D A M B U R E A U C R A C Y
This was an actual letter from and reply to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.
Building, P.O. Box 30473, Lansing, MI 48909-7973
To: Mr. Ryan DeVries
December 17, 1997 -- CERTIFIED
SUBJECT: DEQ File
Dear Mr. DeVries:
It has come to the attention of the Department of Environmental Quality that there has been recent
Construction and maintenance of two wood debris dams across the outlet stream of Spring Pond.
A permit must be issued prior to the start of this type of activity. A review of the Department's files shows
The Department has been informed that one or both of the dams partially failed during a recent rain event,
Failure to comply with this request or any further unauthorized activity on the site may result in this case
Sincerely,
David L. Price
----Reply Letter----
Re: DEQ File No. 97-59-0023; T11N, R10W, Sec 20; Montcalm County
Dear Mr. Price:
Your certified letter dated 12/17/97 has been handed to me for response. You sent out a great deal of
First of all, Mr. Ryan DeVries is not the legal landowner and/or contractor at 2088 Dagget, Pierson,
While I did not pay for, nor authorize their dam project, I think they would be highly offended you call their
As to your dam request that the beavers first must fill out a dam permit prior to the start of this type of
Perhaps we will see if there really is a dam violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the
My first concern is - are the dam beavers entitled to dam legal representation? The Spring Pond Beavers
As for me, I am not going to cause more dam flooding or dam debris jams by interfering with these dam
In my humble opinion, the Spring Pond Beavers have a right to build their unauthorized dams as long as
In conclusion, I would like to bring to your attention a real environmental quality (health) problem: bears
Sincerely,
Ryan DeVries
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From: State of Michigan
Grand Rapids District Office
State Office Building, Sixth Floor, 350
Ottawa, N.W., Grand Rapids, MI 49503-2341
CC: John Engler, Governor
CC: Department Of Environmental Quality Hollister
Russell J. Harding, Director
2088 Dagget Pierson, MI 49339
No. 97-59-0023-1
T11N, R10W, Sec. 20, Montcalm County
unauthorized activity on the above referenced parcel of property. You have been certified as the legal
landowner and/or contractor who did the following unauthorized activity:
that no permits have been issued. Therefore, the Department has determined that this activity is in
violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection
Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Michigan
Compiled Laws, annotated.
causing debris and flooding at downstream locations. We find that dams of this nature are inherently
hazardous and cannot be permitted. The Department therefore orders you to cease and desist all
unauthorized activities at this location, and to restore the stream to a free-flow condition by removing all
wood and brush forming the dams from the strewn channel. All restoration work shall be completed no
later than January 31, 1998. Please notify this office when the restoration has been completed so that a
follow-up site inspection may be scheduled by our staff.
being referred for elevated enforcement action. We anticipate and would appreciate your full cooperation
in this matter. Please feel free to contact me at this office if you have any questions.
District Representative
Land and Water Management Division
carbon copies to a lot of people, but you neglected to include their addresses. You will, therefore, have to
send them a copy of my response.
Michigan - I am the legal owner, and a couple of beavers are in the (State unauthorized) process of
constructing and maintaining two wood "debris" dams across the outlet stream of Spring Pond.
skillful use of natural building materials "debris." I would like to challenge you to attempt to emulate their
dam project any time and/or any place you choose. I believe I can safely state there is no way you could
ever match their dam skills, their dam resourcefulness, their dam ingenuity, their dam persistence, their
dam determination and/or their dam work ethic.
activity, my first dam question to you is: are you trying to discriminate against Spring Pond Beavers or
do you require all beavers throughout this State to conform to said dam request? If you are not
discriminating against these particular beavers, please send me completed copies of all those other
applicable beaver dam permits.
Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections
324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Michigan Compiled Laws annotated.
are financially destitute and are unable to pay for said representation - so the State will have to provide
them with a dam lawyer. The Department's dam concern that either one or both of the dams failed during
a recent rain event causing dam flooding is proof we should leave the dam Spring Pond Beavers alone
rather than harassing them and calling their dam names. If you want the stream "restored" to a dam
free-flow condition - contact the dam beavers but if you are going to arrest them (they obviously did not
pay any attention to your dam letter - being unable to read English) be sure you read them their Miranda
rights first.
builders. If you want to hurt these dam beavers, be aware I am sending a copy of your dam letter and this
response to PETA. If your dam Department seriously finds all dams of this nature inherently hazardous
and truly will not permit their existence in this State - I seriously hope you are not selectively enforcing
this dam policy - or once again both I and the Spring Pond Beavers will scream prejudice!
the sky is blue, the grass is green and water flows downstream. They have more dam right than I to live
and enjoy Spring Pond. So, as far as the beavers and I are concerned, this dam case can be referred for
more elevated enforcement action now. Why wait until 1/31/98? The Spring Pond Beavers may be under
the dam ice then and there will be no dam way for you or your dam staff to contact/harass them then.
are actually defecating in our woods! I definitely believe you should be persecuting the defecating bears
and leave the dam beavers alone. If you are going to investigate the beaver dam, watch your step - the
bears are not careful where they dump. Being unable to comply with your dam request, and being unable
to contact you on your dam answering machine, I am sending this dam response to your dam office.