P-2
Partnering with Beaver in River Restoration: Case Studies from Oregon and Utah
Elijah Portugal: Fluvial Habitat Center, Watershed Sciences Department, Utah State University, Logan Utah
Joe Wheaton: Watershed Sciences Department, Utah State University, Logan, Utah
Nick Bouwes: Eco Logical Research Inc, Providence, Utah
Increasingly, the river restoration community recognizes the important role that North American beaver (Castor Canadensis) have historically, and currently, play in structuring and maintaining riverine ecosystems. Because of this, restoration practioners and river scientists are ‘partnering with beaver’ in river rehabilitation and restoration projects throughout the west. The natural dam building activities of beaver increase instream geomorphic complexity and increase and enhance floodplain connectivity. This in turn supports productive and dynamic aquatic and riparian communities thereby increasing the diversity and amount of available fish habitat. By mimicking and supporting the dam building activities of beaver, restoration practioners seek to speed the rate of geomorphic recovery of degraded rivers, particularly rivers that are currently in an incised condition. Here we showcase case studies from eastern Oregon and Utah to provide examples of collaborative river restoration projects that utilize beaver. Emphasis is placed on the geomorphic and hydrologic assessments used to inform restoration design, monitoring and implementation.