Beaver Library

Rivers and streams, when fully connected to their floodplains, are naturally resilient systems that are increasingly part of the conversation on nature-based climate solutions. Reconnecting waterways to their floodplains improves water quality and quantity, supports biodiversity and sensitive species conservation, increases flood, drought and fire resiliency, and bolsters carbon sequestration. But, while the importance of river restoration is clear, beaver-based restoration—for example, strategic coexistence, relocation, and mimicry—remains an underutilized strategy despite ample data demonstrating its efficacy. Climate-driven disturbances are actively pushing streams into increasingly degraded states, and the window of opportunity for restoration will not stay open forever. Therefore, now is the perfect time to apply the science of beaver-based low-tech process-based stream restoration to support building climate resilience across the landscape. Not every stream will be a good candidate for beaver-based restoration, but we have the tools to know which ones are. Let us use them.

We have developed and implemented a simple approach that emulates the ecosystem engineering effects of beaver. This approach is less expensive and disruptive than typical large-scale engineering efforts and has the potential to restore both fish habitat and floodplain vegetation more rapidly than simply revegetating and waiting for the riparian zone to mature.  (Pg 246 – 255)

This study used questionnaires and economic tools to begin to measure the potential economic impact beavers might have on wildlife tourism in Britain.

Report on capture success of beavers in box traps, box trap designs and modifications, field sets, and costs of purchasing and modifying traps.

Artificial beaver dams are a hot restoration strategy, but the projects aren’t always welcome.

Description of the design process for two types of low-tech structures, post-assisted log structures (PALS) and beaver dam analogues (BDAs).

We aimed to recognise beaver-produced ecosystem services and quantify their theoretical value for the entire Northern Hemisphere.

This article examines five potential conservation benefits of wildlife festivals with an emphasis on ecotourism

Beaver activity (i.e., damming of streamflow) holds significant potential to impact water quality, specifically in-stream nutrient processing.

A review by the University of Southampton of how the reintroduction of beaver will affect fish in Scotalnd

In-depth report on how beaver could provide benefits to local residents and visitors well into the millions of dollars per year in Utah.

An analysis from the Pacific Northwest on the relative costs and benefits of flow devices.

Opinion piece explaining why President Biden should create an Ecosystem Restoration Corps in 2021 to create jobs and improve this country’s environment.

This landmark 20 year study compares traditional lethal beaver control versus nonlethal management methods in the town of Billerica, MA. A total of 55 beaver conflict sites were studied. Sites that were managed with nonlethal control methods cost taxpayers significantly less than sites that were managed with beaver removal, and provided millions of dollars of ecological services to the town annually that would have been lost with beaver removal.

Study of how beaver ponds make nearby vegetation more resilient towards wildfires

Study on how beavers effect water storage and drainage in Eastern Washington

How a New Hampshire town saved thousands of dollars on road? ? maintenance costs and made peace with its beavers

A cost analysis of beaver trapping versus nonlethal flow device use by the Virginia Dept. of Transportation