birding-aus
Not exactly bird related but people might like this:
> Subject: DAM BEAVERS
>
> The state of Michigan sent this letter to a
> person who owns the land on which some beavers have built a dam on a
> pond. Just read the reply letter, it's a dam classic!
>
> STATE OF MICHIGAN
> Reply to: GRAND RAPIDS DISTRICT OFFICE
> STATE OFFICE BUILDING, 6TH FLOOR
> 350 OTTAWA NW
> GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49503-2341
>
> JOHN ENGLER, Governor
> DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
> HOLLISTER BUILDING
> PO BOX 30473
> LANSING MI 48909-7973
> INTERNET: http://www.deq.state.mius/
> RUSSELL J. HARDING, Director
>
> December 17, 1997
>
> CERTIFIED
>
> Mr. Ryan DeVries
> 2088 Dagget
> Pierson, MI 49339
>
> Dear Mr. DeVries:
>
> SUBJECT: DEQ File No. 97-59-0023-1 T11N, R10W, Sec. 20, Montcalm,
> County.
> 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
>
> ---- Reply Letter ----
>
> Dear Mr. Price:
>
> Re: DEQ File No. 97-59-0023; T11N, R10W, Sec 20; Montcalm County
>
> Your certified letter dated 12/17/97 has been handed to me to respond
> to. You sent out a great deal of carbon copies to a lot of people,
> but you neglected to include their addresses. You will, therefore,
> have to send them a copy of my response.
>
> First of all, Mr. Ryan DeVries is not the legal landowner and/or
> contractor at 2088 Dagget, Pierson, Michigan - I am the legal owner. 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, nor authorize their
> dam project, I think they would be highly offended you call their
> skillful use of natural building materials "debris." I would like to
> challenge you to attempt to emulate their dam project any dam time
> and/or any dam place you choose. I believe I can safely state there is
> no dam 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 dam request the beavers first must fill out a dam permit
> prior to the start of this type of dam activity, my first dam question
> to you is: are you trying to discriminate against my Spring Pond
> Beavers or do you require all dam beavers throughout this State to
> conform to said dam request? If you are not discriminating against
> these particular beavers, please send me completed copies of all those
> other applicable beaver dam permits. 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
> Michigan Compiled Laws annotated.
>
> My first concern is - aren't the dam beavers entitled to dam legal
> representation? The Spring Pond Beavers are financially destitute and
> are unable to pay for said dam 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 dam flooding is proof we should leave the dam Spring Pond
> Beavers alone rather than harassing them and calling their dam names.
> If you want the dam stream "restored" to a dam free-flow condition -
> contact the dam beavers - but if you are going to arrest them (they
> obviously did not pay any dam attention to your dam letter-being
> unable to read English) - be sure you read them their dam Miranda
> rights first.
>
> As for me, I am not going to cause more dam flooding or dam debris
> jams by interfering with these dam builders. If you want to hurt these
> dam beavers - be aware I am sending a copy of your dam letter and this
> response to PETA. If your dam Department seriously finds all dams of
> this nature inherently hazardous and truly will not permit their
> existence in this dam State - I seriously hope you are not selectively
> enforcing this dam policy - or once again both I and the Spring Pond
> Beavers will scream prejudice!
>
> In my humble opinion, the Spring Pond Beavers have a right to build
> their dam unauthorized dams as long as the sky is blue, the grass is
> green and water flows downstream. They have more dam right than I to
> live and enjoy Spring Pond. So, as far as I and the beavers are
> concerned, this dam case can be referred for more dam elevated
> enforcement action now. Why wait until 1/31/98? The Spring Pond
> Beavers may be under the dam ice then, and there will be no dam way
> for you or your dam staff to contact/harass them then.
>
> In conclusion, I would like to bring to your attention a real truly
> environmental quality (health) problem; State bears are actually
> defecating in our woods. I definitely believe you should be
> persecuting the defecating bears and leave the dam 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.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Stephen L.Tvedten
> xc: PETA
--
*********************************************************************
Michael J. McLeish Ph.D.
Associate Research Scientist Tel: +1 (734) 615 1787
College of Pharmacy FAX: +1 (734) 763 2022
University of Michigan
428 Church St
Ann Arbor MI 48109-1065
USA
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