Who gives a dam?!? We do! July 24, 2015

Angelo Vitali: Fisheries Program Manager

When the last day of any given trip has come to an end, there's a bittersweet feeling that we all feel inside. It's knowing that soon you'll have to leave wherever you are and it may be long for your return (if there is one) but, also going back home and being with your family once again. Surprisingly, our last day kept was spent on our feet and on the go, I didn't have time to feel sad for leaving or excited to even be back home. The reason for this, is because we were busy building a dam for beavers. 

The day was hectic. Up and ready to go by 7:30, head to the dams by roughly around 10 am. As soon as we arrived, we were to gear up, and walk through obstacles of mud, water, logs, and sticks. A few of us, but not all, fell a time or two but no one was hurt and no phones were damaged. After seeing what a few of the dams looked like, it was our job to build one very similar that a beaver and its family could actually use.

After lunch, we were taken to where we were building this dam. There were two groups and we had one minute to discuss our plans. The buckets were to be used for mud and rocks, the mud to keep the hay in place, the rocks to help stabilize the dam as well as cover any holes, and the large branches were to hold everything together. Each of us had a different role. My job was find as many large rocks as I probably could.

Thinking it was going to be a simple task, we were wrong. Once coming together and sharing our ideas, things become a little more challenging. All of a sudden, gathering the materials didn't come so easy. We found ourselves in each other's way, confused, and yes, frustrated. Finally, team leaders put us in charge of different things making us need each other when it became more useful. 

Communication was a big part of completing this task. As soon as we learned to guide each other, building the dam became easier and the stress of not finishing was gone. In the end, we built the dam and completed it. Having so much to do in so little time nearly felt impossible. It was knowing that we did our very best together to finish that made us successful. 

People of Big River 2015 give a dam!