In the heart of Devon, a remarkable story unfolds as an unlikely ally emerges in the fight against the devastating effects of droughts and floods: beavers. These industrious rodents, once driven to extinction in the UK over 400 years ago, are now reclaiming their rightful place in the ecosystem.
The results are nothing short of astonishing – beaver dams can significantly reduce peak flood flows, their ponds host 37% more fish than comparable river stretches, and their presence has boosted populations of water voles, birds, and amphibians.1
As the UK beaver population surges past 1,000 and reintroduction efforts gain momentum, here is the extraordinary impact these ecosystem engineers are having on the landscape.
The Return of the Beaver
After mysteriously reappearing in 2008, beavers in Devon faced the threat of removal. However, the tireless efforts of local wildlife trusts and researchers led to a groundbreaking scientific trial from 2015 to 2020 on the River Otter that revealed the numerous benefits these animals bring to the environment.(ref)
In 2020, the government finally recognized beavers as native species, granting them legal protection and paving the way for their reintroduction into the wild across England.
Beavers have also been reintroduced in controlled releases at sites in Scotland, Wales, North Yorkshire, Essex, Gloucestershire, Cumbria, and Cheshire to study their potential benefits for people and wildlife. In Scotland, the government made the decision in 2019 to list beavers as a European Protected Species.
Beavers: Nature’s Engineers
Beavers are renowned for their dam-building prowess, and it is this very skill that has transformed the Devon landscape.
By constructing dams across streams, they create a network of ponds and channels that regulate water flow, preventing floods during heavy rainfall and maintaining water levels during droughts. This natural water management system has proven invaluable in increasingly extreme weather conditions.
Research has shown that beaver dams can reduce the flow of floodwaters from farmlands by up to 30%.(ref) The dams slow water flow, similar to man-made leaky dams that have been placed in many UK watercourses as part of natural flood management projects.
During dry periods, the dams hold water, reducing the risk of flash floods downstream.
A Thriving Ecosystem
The impact of beavers extends far beyond water management in North America as well as in the UK. Their activities have transformed once-barren areas into lush, green oases teeming with life.
The wetlands they create attract diverse species, from beetles and amphibians to birds and fish. These thriving ecosystems also serve as significant carbon stores, with studies suggesting beaver ponds across North America historically stored large amounts of carbon in trapped sediment.
In the River Otter trial area, beaver-created wetlands benefited water voles, dippers, wildfowl, and resulted in 37% more fish in beaver ponds compared to other river sections. Trout have even been recorded jumping over beaver dams during high flows.
Challenges & Collaboration
While the benefits of beavers are clear, their presence has not been without controversy. Beavers’ damming can sometimes flood valuable farmland and damage trees. In northern New Mexico, traditional Hispanic farming communities that rely on engineered canals called acequias for irrigation have been in a standoff with beavers for 400 years as the animals sometimes block ditches.
However, experts emphasize the importance of planning and collaboration between farmers, conservationists, and communities to allow beavers and agriculture to coexist harmoniously.
Fencing around important trees, flow devices through dams, and pond barriers can mitigate flooding issues while still providing beavers a home. Cost-sharing programs like one initiated by Defenders of Wildlife are helping pay for beaver coexistence projects in places like New Mexico.
A Promising Future
As beavers continue to make their mark on the English countryside, their role in combating the effects of droughts and floods cannot be overstated. The success story unfolding in Devon serves as a testament to the power of nature and the importance of embracing unconventional solutions.
With the right approach, beavers could become an integral part of our efforts to build a more resilient and sustainable future in the face of a changing climate.
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Davin is a jack-of-all-trades but has professional training and experience in various home and garden subjects. He leans on other experts when needed and edits and fact-checks all articles.