Education Program on Beaver-Created Wetlands $10,000

Beaver management and dam construction with related flooding has reduced beaver populations in many areas of southern British Columbia. The perception that beaver dams are obstructions to fish passage is often incorrect. Studies of beaver created habitat have identified beaver ponds as beneficial to fish by providing excellent rearing habitat, moderating flows and acting as settling areas for sediments. The objectives of this project are to prepare an education program that can be used by high school students, youth workers, environmental and angling groups to assess the contribution of beaver ponds to fish populations. The program will include information on how beavers improve habitat for fish and other aquatic organisms, provide sampling procedures for assessing fish passage at the beaver dam, condition of the dam and pond, and identify management options that are available to minimize conflicts between beavers and other resource users (i.e., how to reduce flooding of roads). This project will provide education on the contribution beavers make to the aquatic ecosystem and provide alternatives to trapping and dam removal for management.

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