Grand Canyon Trust
Climate Change Challenge: less water, worse droughts
Grant Award: $140,000; Year Awarded: 2011
Beavers can radically alter streams and valley bottom ecosystems through their dam building activities. The water storage ponds created by beavers generate a diversity of habitats and replenish aquifers, making this species a critical ally in helping natural communities adapt to predicted increases in temperature, drought severity and extreme precipitation events in an era of climate change. This project will reintroduce beavers in up to 80 stream segments in Southern Utah as well as track the benefits to ecosystems from the beavers’ activities.