Beavers, their dams put to work restoring streams
Nuisance beavers put to use restoring streams, fish habitat in central Washington
ELLENSBURG, Wash. (AP) — In a heavily irrigated Washington valley where fish, crops and people often compete for water, biologists are turning to one of nature’s best engineers to help restore streams and salmon habit
Landowners typically trap or kill beavers that block irrigation canals and flood homes in the Yakima Valley. But one project is relocating the troublemaking creatures to the headwaters of the Yakima River, where their talent for chewing willows and constructing lodges can be put to good use.
“Beavers can be really destructive, but in the right places, they can be good ecosystem engineers,” said Mel Babik, project manager with the Mid-Columbia Fisheries Enhancement Group, a nonprofit that works to restore salmon populatio
In Washington, Oregon, Utah and other parts of the West, beavers increasingly are being used as an effective, low-cost tool to help restore rivers.
Beaver dams, ponds and other structures add complexity to an ecosystem, slowing the flow of water and sediment downstream. Salmon and other fish take advantage of pockets of slow water to rest, feed and hide.
Yet again we are reminded why Washington State is better than EVERYWHERE else. (And incidentally reminded that USDA was a big liar when they told Kitsap that relocation was illegal in Washington). Joe Wheston the geomorphologist-profeessor from Utah State calls the project “Cheap and cheerful restoration” which is pretty awesome.
Meanwhile, beaver ponds help store water on the surface as well as underground.
“The water stored underground comes out during a time of year when fish need cold water and farmers need it too,” said William Meyer, who coordinates the Yakima Basin water resources plan for the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.
I love the pragmatic good work of Yakima, and it never hurts to remind people that beavers are good for streams. But regular readers of this website will know right away how many ‘nuisance beavers’ I think there are that should be relocated.
Nuisance politicians, directors of public works and property owners – sure. But where would you move them?
