Activity 2.3.1 - Ranchers, Anglers, and Beavers

 Six-Point Critical Analysis Worksheet

1. Exploratory

Probe basic facts and knowledge found in the video and article. 

According to Trout Unlimited, having a good trout and water habitat is essential to have a good cattle habitat and vice versa ("Tipping the Hat" 0:04:45). Cattle graze along the stream to eat the well-grown foliage around it and to drink from the water as well. Parts of the grass leading up to the stream have been worn over time because each year cattle go along generally the same route to go to the stream ("Tipping the Hat" 0:01:34). Many members of the BLM (Bureau of Land Management), have made effort to restore degrades streams to a proper functioning designation (Fesenmyer, 2016). Beaver has played a big role in the recovery of streamside vegetation. For example, their dams store water and re-wet floodplains which then keep water from running off downstream (Fesenmyer, 2016).  

2. Diagnostic

Probe motives or causes.

The reason why streamside vegetation restoration is important is that cattle and other wildlife need that source of water to live. Grazing is part of a cattle's lifestyle, so their instinct is to graze along the streamside so they can be hydrated as well. Over time the streamside vegetation has declined in health due to wildfires and droughts (Fesenmyer, 2016). But thanks to beaver and their natural instinct, streamside vegetation and surrounding plant life has been restored. (Fesenmyer, 2016)

3. Cause and Effect

Causal relationships between ideas, actions, or events.

Due to the lifestyle and impact of beaver dams, stream vegetation has been restored, as well as beaver activity has been appreciated. When ranchers change the grazing patterns, this helps the surrounding foliage, and then the beaver helps accelerate that process of recovery (Fesenmyer, 2016). It has been proven that streamside vegetation has been 10 to 40% more productive when beaver and grazing changes are applied. Because of this change, the forage is more tender for bugs, more deer and elk can graze, and there is more shade for streams to become cold for a specific species of trout. Ranchers benefit from this as well because the water and foliage availability has increased, even in drought years when it is especially important (Fesenmyer, 2016). 

4. Priority

Seek to identify the most important issue.

The most important issue is the vegetation surrounding the stream. This is an issue because cattle and other wildlife need nutrients and hydration from the foliage. There are some nutrients in the water and vegetation that they can't get from anything else. So it is essential to keep plant life safe and preserved so that all life can be kept safe and healthy.  

5. Application

Probe for relationships and connect theory to practice.

In the past, we learned about water pollution and waste all over the world. We have also talked about environmental damage. These are all things that contribute to all plant, animal, and human life. Remembering that I have the biggest effect on plant life is crucial to keeping it safe. Preventing wildfires by putting out campfires or discarding of flammable objects correctly can prevent the environment from being destroyed.

6. Critical

Analyze how this challenges your thinking/assumptions.

This challenged my thinking by showing me how the animals in the environment play a role in each of the areas of wildlife preservation. How beaver creates dams that help other wildlife, how certain fish feed off of algae and other plants, and other ways the wildlife help each other. Realizing how interlocked the wildlife is made me think how important one thing can be to the rest of the animals. How plants are important for cattle, how beaver is important to plants and elk, and how bugs are important for trout. All life is necessary for each other, so taking one away can create a domino effect. So keeping our environment preserved and safe from harm will help us as well. 

References:

Fesenmyer, Kurt. "Restoring Streamside Vegetation Using Grazing and Beavers." Trout Unlimited, 26 Feb. 2016, www.tu.org/magazine/science/restoring-streamside-vegetation-using-grazing-and-beavers/. Accessed 25 Apr. 2023.

"Tipping the Hat." Vimeo, uploaded by Trout Unlimited, 22 May 2014, vimeo.com/96138507.