Discovering the Benefits of Beaver in the Lower Blue

A beaver surveying a calm pond

Friends of the Lower Blue River is currently studying the benefits of beaver in the Valley. We are undertaking a stream assessment initiative this summer. Director of Climate Action, Tom Koehler is currently surveying areas of the Lower Blue for potential ecological wetland uplift. He is using a mosaic of mapping tools to indicate where beaver have been, where they might currently exist and where uplifts have the potential to increase species diversity, including beaver in the future. The benefits include, drought resiliency as well as vegetative health for wildlife, stream bank stability and environmental health, such as clean water.

The Beaver Restoration Assessment Tool (BRAT) is a planning tool. It's intended to help researchers, restoration and resource managers assess the potential for beaver, as a stream conservation and restoration agent over large regions and watersheds. Bottom line, there is research indicating the presence of beaver in our stream habitat helps preserve water, enhance river vegetation and maintain environmental health. We'll report more as we know more.