On January 10th House Bill 2349,
a plan for better beaver management, was introduced to the House of
Representatives! The Lands Council has been lobbying for this bill with
the help of Senator Joel Kretz. Thanks to Andy Billig for signing on as
well! To see how the latest hearing went, listen to the webcast. Amanda Parrish has a testimony 25 minutes in!
 What is The Beaver Solution? Simply put, it is allowing beavers to do what they do naturally; build dams and store water, which slowly releases to increase flows in the late summer. After hearing that the Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE) was investigating several locations to build large new dams on canyon tributaries to the Columbia River to store early spring runoff and release it late in the summer, The Lands Council proposed a unique alternative – The Beaver Solution – reintroducing beavers to build dams to store spring runoff. Beaver dams also create wetland areas that retain rain and snowmelt, trap sediment making streams cleaner, increase groundwater levels, and create habitat for fish and wildlife.
Grants from many agencies, along with support from members like YOU, are funding our research and we are working with landowners to find locations to reintroduce beavers throughout Eastern Washington. This study identifies physical locations for beaver dams based on the best suitable habitat for beavers, and will provide estimates of water storage potential and address the social and economic benefits, including opportunities for water banking and conservation easements. Click here to learn more.
What's New:
- Check out our new Recommended Readings under links! Review many fascinating and informative books, including the new Beaver Manifesto by Glynnis Hood.
- So far in 2011 we have relocated a family of four (July) and
a family of seven (August) "nuisance" beavers to suitable habitat in the Colville National Forest. The total count including last years beavers
is up to 39 beavers in 6 family units!
- Check out The Beaver Solution Video Flash is required to listen to watch this video.
Thank you to the Temper of The Times Foundation, Inc. for funding the video production. The Beaver Solution video was produced by Hamilton Studio and Klündt|Hosmer.
Thank You!
A BIG thank you from all of us here at The Lands Council goes to Paul Fish of Mountain Gear &
Kelly Chadwick for donating TWO pairs of snow shoes for the use of our
employees! Team Beaver & the other Programs staff work hard,
year-round, to conduct research and of course check in on our relocated
beaver. These new snow shoes will allow us to reach these locations-
even in the snow. Thanks again!
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