Ranchers and beavers: Understanding the human dimensions of beaver-related stream restoration on western rangelands

Abstract

The past decade has seen a rapid rise in beaver-related stream restoration (BRR) using beavers and beaver dams (real or artificial) as a tool. Potential benefits of this low-cost, nature-based restoration approach include restoring aquatic and riparian habitat and recovering of threatened species dependent on it, im­proving water availability and stream flow regulation, reducing erosion and stream incision, and sup­porting climate change adaptation. Although the ecological restoration literature acknowledges the im­portance of addressing the human dimensions of restoration. there is a gap regarding the human dimen­sions of BRR. To help fill this gap we examined six projects involving riparian revegetation or artificial beaver dams to identify central elements of a supportive social environment for BRR on western range­lands. Our research questions examined how beavers, beaver dams, and BRR affect ranching operations and how ranchers view them; the policy context for BRR; and how BRR practitioners, regulatory agen­cies, ranchers, and partners work together for successful BRR. We synthesized our findings across cases and identified six social factors important for BRR: 1) ranchers who perceive the benefits of beavers, beaver dams, and BRR to outweigh the drawbacks; 2) education and assistance to help landowners adopt nonlethal mitigation techniques for nuisance beavers; 3) grazing practices compatible with BRR; 4) low harvest pressure on beavers; 5) a regulatory environment that enables experimentation, flexibility, and adaptive management; and 6) proponents, ranchers, and partners willing to take risks, innovate, be flex­ible, and stay committed.

Citation

Charnley, Susan; Gosnell, Hannah; Davee, Rachael; Abrams, Jesse. 2020. Ranchers and beavers: Understanding the human dimensions of beaver-related stream restoration on western rangelands. Rangeland Ecology & Management. 73(5): 712-723. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2020.04.008.