Dam, May 2020 by Dr. Emily Fairfax 
Same dam, May 2021 by Audrey Taub
I’ve really been enjoying these images we’ve taken of the beaver dam on the Upper Salinas River once a month over this past year. Here are two 360 images, one from May 2020 and the other is from May 2021. What differences do you notice?
This 360 was taken May 2020 by Dr. Emily Fairfax
And this 360, taken May 2021 by Audrey Taub
Certainly there is much more water now. And much more vegetation growing on the dam. Definitely the dam looks higher in the second photo also. What really strikes me though is the variation of depth of the river bottom. The first photo shows a fairly consistent flat river bed. The second, and maybe I can see it because I’ve been there, shows deep holes and channels in the river bed. One hole by the dam (that was created by the storm back in January ) is at least 5′ deep. I would disappear if I misstepped into that one!
The second photo is much more complex. I mean, where did all that bur reed come from anyway? I don’t see any of it in the 2020 images.
I’m curious what do you notice? Send us an email and let us know! (slobeaverbrigade@gmail.com).