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Beaver Benefits

Beaver wetland creates fire refuge in Idaho during 2018 Sharps Fire. Credit: Joe Wheaton, Utah State University

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. 

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Beaver wetland creates fire refuge in Idaho during 2018 Sharps Fire. Credit: Joe Wheaton, Utah State University
Beaver habitat on the Salinas River in Atascadero, CA. Photo by Brittany App

Beaver and BDA restored rivers and streams support increased surface water storage, groundwater connectivity and recharge, and duration of surface water flow. 

Groundwater Recharge

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
Wildlife observed at beaver habitat in Atascadero, CA. Courtesy of SLO Beaver Brigade. (a bobcat)

Beaver and BDA restored rivers and streams support increased biodiversity from the creation, stabilization, enrichment, and diversification of aquatic habitat.

Increased Biodiversity

Wildlife observed at beaver habitat in Atascadero, CA. Courtesy of SLO Beaver Brigade. (a mallard)
Wildlife observed at beaver habitat in Atascadero, CA. Courtesy of SLO Beaver Brigade. (a bird's nest with four blue eggs)
Beaver habitat on the Salinas River in Atascadero, CA. Photo by Brittany App

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.

Beaver habitat on the Salinas River in Atascadero, CA. Photo by Brittany App
burned stream channels agraded with materials

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.

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burned stream channels agraded with materials

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

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