Help the American Beaver return to the Santa Cruz watershed. WMG is working to bring back our rivers, rebuild habitats, and create inviting areas for beavers to build upon. Join us to Release the Beavers!
Beavers are industrious and create amazing wetlands along our streams. They fell trees from which they simultaneously build their homes and create dams that slow, spread, and sink water, and they used to be common throughout the American West. Their dams influence the local environment by modifying stream hydrology, which supports cienegas and other wetlands, which subsequently affects available riparian plants. In arid regions, their ability to create wetlands is very important.
Although you might not think of beaver as an animal of the old West, anecdotal evidence from the diaries of travelers, hunters, and pioneers paint a different picture. While they were unlikely to be found in the lower Santa Cruz due to ephemeral flow, evidence from the diaries of travelers, hunters, and pioneers place them in most other major rivers and tributaries.
WMG’s working hard to pave the way for the beavers’ success. We are working on restoration projects along our creeks and rivers to reduce erosion, keep more water on the land, and restore riparian vegetation. We’re also launching a public engagement and educational campaign, to ensure the public and decision makers understand the importance of beavers and support their reintroduction. Our public education campaign also ensures we all recognize our individual roles in conserving water and protecting our groundwater resources.
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