Water is a precious resource, especially in Texas, where drought years are common. With 25 years of land clearing experience, we’ve observed various approaches and experimented with different methods. One approach that often goes unnoticed is biomimicry, where humans emulate nature to solve problems.
In this case, the challenge is water scarcity or excessive rainfall. The solution is beaver biomimicry, utilizing mulch, a byproduct of forestry mulchers used for land clearing. From 2009 to 2012, we collaborated closely with Texas A&M Agrilife on a land clearing project within Camp Bullis, a military installation near San Antonio, TX. During this period, we cleared hundreds of acres using forestry mulchers and hand crews.
This is when we encountered Bryan Hummel, who had an idea or theory he wanted to implement in our land clearing efforts. He chose a hill that needed clearing and instead of mulching everything as it stands, we mulched rows on terrace flats. Then, we cut and moved vegetation to the opening we originally mulched to gain access. These areas became berms of mulch on each terrace level.
These berms served as a silt fence, slowing down water flow during heavy rains. They trapped the water on the hillside, allowing it to soak in. Consequently, the springs in these areas experienced longer-lasting and higher-flowing water in the subsequent years compared to other cleared sites or uncleared areas. The mulch berms effectively acted as a beaver dam, slowing and filtering water flow.
We occasionally implement this tactic on various projects across the state. In the accompanying photos, we are clearing a property of Red Berry Ashe Juniper, also known as Cedar. This type of Cedar requires root removal to prevent regrowth. Consequently, we dug up the cedar and mesquite, creating rows for mulching on contour. This strategy slows water flow during heavy rains, enabling the owner’s land to retain moisture for an extended period. Although this process may be slightly more expensive, its long-term benefits are invaluable. His natural springs will run longer and produce more water for him to enjoy on his property.
To gain further insights into this approach, we highly recommend exploring other aspects of it at WaterRanching.com. For a land clearing quote using this method, please contact Cedar Eaters today.
