Photo credit: Sandy Brown Jensen
The Natural History Society of Maryland invites you to join us, along with Ecotone's Scott McGill, for National Beaver Day at Boordy Vineyards! Scott McGill is the Founder and CEO of Ecotone, Inc. a design-build ecological restoration company. Scott has over 27 years of applied experience in both design and construction of ecological restoration projects throughout the United States. His “less is more” approach to design and construction that incorporate conservation biology and adaptive management is widely accepted as an innovative model for sustainable cost-effective ecological restoration.
In early 2018, the landowners of Boordy Vineyards contacted Ecotone after having problems with beaver flooding the road near their home. The property sits on Long Green Creek and adjacent to the stream Ecotone had created 8.3 acres of wetlands. These wetlands provided the optimal location for a beaver dam, and a pair of beavers colonized the site. The beavers are actively enhancing the wetland habitat by flooding them and expanding the wetland areas, but the road flooding was a big issue that needed remediation. Ecotone installed several flow management devices in the beaver dam using a caged culvert pipe to maintain the water level behind the dam to limit flooding potential of the road while preserving the benefits the beaver provide to the wetlands. This is a cost effective alternative to trapping that retains ecological benefits while protecting any surrounding infrastructure.
Come tour the beaver dam and wetlands, and see this amazing success story for yourself! Oh, and stay for wine tasting, food, and music!
Difficulty/what to wear/bring: Moderately strenuous due to walking in mud and water while touring the beaver dam. Waders or tall boots are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED! The chances are good that you will be getting wet! Dress for the weather and bring a change of clothes just in case.
NOTE: Wine tasting and food are not included in registration costs and will be paid separately onsite at Boordy.