Howdy folks, if you read the analysis at Snopes, you'll discover the the Michigan authorities are not quite as stupid as seems, nor the land owner so innocent. I would be pi**ed off too if an adjacent land owner started messing with my land.
" 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." Keith Addison wrote: > Hello Bob > >> Hi All, >> This can't be an urban myth, because it didn't take place in the >> city. Right? Decide for yourself. > > Not at all, just check snopes:: > http://www.snopes.com/humor/letters/dammed.htm > Urban Legends Reference Pages: Humor (Dammed Beavers!) > > Nice piece, been doing the rounds for eight years. > > "Dammed Beavers", it says, not "dam greenies", no mention of > "greenies". Where did your "Check your backyard, these dam greenies > are everywhere" headline come from, if I might ask? It's quite often > been used by libertarian etc people as a sneer at Big Government, but > they often attack "greenies" too ("econazis"). > > Best > > Keith > > >> Bob. >> >> Check your backyard, these dam greenies are everywhere. >> >> >> SUBJECT: DEQ File No.97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20; Lycoming County >> >> Dear Mr. DeVries: >> >> 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 shows 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 >> Pennsylvania Compiled Laws, annotated.! >> >> The Department has been informed that one or both of the dams >> partially failed during a recent rain event, causing debris 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 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 stream >> channel. All restoration work shall be completed no later than >> January 31, 2006. >> >> 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 and Water Management Division. >> >> >> Ryan's response: >> Re: DEQ File No. 97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20; Lycoming County >> >> Dear Mr. Price, >> >> Your certified letter dated 5/17/06 has been handed to me to respond >> to. I am the legal landowner but not the Contractor at 2088 Dagget >> Lane, Trout Run, Pennsylvania. >> >> A couple of beavers are in the (State unauthorized) process of >> constructing and maintaining two wood "debris" dams across the >> outlet stream of my Spring Pond. While I did not pay for, >> authorize, nor supervise their dam project, I think they would be >> highly offended that you call their skillful use of natures building >> materials "debris." I would like to challenge your department to >> attempt to emulate their dam project any time and/or any place you >> choose. I believe I can safely state there is no way you could ever >> match their dam skills, their dam resourcefulness, their dam >> ingenuity, their dam persistence, their dam determination and/or >> their dam work ethic. >> >> As to your request, I do not think the beavers are aware that they >> must first fill out a dam permit prior to the start of this type of >> dam activity. >> >> My first dam question to you is: >> (1) Are you trying to discriminate against my Spring Pond Beavers. >> (2) Or do you require all beavers throughout this State to conform >> to said dam request? >> >> If you are not discriminating against these particular beavers, >> through the Freedom of Information Act, I request completed copies >> of all those other applicable beaver dam permits that have been >> issued. Perhaps we will see if there really is a dam 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 Pennsylvania Compiled >> Laws, annotated. >> >> I have several concerns. My first concern is; aren't the beavers >> entitled to legal representation? The Spring Pond Beavers are >> financially destitute and are unable to pay for said representation >> -- so the State will have to provide them with a dam lawyer. The >> Department's dam concern that either one or both of the dams failed >> during a recent rain event, causing flooding, is proof that this is >> a natural occurrence, which the Department is required to protect. >> In other words, we should leave the Spring Pond Beavers alone rather >> than harassing them and calling their dam names. >> >> If you want the stream "restored" to a dam free-flow condition >> please contact the beavers -- but if you are going to arrest them, >> they obviously did not pay any attention to your dam letter, they >> being unable to read English. >> >> In my humble opinion, the Spring Pond Beavers have a right to build >> their unauthorized dams as long as the sky is blue, the grass is >> green and water flows downstream. They have more dam rights than I >> do to live and enjoy Spring Pond. If the Department of Natural >> Resources and Environmental Protection lives up to its name, it >> should protect the natural resources (Beavers) and the environment >> (Beavers' Dams). >> >> So, as far as the beavers and I are concerned, this dam case can be >> referred for more elevated enforcement action right now. Why wait >> until 1/31/2006? The Spring Pond Beavers may be under the dam ice >> then and there will be no way for you or your dam staff to >> contact/harass them then. >> >> In conclusion, I would like to bring to your attention to a real >> environmental quality, health, problem in the area. It is the >> bears! Bears are actually defecating in our woods. I definitely >> believe you should be persecuting the defecating bears and leave the >> beavers alone. >> >> If you are going to investigate the beaver dam, watch your step! >> The bears are not careful where they dump! >> >> Being unable to comply with your dam request, and being unable to >> contact you on your dam answering machine, I am sending this >> response to your dam office. >> >> THANK YOU. >> RYAN DEVRIES & THE DAM BEAVERS > > > _______________________________________________ > Biofuel mailing list > Biofuel@sustainablelists.org > http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org > > Biofuel at Journey to Forever: > http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html > > Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): > http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ > > > > > -- Bob Allen, http://ozarker.org/bob ========================================================= The modern conservative is engaged in one of Man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness JKG _______________________________________________ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
