Response to an Inquiry as to whether the "Dam Beaver" Letter is real > From: "Luis Saldivia" <SALDIVIL@state.mi.us> > Cc: "Byron Lane" <LANEB.DEQ-LWM.DEQ-SC@state.mi.us> > Sent: Tuesday, April 25, 2000 11:20 AM > Subject: Beaver Dam letter Dear Mrs. Carol Whittom: Thank you for your inquiry to the Department of Environmental Quality regarding the beaver dam letter that has been circulating in the internet. The letter concerned an enforcement action directed to a tenant on property surrounding Spring Pond, which is located in Pierson Township, Montcalm County, Michigan. The tenant was observed by the downstream complainant, and has since admitted to the complainant, that he artificially built up, and maintained two abandoned beaver dams on the discharge end of the natural pond. Such an activity falls under the jurisdiction of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, 1194 PA 451, as amended. It is the Department's position that in the absence of any threat to public welfare, beaver dams should be left in their natural state, that being either actively maintained or abandoned by beaver. The Department conducted an on-site inspection of the dams in August of 1997, accompanied by a Department of Natural Resources fisheries biologist, the Pierson Township Supervisor and the complainant. The tenant's actions, and a threat to the welfare of the downstream complainant prompted our correspondence of December 1997, instructing the tenant to cease and desist all illegal activity and to restore the stream to its prior condition. The owner of the property took issue with our action, and responded with his own version of the situation. It was this correspondence that has been circulating in the internet. I trust that this information is helpful. If you need further information, please do not hesitate to contact me. Luis Saldivia Grand Rapids District Supervisor Land and Water Management Division 616-356-0208 STEVE'S RESPONSE: Subject: Re: Beaver Dam letter Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2000 08:57:15 -0400 From: Stephen Tvedten <steve@getipm.com> Organization: Get Set Inc. (www.getipm.com) To: CAROL WHITTOM <clw@micron.net>, LUIS SALDIVA <SALDIVIL@state.mi.us>, BYRON LANE <LANEB.DEQ-LWM.DEQ-SC@state.mi.us>, Linda Jensen-Pascarella <info@safe2use.com>, Donnelly Hadden <dwhadden@umich.edu> Dear Luis, You are a Dam liar! Please forward to me immediately any "proof" you have that anyone but the Dam beaver maintained this Dam! The Dam neighbor killed the beavers - or the Dams would not have been "abandoned". You Dam bureaucrats never can get the facts straight - there were and are THREE Dams on this property! Quit your Dam Lying! Respectfully, Stephen L. Tvedten Stephen, I just came across your letter to David Price regarding the beaver dams. It was the BEST! I found it at the Safe2use site. I recently exchanged links with your site (Thank-you!) and was doing my nightly search for more links when I came across this letter. It was So wonderfully written I just wanted to let you know. Since it has been 3 years, I was wondering what ever happened to those dams and beavers? I know it is tough to fight city hall and was hoping to hear that you won the battle for the beavers! Keep up the excellent work you are doing, Sincerely, Pat Goodwin Dear Pat, The man who started this had already killed the beavers and was worried that their now untended dams would now break apart and enter his property. Tom Brokaw made him look like a fool and called him my "Dam Neighbor" on April Fool's Day a couple of years ago. The State just wants to pretend that this did not happen. You can fight "city hall" and win - I do it everyday! Have a great day! Steve [ Original Dam Letter ] * [ More Dam Stuff ] * [ Dam Beavers' Dam - 2005 ] * [ Steve's Stuff ] [ Main Site Map ]
> From: "Luis Saldivia" <SALDIVIL@state.mi.us> > Cc: "Byron Lane" <LANEB.DEQ-LWM.DEQ-SC@state.mi.us> > Sent: Tuesday, April 25, 2000 11:20 AM > Subject: Beaver Dam letter
Dear Mrs. Carol Whittom:
Thank you for your inquiry to the Department of Environmental Quality regarding the beaver dam letter that has been circulating in the internet.
The letter concerned an enforcement action directed to a tenant on property surrounding Spring Pond, which is located in Pierson Township, Montcalm County, Michigan. The tenant was observed by the downstream complainant, and has since admitted to the complainant, that he artificially built up, and maintained two abandoned beaver dams on the discharge end of the natural pond. Such an activity falls under the jurisdiction of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, 1194 PA 451, as amended. It is the Department's position that in the absence of any threat to public welfare, beaver dams should be left in their natural state, that being either actively maintained or abandoned by beaver.
The Department conducted an on-site inspection of the dams in August of 1997, accompanied by a Department of Natural Resources fisheries biologist, the Pierson Township Supervisor and the complainant. The tenant's actions, and a threat to the welfare of the downstream complainant prompted our correspondence of December 1997, instructing the tenant to cease and desist all illegal activity and to restore the stream to its prior condition. The owner of the property took issue with our action, and responded with his own version of the situation. It was this correspondence that has been circulating in the internet.
I trust that this information is helpful. If you need further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Luis Saldivia Grand Rapids District Supervisor Land and Water Management Division 616-356-0208
STEVE'S RESPONSE:
Subject: Re: Beaver Dam letter Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2000 08:57:15 -0400 From: Stephen Tvedten <steve@getipm.com> Organization: Get Set Inc. (www.getipm.com) To: CAROL WHITTOM <clw@micron.net>, LUIS SALDIVA <SALDIVIL@state.mi.us>, BYRON LANE <LANEB.DEQ-LWM.DEQ-SC@state.mi.us>, Linda Jensen-Pascarella <info@safe2use.com>, Donnelly Hadden <dwhadden@umich.edu>
Dear Luis, You are a Dam liar! Please forward to me immediately any "proof" you have that anyone but the Dam beaver maintained this Dam! The Dam neighbor killed the beavers - or the Dams would not have been "abandoned". You Dam bureaucrats never can get the facts straight - there were and are THREE Dams on this property! Quit your Dam Lying!
Respectfully, Stephen L. Tvedten
Stephen, I just came across your letter to David Price regarding the beaver dams. It was the BEST! I found it at the Safe2use site. I recently exchanged links with your site (Thank-you!) and was doing my nightly search for more links when I came across this letter. It was So wonderfully written I just wanted to let you know. Since it has been 3 years, I was wondering what ever happened to those dams and beavers? I know it is tough to fight city hall and was hoping to hear that you won the battle for the beavers! Keep up the excellent work you are doing,
Sincerely, Pat Goodwin
Dear Pat, The man who started this had already killed the beavers and was worried that their now untended dams would now break apart and enter his property. Tom Brokaw made him look like a fool and called him my "Dam Neighbor" on April Fool's Day a couple of years ago. The State just wants to pretend that this did not happen. You can fight "city hall" and win - I do it everyday! Have a great day! Steve
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