New project. It might have to warm up a little more to do this, but it needs to be moved to the top of the to do list. The end of a culvert under a road just inside the fence at the lake. The opening used to be covered with wire to keep beaver out. Two steel fence posts trapped the fence wire tight against the opening. It worked for a long time. Something removed the wire completely. I found it laying 10 feet away. .. Result: at least 4 beaver inside the fence now. Dozens of trees have been chewed down, just this spring. They will cut down every tree within 100 feet of the water if not stopped. Just a flat piece of fencing over it won't work now, because it has rusted out on the bottom, and the beaver will just dig out around the rusted out part. The only thing I can think to do is dig out around the rusted part, pile some of that rip rap rock from the dam spillway around it, and then try to put wire over the opening. But I'll keep thinking. I'll have to get down in the water, and it will be cold.
Fence man came out Saturday to check how the dam was doing. It has been raining off and on almost every day for the last 10 days, so the lake had filled up completely, and water was draining out the new pipe. Much sooner than expected. I should try to get some pictures to match the before pictures. Tuesday, if I have time. Rain is suppose to start again Wednesday. Little minnows swimming over the new drain pipe the day they put it in. A good sign. They are an important part of the food chain. Imagine how the whole community of critters has had to adjust. This summer should be interesting to watch.
This is what we call a red maple: https://www.arborday.org/trees/treeguide/TreeDetail.cfm?ItemID=867 Is yours Acer rubrum?
Love the tree pictures. Thanks everyone! The maple tree I cut down in the back yard last week was supposed to be a red maple. It never turned red in the fall, not even close, just plain yellow. Either it wasn't really a red maple, or the climate here really stinks. Or both. Why My Red Sunset Maple Does Not Turn Red "The red sunset maple (Acer rubrum "Red Sunset") features green leaves in the summer that turn fiery red or reddish-orange in the fall. But those brilliant fall colors aren't a guarantee -- they are a result of climate, weather and environmental conditions."
That is so pretty, Patsy. I used to climb high on a mountain in New Mexico where there was a large meadow, sourronded by red maple trees. Could walk a few feet and look down on Albuquerque.
I don't know, @Patsy Faye. The red maples I am familiar with are tall rather majestic trees. As @Nancy Hart pointed out they probably require cold temps to kill off the chlorophyll and generate the red color. There are varieties of the trees, though. That is why I asked about the genus/species name as some trees have different common names in various areas of the world. There are multiple varieties of Japanese Maple as well, and some are redder than others.