When I was a child I had a simple puzzle that probably many children learned their Geography from. It was a map of the America and every piece was shaped like a different state. The square states like the Dakotas were the hardest to place because they had nothing unique about them to remind me where they should go. California and Nevada of course were easy. Two of my favorite pieces were Idaho and Montana because I quickly made the connection that Montana had an edge that looked like the profile of a face with a prominent nose. The face tucked right into the curve of Idaho. Its oddly how I remember their connection to this day.
This morning we have more stories from the face!
How Human-Made Beaver Dams Could Help With Habitat Restoration
University of Montana ecologists are researching human-made beaver dams as a potential habitat restoration tool. Early case studies show the dams could dull the impacts of climate change seen in rivers and streams. The U.S. Forest Service is looking to use the simple structures on new sites in the state, but first, officials want to better understand the science behind simulated rodent engineering.
Beavers aren’t called ecosystem engineers for nothing. Their dams can rebuild eroded streams and create lush wetland habitat suitable to elk and insect alike. Meanwhile, the dams create ponds that can store water longer in the face of drought.
Hey, do you know what makes really great beaver dams? BEAVERS! I know its hard but just stop killing them and they’ll take over this job for you. Of course they won’t do the research projects to prove that what they do actually works, or publish the articles in peer reviewed journals nearly as often, but do you want to prove it works or do you want it to actually work? When it comes to building and maintaining those dams they’re a natural.
Don’t you just love how the university and forest service have to STUDY them first? To see if they;re successful? I mean we know they hold back water and restore streams but HOW much water exactly? And how restored?
Is there something we can count? We just love to count things.
Researchers say beaver complexes can provide first-rate trout habitat. But it’s unclear how well Montana’s native westslope cutthroat would navigate today’s low river flows with human-made mimics.
As for beaver ponds, their sun-drenched surfaces are warmer than rushing streams. Andrew Lahr, a Ph.D student in Eby’s lab, says that could create better habitat for invasive fish already displacing native trout.
“Here in Montana and across the western United States, we introduced eastern brook trout that have been really good invaders. They’re able to inhabit places that have become warmer — too warm for cutthroat to be.”
Lahr will track brook trout to see how analog dams affect their populations at the research areas.
That’s right. Beavers will knock those invasive trout right outta the park. Of course your average fisherman won’t care whether he caught a native or an imposter. He just wants what’s easiest and doesn’t care about purity. That how we got into this mess.
I dare say that even though they are going to study the facts to determine if gravity still operates in this particular section of Montana they will unsurprisingly discover the very same truth that everyone has for decades. Beavers help stream. Beavers help wildlife. Beavers help groundwater. Beavers help climate change. Beavers help drought. Beavers help birds. Beavers help insects.
But go ahead. Sure. Study it all again just to be sure.
