This one isn't a joke. I found it in the NY Times. They received an e-mail of this exchange for some reason and verified it with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.
Dec. 17, 1997
Mr. Ryan DeVries
2088 Dagget
Pierson, MI 49339
Dear Mr. DeVries:
It has come to the attention of the Department of Environmental Quality that there has been recent 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:
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 that no permits have been issued.
The Department has been informed that one or both of the dams partially failed during a recent rain event, causing debris and flooding at downstream locations. 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.
Sincerely,
David L. Price
District Representative
Land and Water Management Division
The reply:
Dear Mr. Price:
Your certified letter dated 12/17/97 has been handed to me to respond to. Mr. Ryan DeVries is not the legal landowner and/or contractor at 2088 Dagget, Pierson, 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 my Spring Pond. While I did not pay for nor authorize their dam project, I think they would be highly offended to hear you call their skillful use of natural building materials “debris.”
I would like to challenge you to attempt to emulate their dam project. I believe I can safely state there is no dam 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. As to your dam request -- the beavers first must fill out a dam permit prior to the start of this type of dam activity – my first dam question to you is: are you trying to discriminate against my Spring Pond beavers or do you require all dam beavers
throughout this state to conform to said dam request?
As for me, I am not going to cause more dam flooding or dam debris jams by interfering with these dam builders.
I seriously hope you are not selectively enforcing this dam policy – or once again both I and the Spring Pond beavers will scream prejudice!
Sincerely,
Stephen L. Tvedten
[Note: I think I love Mr. Tvedten]