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. (What research evidence supports _________?Type up several facts and basic knowledge from the video & article. Relate this to what you find in other resources, prior activities for stronger scores.)) 

 

Proper Functioning Condition (PFC) is an assessment that is used to evaluate the condition that the streams and plants that grow around it are in. Many streams are affected by drought, wildfires, and historical grazing practices. The two natural approaches that land managers use are grazing management and beaver. The beavers have been proven to be very beneficial. “Their dams store water and re-wet floodplains, keeping water from running off downstream and providing moisture for vegetation year-round" (Fesenmyer, K., 2016). The people that are a part of this process have won national awards for their discoveries. Research for the future is looking to explore links between the native trout’s response to the recovery of plant life near the sides of the streams through conservation oriented grazing approaches (Fesenmyer, K., 2016).  

 

2. Diagnostic 

Probe motives or causes. (Why?(Tell your reader why this occurs. Explain the causes in detail.)) 

 

Many streams are affected by drought, wildfires, and historical grazing practices (Fesenmyer, K., 2016). There have been efforts made to move streams affected by these problems to a better functioning area. These problems come from people and weather. It is also affected by how big the landscape is.  

 

3. Cause and Effect 

Causal relationships between ideas, actions, or events. (If __________ occurs, what happens?) 

 

If beavers build dams in this area, then their dams will keep water from running off downstream and they provide moisture to the plants all year (Fesenmyer, K., 2016). This is an important part of the process because it helps to maintain the vegetation in the area. 

 

4. Priority 

Seek to identify the most important issue. (What is the most important issue?) 

 

The most important issue would be maintaining the process. Compared to a process with “hot season grazing” and no beavers, the plants can be about 10 to 40% more productive with conservation-oriented grazing and beavers used (Fesenmyer, K., 2016).  

 

5. Application 

Probe for relationships and connect theory to practice. (How does this apply to you? How is this related to culture as we have studied so far?) 

 

This applies to us because it is part of our environment. If anything in our environment is not doing well, then it affects us even if it is a little bit or if we do not notice it. There are many conservation efforts in our country and this is one of them. Many people care enough to actually do something about it.  

 

6. Critical 

Analyze how this challenges your thinking/assumptions. (How did this change your thinking? Did it? Why?) 

 

This gave me more of an insight into this part of conservation. I never really thought about how much beavers help out with conservation. This made me realize how important this problem is to our environment and how some people are trying to maintain it. 

 

 

 

References 

 

Fesenmyer, K. (2016). Restoring streamside vegetation using grazing and beavers. Trout Unlimited. https://www.tu.org/magazine/science/restoring-streamside-vegetation-using-grazing-and-beavers/Links to an external site.