BUSY BEAVERS DAM MARY LAKE OUTFLOW
REDDING LIFESTYLES, REDDING RECREATION, SHASTA COUNTY
November 28th, 2008
It’s that time of year again! Fall rains excite the beaver family living in Mary Lake to build dams and slow 
the movement of water downstream. Jenny Creek feeds Mary Lake (aka Falks Lake) from the hills that form the western boundary of Redding above the subdivision. The beavers have built two dams in response to the first storms of the rainy season. One dam is at the lake outlet and the other is below the retention pond by Lakeside Drive.
For anyone interested, the beaver den is on the west side of the lake near Kildara Ridge. A nearby liveoak tree has been gnawed halfway through but is still alive. I believe the beavers gave up on this old oak because it will fall away from the lake when it drops.
The other benefit of the first storms of the season is the flushing of the summer algae buildup. The City of Redding Parks Department has made a valiant effort to control algae with some success. They have installed an aeration system, added blue dye to the water in early summer and added fresh water to the lake during the hottest weather periods.
City park employees will remove the dam at the outlet of Mary Lake once it reaches a certain height. So far, the lake has risen nearly a foot. If the beavers continue their dam building activities the water level will rise even higher, swamping sections of the perimeter walking trail. In the past, I have suggested the city consider installing a beaver deceiver but the employees enjoy the periodic chore of destroying the beaver dam. However, destroying the dam means the beavers will seek out more twigs, branches and trees to rebuild the dam. This can have an adverse impact on the trees that ring the lake. This is what precipitated a debate about ridding the lake of the beavers several years ago.
Mary Lake residents saved the beavers from the gun and the city made an effort to protect the trees from the beavers. Mary Lake is actually a very healthy ecosystem that supports a wide variety of birds and animal life. I believe it is one of the prettiest neighborhood parks Redding has to offer its residents!
530-224-6767 or 530-941-7492
BRAD GARBUTT
REALTOR/BROKER ASSOCIATE
REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS GMAC
QUARTER CENTURY LOCAL REAL ESTATE EXPERIENCE
