"Dam Beaver Dam" 2005:  The Legend Continues

Subject: Why do you want to kill the dam beavers?
Date: Wed, 06 Apr 2005 11:39:19 -0400
From: Steve Tvedten <steve@getipm.com>
To:  "Randy L. Stearns" <randy@montcalmroads.com>, piersontownship@triton.net
CC: info@peta.org

Letter from Montclair Road Commission in PDF Format
The letter dated April 4, 2005 reads as follows:

Stephen & Rosaland (sp) Tvedten
2530 Hayes Road (Street)
Marne, Michigan 49435

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Tvedten:

It has been brought to my attention by the Road Commission's area supervisor in Howard City that there is a beaver dam on your property located on the east side of Dagget Road between Pierson Road (CR522) and Hillis Road that is causing water to back up.

The Road Commission is concerned that the water may build up enough to damage Dagget Road and/or Pierson Road--especially if the dam was to suddenly break apart. There is a 36-inch culvert under Dagget Road, and it may not be able to handle a potentially large amount of water, which could result in the road being washed out. Do you have any intention of removing the beaver dam, or would you be willing to allow the Road Commission to have a private contractor trap the beaver and open the dam to slowly release the water?

Please contact me, at your convenience, either toll-free at 877-992-6272 or by email at randy@montcalmroads.com.

Sincerely yours,

Randy L. Stearns
Managing Director

/ks pc. John Lehomoine, Pierson Supervisor
................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Dear Mr. Randy L. Stearns,

Your April 4, 2005 letter to my wife and me regarding the killing of the newest Spring Pond Beavers and the removal of their dam to slowly release the water has been handed to me to answer. First of all, your letter certainly reminds me of a similar complaint dated December 17, 1997 incorrectly sent via certified mail to my tenant Ryan Devries; which is now posted on the following web site http://www.getipm.com/personal/dam.htm and elsewhere around the world. See copy below:

Mr. Ryan DeVries
2088 Dagget
Pierson, MI 49339

Dear Mr. DeVries:

SUBJECT: DEQ File No. 97-59-0023-1 T11N, R10W, Sec. 20, Montcalm Count-,),

It has come to the attention of the Department of Environmental Quality that there has been recent unauthorized activity on the above referenced parcel of property. You have been certified as the legal landowner and/or contractor who did the following unauthorized activity: Construction and maintenance of two wood debris dams across the outlet stream of Spring Pond.

A permit must be issued prior to the start of this type of activity. A review of the Department's files show that no permits have been issued. Therefore, the Department has determined that this activity is in violation of Part 301,. Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Michigan Compiled Laws annotated.

The Department has been informed that one or both of the dams partially, failed during a recent rain event, causing debris dams and flooding at downstream locations. We find that dams of this nature are inherently hazardous and cannot be permitted. The Department therefore orders you to cease and desist all unauthorized activities at this location, and to restore the stream to a free-flow condition by removing all wood and brush forming the dams from the strewn channel. All restoration work shall be completed no later than January 31, 1998. Please notify this office when the restoration has been completed so that a follow-up site inspection may be scheduled by our staff.

Failure to comply with this request, or any further unauthorized activity on the site, may result in this case being referred for elevated enforcement action.

We anticipate and would appreciate your full cooperation in this matter. Please feel free to contact me at this office if you have any questions.

 

Sincerely,

David L. Price
District Representative
Land and Water Management Division
616-356-0269

dlp:bjc
cc: LWMD, Lansing

MontcaImCEA
Pierson Township
Lieutenant Mary C. Sherzer, DNR LED

................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Secondly, Your letter contains several mistakes - my wife's name is Rosalind and there are several beaver dams not just one and there simply is no way these dams could "suddenly break apart" especially if you allow the beaver to continue to maintain their various dams.

I also read your Mission Statement - 'By using the most effective manner possible, and without disrespect to the environment, the Road Commission for Montcalm County is committed to provide a reasonably safe road and bridge network for the public and commercial users." Do you consider the killing of the Spring Pond beavers to be "respect" for the environment? The last time my dam neighbors Tom Brokaw called him (please see the just one of the various websites located at:- http://www.propertyrightsresearch.org/2004/articles2/michigan_deq_and_the_dam_builder.htm ) killed the beavers and then
complained to the DEQ about the "danger" that he now faced. Now apparently you are the next official to "sense the potential "danger" and then demand the death of the dam beavers who are only flooding my property; because "your 36-inch culvert may not be able to handle a potentially large amount of water" ..."if the dam was to suddenly break apart". I think if you think about it seriously that you will still be able to "provide a reasonably safe road and bridge network for the public and commercial users" if you let the dam beavers tend to their dam business and you tend to your own.

Third, Since my initial dam response I had to Respond to another dam Inquiry as to whether the "Dam Beaver" Letter is real - see:
http://www.getipm.com/personal/dam2.htm . Now I will post your letter at least on my website and confirm once again that I STILL WANT THE DAM BEAVERS TO LIVE!

We have no intention of removing "the" beaver dam, nor do we want the Road Commission to have a private contractor trap the beaver and open the dam to slowly release the water? If you leave the beaver alone there simply will never be (without a large amount of dynamite) a chance that all of the various beaver dams will "suddenly break apart".

Sincerely, Stephen L. Tvedten

Copies to:  PETA
                Others