I’m sure we’ve all gotten used to seeing beaver benefits touted in the Washington Post or the Wall Street Journal. Over the years, they’ve shown up in some unlikely places like USA today and TVGuide.I’ve become prepared for that.
But the Weather Channel?
How Beavers, the Original Ecosystem Engineers, May Help the American West Adapt to Climate Change.
For the past 12 years, the Beaver Project has been working with agencies such as the Forest Service to move so-called nuisance beavers to new locations in the valley.
The work of beavers is in direct contrast to the effects of climate change, which is predicted to make water run out faster. Scientists postulate Washington State will get less rain in the summer and less snow during the winter (mountain snowpack is an important source of water during the dry months). These trends could lead to more frequent and more severe droughts in some areas.
“Storing water for the future. That was kind of the whole initial energy and funding behind the project,” says Alexa Whipple, director of the Methow Beaver Project. They’ve done about 300 re-introductions so far, she says.
Hold on. I’m just rubbing my eyes. Not only do the scientists at the weather channel get to mention climate change they get to say that beavers can help with it! Wow are all the Trump officials on vacation or something?
One study done in a different part of Washington State found that each beaver dam held over 100,000 gallons of surface water, with three to five times as much stored as groundwater.
Whipple says they can also see the water sticking around longer in the Methow.
“‘There’s a higher water residence time,’ is how we like to say it in the research world,” says Whipple. “Basically you’re holding water longer and releasing it later into the season when things are drier.”
This could be the climate adaptation they were hoping for.
“The more we can store that water on the landscape, the more the ecological and ecosystem function can be sustained,” says Whipple.
More water sticking around on the landscape could mean more water for agriculture or wildlife. Ponds can also recharge groundwater reserves, store carbon and create wetland habitats for plants and animals.
Well, well, well. I guess it’s really time to climb aboard the train. Even the Weather Channel thinks so.
Now just in case you’re appearing before congress today and feeling stressed this morning, here’s your moment of zen by our good friend Art Wolinsky of New Hampshire,
Relax. Everything will be fine.
