Ecological Niche


Dam, dam, dam, dam, dam.

Beaver dam #2 and ditch at fairly low water level.

Constructed: 1977
Specifications:
Width:(original) 10 ft.
Depth:(original) 10 ft.
Length:(original) 1.75 miles
Total drop: approximately 12 ft.
Function:(original) drainage for an open pit coal mine and to drain two existing lakes within the mining licence area to mine the coal under them.

Currently there are five beaver dams along the ditch. #2 is approximately 1/4 mile W of #1 and is the oldest and second highest being undisturbed for about 13 years and holding about five feet of water above the next level with a pond depth behind the dam of about twelve feet. The dam is about 400 feet long and holds a surface water area of approximately 20 acres.

#1 is a low dam about 1/4 mile NW of the lower end of the ditch and holding about one foot of water above the next level with a pond depth of about six feet behind the dam. It is about 100 feet long and holds a surface area of about 5 acres.

#3 is about 1/2 mile W of #2 and is the newest dam (3 years) holding about three feet above the next level with a pond depth of about eight feet behind the dam. Approximate length 200 feet with a surface area of about three acres.

#4 is about 1/8mile NW and is an old dam, flooded now to about the same level as #3. This dam is about 200 feet long and holds back the largest surface area pond at about 40 acres.

#5 is the furthest upstream dam about 1/2 mile W and also the highest, holding back about six feet above the next level in a wet year. It has a relatively small surface area confined within the banks of the original ditch of perhaps two acres and several side ditches covering possibly three more acres. (July, 1999)

Beaver work


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Dam #2- Sept. '99

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