Beaver Benefits

Beavers are ecosystem engineers that create, modify, and maintain habitat and ecosystems. By building dams, beavers can pool water, which can have a number of downstream effects, including:

• Recharging groundwater

• Improving water quality

• Creating areas resistant to wildfires and climate change

• Boosting late-summer base flows

• Preventing downstream flash flooding

These effects can benefit both humans and wildlife. For example, beaver dams can help to improve water quality by trapping sediment and pollutants. They can also create wetland habitat, which is important for a variety of species, including fish, waterfowl, and amphibians.