along with all these problems, the
flooding of the local forest was killing the large conifers, some of
which could conceivably fall on the highway, especially with the soil
around their roots being softened by the beaver pond.
In
addition, the dams have been preventing salmon from reaching
traditional spawning beds, and local streamkeepers have been wringing
their hands, praying for a resurgence of interest in the beaver hat
and beaver fur coats.
Last year, however, an unknown "dam
buster" solved all these problems, at least for a while.
Before
the beavers could rebuild, the MOT moved in to repair the streams for
highway maintenance as well as salmon usage.
The result is a
beautifully-landscaped area on both sides of Hwy. 19A, with many
berms and ponds. These have the effect of diluting the
current
in the main stream, making the area less attractive to beavers.
Also, FBSES is planting conifers and other shrub species
which
the beaver do not like, either for food or dam building.
Alders
and other beaver favourites will be "discouraged" from
growing in this area.
Here are some photos of the tree
planting following the work done by Sean Wong of the MOT and
his
crew:
(Click on a thumbnail to enlarge)
October 13, 2007 (Dianne
Eddy, photographer)
October 13, 2007 (Some of Sean Wong's shots)
October 20, 2007 (Mud Bay Creek South and Cook Creek Relic Channel)