I. Introductions/Anti-Trust

Chairman Brooks called the meeting to order at 9:35 A.M. and welcomed the 39 people in attendance to the 72nd meeting of Project S.H.A.R.E. After the general introductions, Chairman Brooks read the Anti-Trust guidelines.

II. Past Minutes

There was a motion by Gary Donovan, second by Charlie Corlis, to accept the minutes as presented. Motion carried.

III. Treasurers Report

Steven Koenig gave a summary of the Treasurers Report and funding initiatives. Chairman Brooks accepted the report as presented.

IV. Watershed Council Report

Sheila Huckins (Dennys River) has developed a salmon outreach program with the Cobscook Bay Learning Center. In particular the program serves as a resource to students being homeschooled.

Bill Cherry (Machias/E. Machias River) presented general comments regarding accomplishments and plans for the summer.

V. Issues and Answers: Beavers – the animal people love to hate

• Gary Donovan introduced the discussion from a historic perspective. Beavers has had a special significance not only as from a wildlife perspective, but also as a commodity of value. Only agents of the Commission are allowed to destroy a house or dam. The statewide harvest objective is 11,000 – 19,000 animals per year. The market for pelts is currently depressed and objectives are not being met contributing to an increase in local populations. The challenge to beaver management is to think outside of the box.
• Landowner Representatives: Brian Bronson – In 2005 DOC spent $40,000 in direct repairs on beaver impacts to the trail system and another $40,000 indirectly through clubs. At one location 225 yards of gravel entered a stream in one event.
  Travis Howard – Wagner Forest Management is working with beaver deceivers, USDA animal control, and IF&W animal control. ¾ of the road washouts they encounter are beaver related. $30,000 was spent last year in direct repairs.
  Louise Stevens discussed Haines prospective. One repair required 10 loads (100 yards) of gravel.
  Gary Donovan – GMO invested $20,000 in animal control with USDA. Another $20,000 was spent on direct repairs.
• Tom Schaeffer (IF&W) – Maine IF&W is the state agency responsible for beaver management. Management is on a township basis. The management system is out of date and needs to be addressed. Currently, there are few areas closed to trapping and the season has been liberalized to encourage more trapping. The season has been extended to 5 months in the Downeast Rivers. ASC and IFW work together to target areas for increased trapping. At this time there are no funds available for animal control. Animal control agents are shifting from a live trap and relocation strategy to lethal control of problem beavers.
• Ron Brokaw (IF&W) – Beaver impoundments are shifting riffle/run habitat into pool habitat. Initially a dam creates a pool with improved fishing. Long term negatives include: increased water temperature, sediment accumulations, breech in connectivity, and passage issues at entrances to cool 1st and 2nd order tributaries.

  Ron discussed details of the Black Brook Beaver study. Relative abundance of yoy brook trout increased with beaver control. The tributary served as a population source out migrating to Mopang stream.

  Additional observations: Beaver impoundments are preferred habitat for pickerel. Streamside shade is reduced. Wisconsin currently has a beaver control project involving 117 miles of tributaries. Trout stamp funds are used to fund animal control.

• Ernie Atkinson (ASC) – Positive contributions of beaver activity include: creation of wetland habitats, stores water, trap and store nutrients. Negative impacts include: sediment clogs spawning gravels and rearing habitat, passage barriers, increased water temperature, decreased dissolved oxygen, and decreased pH. ASC annually looks at key problem areas related to beavers. ASC currently has a neutral policy on beaver control. Staff actively breach beaver dams in October to improve upstream passage of adult salmon. ASC also provides information to trappers.
• Robin Dyer (USDA) – The beaver management program began in 1994. In 2003 Maine dissolved its ADC program. Since 2005 USDA works directly with landowners. It handles 950 complaints annually across the state, primarily protecting road infrastructure. USDA uses both non-lethal and lethal control. Cost are increasing – costs to landowners are increasing – State funding assistance is gone.

VI. Other Business

There being no other business, the meeting adjourned at 12:05.

The next meeting is June 8, 2006 at the Hillgrove Community Center.

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