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Traditional Ecologial Knowledge

(TEK): Adaptive ecological knowledge developed through an intimate reciprocal relationship between a group of people and a particular place over time.

The past forest, stream and wetland ecosystems management practices of the indiginous inhabitants of North America could serve as a foundation for current restoration attempts. The historical relationship of the people of place to the area in which they lived can provide essential social and ecological components needed to restore and preserve a substainable culture for the future.

Wetlands

One of, if not the most, endangered habitats of North America, wetlands act as giant sponges storing and filtering our freshwater runoff. Beaver dams play a big role in recharging our aquafirs and elevating water tables. Over one half of the threatened or endangered species of North America rely upon wetlands for survival. Due to the effects of agriculture and urbanization wetlands are rapidly dissapearing along with their interdependent species. Beavers, through their dam building activities, create special wetlands called flowages. They act as wetland engineers creating, maintaining and expanding existing acquatic habitat.

Climate Change

Since wetlands are recognized as one of the fastest shrinking ecosystems, it should not surprise us that the fastest growing ecosystems are deserts. The effects of climate change are worldwide, the shrinking of the polar ice caps, glacial melting and lowering of the earths water table are just a few signs. The largest percenticle of Earth's freshwater can be found in the boreal swamps and forests of the Northern Hemisphere. This has led to intensive scientific research of the region. The beaver has been found to be an important component of water storage and streamflow stabilization across the North American continent.

Living with Beaver: Solutions

In most cases beaver benefits outwiegh beaver liabilities. If you live along a stream where beavers are able to sucessfully dam, you are about to witness a transformation to abounding fish, birds and wildlife populations. Beavers do require food and materials for damming so they will be cutting down some trees and pruning your shrubs. Simply removing the beaver will not rid you of them. If prime habitat is abandoned, for whatever reason, other beavers will move in. It is far less expensive over time to protect valuable trees and ornamentals. Beaver decievers work well to prevent damming of culverts. Flow control devices can be used to regulate pond levels and provide a transference of excess water flow. It is important to see beavers for what they are, natures hydrologists and instream engineers. Please spend a little time and money, interface with the natural processes around you, then sit back and watch your investment pay off.

Beavers, Songbirds and Waterfowl

Beaver are a habitat-modifying keystone species. Their dam building activities broadly influence many other plants and animals. Beaver are especially important to songbirds and waterfowl in the western U.S. where riparian and wetland habitats comprise less than 2 percent of the landscape yet provide habitat for greater than 80 percent of wildlife species. Beaver fell trees around their impoundments leading to the production of shrubs such as willow. This provides critical habitat for declining songbirds. Beaver ponds also secure refuge, food, nesting and rearing sites for migratory waterfowl as well for fishing and wading birds.

Watershed Councils and Beaver Ecology

With the recent enactment of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's new Western Oregon Beaver Relocation Guidelines watershed councils and stream restorators can now, with approval of their ODFW District Biologist, implement relocated beavers as part of their restoration project sites. This allows the live trapping and relocation of problematic beavers to serve as the founding members of new colonies in restored stream sections. Miles of streams across Oregon are being restored but lack active beaver populations to enhance instream structures. Urban and agricultural districts often support large beaver colonies that are viewed as nusiances. these colonies are most often euthanized or unhappily tolerated. We are searching for new and innovative ways to accommodate watershed ecology and retain water resources. Beavers provide an ancient and viable partial solution to these problems.

The Oregon Coastal Coho Conservation Plan

The last few decades have seen an upturn in efforts to restore aquatic habitats and riparian zones. Billions of State, Federal, industrial and private dollars have been spent in stream restoration projects. Oregon is the leading State on the west coast of the USA with regard to funding stream restoration and fish passage barrier removal.

In 2007 a non-regulatory State policy (The Oregon Coastal Coho Conservation Plan OCCCP) was published articulating the current scientific findings and proposing solutions to the issue of diminishing fish runs and poor water quality. It has been very effective in setting the stage to turn the tide of downgrading stream systems. Through implementation of these policies we can bring back the salmon runs and water supply.

Beavers are in the Recovery Plan

Our work to return complexity to streams through large woody debris and rock weir placement have not fully met expectations. These fundamental components of viable stream systems are the main building blocks essential for long term aquatic habitat stabilization. The Coho Recovery Plan recognizes the need for beavers to bridge the gap. Their engineering feats act as a critical and natural element cohesively tying together the implementations of our restoration activities. Beavers are the link, the cohesive element, that makes our restoration efforts work. They are a natural long term solution and the original stabilizers of our riparian zones and wetlands.

The Lights are Turning On

But The State of the Beaver 2011 Conference is not about "saving the beaver". It is about meeting ecological and social water resource needs. In recent years the true value of the beaver's positive influence on water and natural resources has come to light. We've been shooting ourselves in the foot! Visionary individuals within State and Federal agencies, commercial interests and academia are beginning to awaken to another one of our inadvertent faulty policies. They are acknowledging the advantages of the beaver's industriousness and capacity to retain winter rains. They can help retain our abundant winter water supplies, restore fisheries and the irreplaceable aquatic habitat systems at minimal cost through the natural processes they use to protect themselves. They expertly impound water to keep predators away. Lethal management practices should be a last resort. Especially when viable alternatives are available.

Back to BAC

SURCP's Beaver Advocacy Committee has pooled together for this conference an array of experts from a broad range of sources to fine tune our perspectives and management techniques. We'll see how to take full advantage of the benefits of beavers while at the same time minimize the negative impact on public and private property.

Come Join US!

SURCP's BAC, The Partnership for the Umpqua Rivers, along with the Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Indians and many other sponsors are presenting this conference to equip industry along with public and private entities with the tools to realize the potential of Oregon's Golden Beaver.

Details of the conference agenda and registration can be found on line here (agenda) and here (registration). Follow the tab links at the header of this page for more conference information.

This page lists the current contributors to and sponsors of this conference: sponsors.html