Fire resiliency
Beaver and BDA restored rivers and streams are proven to show enhanced fire resiliency, often creating large wetted areas that will not burn, thus creating fire refuge for wildlife.
A restored river or stream network can also act as a fire break. Furthermore, restored streams aid in post-fire recovery - settling out harmful ash.
Beaver and BDA restored rivers and streams support increased surface water storage, groundwater connectivity and recharge, and duration of surface water flow.
Groundwater Recharge
Beaver and BDA restored rivers and streams support increased biodiversity and richness of plant and animal species.
Increased Biodiversity
Carbon Sequestration
Beaver and BDA restored rivers and streams connected to the floodplain hold significantly more carbon than degraded rivers and streams, as well as grasslands. Active beaver complexes hold on average 10-30 times more carbon than grasslands.
Reverse Erosion/
Catch Sediment
The introduction of beaver dams and BDAs into rivers and streams is shown to reverse the effects of erosion. The added in-channel structure dampens the erosive force of the water flow by slowing and spreading the water, while the structures catch sediment to help build the river or stream back up to the floodplain. Meanwhile increased riparian vegetation help stabilize the banks.
Improve Water Quality
Beaver restored areas improve the water quality of the river or stream as well as lessen the pollutants that make it to the ocean. Beaver ponds create slow water to settle out pollutants such as heavy metals and excess nutrients. Then the beaver dams force water underground, binding pollutants to the soil where natural decomposition processes can convert excess nutrients.
Beaver wetland creates fire refuge in Idaho during 2018 Sharps Fire. Credit: Joe Wheaton, Utah State University
Captions
Beaver habitat on the Salinas River in Atascadero, CA. Photo by Brittany App
Wildlife observed at beaver habitat in Atascadero, CA. Courtesy of SLO Beaver Brigade
Figure from Fairfax, E. and Whittle, A. (2020), Smokey the Beaver: beaver dammed riparian corridors stay green during wildfire throught the western USA. Ecol Appl. Accepted Author Manuscript. doi: 10/1002/eap.2225