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Beaver Wetlands

Wetland Creation

Beaver wetlands are complex systems. Prior to European settlement, river-wetland corridors were wet, widespread, and ecologically productive--and they could be again. A river-wetland corridor is an interacting system of channels, wetlands, floodplain ponds, and lakes. A complex river-wetland corridor is one where there is connectivity between surface and subsurface water. River-wetland corridors are "dynamically stable" and resilient due to their capacity to make continuous, small adjustments that accommodate fluctuations in the influences of hydrology, geology, and animal and plant life on the river's form and process. Beavers help rivers return to their natural state of complexity and connectedness to floodplains. 

Between the 1780s and the 1980s, six states drained more than 85% of their wetlands and a further 16 drained at least 50%. In the central prairies,  more than 75% of riverine wetlands along the Platte River have been drained and half of all riparian areas in the arid to semiarid western United States, including their riverine wetlands, have diminished vegetation cover. River-wetland corridors across the United States have been lost due to channel instability and the simplification of rivers from multi-thread to single-thread channels. The reason for this loss of river-wetland corridors include disconnection of a river from its floodplain, dam construction, river regulation, floodplain drainage, artificial levees, restoration to a stabilized single-thread channel, urbanization, overgrazing of riparian vegetation, and extirpation of beaver populations.​

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Beaver Wetlands Build Flood Resilience

Wetlands store water during large precipitation events and allow for a slow release, reducing storm-water runoff and erosion. During times of heavy precipitation, wetlands act as a sponge – slowing the velocity of runoff and retaining excess water, thereby reducing the danger of flooding. Once captured by a wetland, excess water evaporates, settles into the soil to replenish groundwater, or is slowly released over time. CLICK HERE for more information. CLICK HERE to find out more about why we need more floodwater storage capacity in Illinois.​

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Beaver Wetlands Boost Biodiversity

Functional river-wetland corridors provide both abundant and diverse aquatic and riparian habitat and corridors for species migration and dispersal. CLICK HERE to read more about how wetlands create habitat and foster biodiversity.

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Beaver Wetlands Purify Water

And, of course, river-wetland corridors remove nutrients from incoming waters in multiple ways. Wetlands are able to remove nitrogen and phosphorus through a combination of physical, chemical, and biological processes. These naturally occurring processes adsorb/absorb, transform, sequester, and remove the nutrients and other chemicals as water slowly flows through the wetland. CLICK HERE to find out more.

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Beaver Wetlands Protect Against Drought

Beavers build dams, dig channels, and change small streams into broad wetland areas. Their ponds and channels in particular slow down water and spread it out in the landscape. This gives that water more time to soak into the soil, which ultimately keeps plants green and lush even during periods of drought. The channels the beavers dig almost act like a little drip irrigation system running throughout the entire riparian zone. CLICK HERE for more information

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Beaver Wetlands Sequester Carbon

Because wetlands absorb and sequester carbon from the atmosphere through plant photosynthesis, they keep the carbon from warming the climate and help address climate change. CLICK HERE to view scientific research.​

​​Beaver Wetlands Protect Against Wildfire

Beavers build dams, dig channels, and change small streams into broad wetland areas. This keeps plants green and lush, even during periods of drought. When a fire ignites, that green vegetation near the beaver ponds will be more difficult to burn than other nearby dry vegetation. The fire will often take the path of least resistance and burn through the dry vegetation away from beaver ponds instead of smoldering through the wet vegetation near beaver ponds. CLICK HERE to view Dr. Emily Fairfax's research.​

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