Pikes Peak in Colorado wants beavers. Apparently they just received a grant to do some LTPBR in the area and encourage some furry engineers.

‘Yes, we’re attempting to entice beavers back to the Peak’: Colorado Springs Utilities receives grant to restore beaver meadow on Pikes Peak

According to CSU, a grant from the Colorado Water Conservation Board will be used to try and restore beaver habitat near North Catamount Reservoir. Officials said the funding will allow CSU to implement “a beaver-based, low-tech solution to supplement on-going fire mitigation efforts.”

Representatives for CSU said in the past, beaver habitats on the mountain created landscapes with “wetter” trees and meadows that acted as natural fire breaks.

As of early December, the plan was to have simulated beaver structures in the area by September 2025, and CSU said the hope is to see beaver activity in the area within a few years of that implementation.

Apparently there is a lot of interest in the BDAS but I don’t see any mention of planting willow. I hope  the hills just covered in it but the photo looks pretty grassy.

• 2024- early 2025: Project planning, baseline data collection, and forestry management project work
• September 2025: Install SBSs and PALS, collect post construction data
• 2026: Adaptive management of the SBSs and PALS (add, remove, modify structures as needed) and post project data analysis

Ultimately, we hope to spy actual beaver activity in the area within a few years of implementation. Regardless, the project will help protect our nearby infrastructure, increase the resiliency of North Catamount Creek, improve water quality and enhance ecosystem health.

I can’t say I’m fond of the word REGARDLESS. I’d be much happier if you were using some grant money to have young people put in a whole bunch of willow cuttings and fascines.

Then put in your special BDAs.