Salmon

The diminishing salmon runs of western North America have focused the attention of social, economic, political and academic institutions toward the ecological conditions undermining the once healthy fish runs.

The impact of societal development has compelled agencies and commercial interests on multiple levels to seek solutions to this problem. Over the last 100 years an array of attempts have been made to revitalize a once burgeoning fisheries industry without much success. Even ideal natural ocean conditions have not revitalized hard hit anadromous fish species numbers.

Water

The demand for water resources in our watersheds is ever increasing. States are buying and selling water assets in ever increasing amounts. Our solution was to build dams to retain water and generate electricity. Our society is just now acknowledging the detrimental effects of the dams on aquatic species. They were built with a limited view of their ultimate impact. Millions of dollars are expended each year to mitigate the effects of the dams. Weighing the cost of the dams on species and habitat has resulted in dam removal in some instances. Are there any other options? 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.

A Lethal Combination

Past riparian management practices have down cut and incised our stream systems. The resultant lowering of the water table creates a disconnect of the stream system with the landscape. That broken connection also has had the effect of drying up many of our one time perennial flowing streams. We in effect turned our streams into gullies.

Another unforeseen result of downgraded aquatic habitats is a high rise in water temperatures, a lowering of aquifer depth and diminished water quantity. Unnaturally warm water in the watershed causes an increase of stress on young salmonids. It makes the young fish vulnerable to a host of diseases. Many thousands upon thousands of the young anadromous fingerlings die as a result of unbearably high temperatures or the seasonal drying up of historically flowing year around streams.

Trial and Error

We have learned what will not work through trial and error. Indeed some of the policies that have been enacted in the past have tragically undermined recovery efforts that were so desperately needed. But slowly our knowledge of the ecological processes that created and sustained this rich landscape in its pristine past condition is emerging.

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.

Beavers are Considered a Predator in Oregon

The State of Oregon has had a long term “love/hate” relationship with the beaver. The beaver is the Oregon State Animal. Oregon is one of the few States in the US that has an image on both sides of its flag. A cursory view of the reverse side of the Oregon flag will reveal a large golden beaver. It's ironic that this creature, which motivated the migration of pioneer populations to develop the region, should be given predator status by the State.

In the wild the beaver is treated as a fur bearing species. Trappers must have a license to harvest the beaver's pelt. Currently a beaver pelt is worth $3.00 US and few trappers are harvesting them.

But any time Castor canadensis begins applying his engineering genius in areas that negatively impact human infrastructure he is is automatically designated a predator. Lethal management practices are a quick and cheap fix necessitated by limited ODFW resources. But it is comparable to “throwing out the baby with the bath water”. In this case, metaphorically speaking, we want the baby and the bath water!

The Lights are Turning On

But The State of the Beaver 2010 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