**California Makes Historic Move to Protect Beavers, Embracing Nature’s Water Engineers**
For the first time in 200 years, it’s been an exciting time to be a beaver in California. This summer, the state Legislature passed Assembly Bill 2196, codifying the state’s law and protecting the Beaver Restoration Project from state budget cuts and political turmoil. This decision is a significant rebuke to the Supreme Court’s devastating 2023 ruling that put as many as 70% of the nation’s waterways and wetlands in jeopardy.
The move to protect beavers has been a long time coming, with California environmental activists, biologists, and Indian tribes advocating for beaver protection for over two decades. Restoration efforts will now complement California’s “30×30” goal of setting aside and protecting 30 percent of U.S. lands and coastal waters nationwide by 2030.
A beaver management plan is underway, with $2 million allocated to develop statewide coexistence strategies and help move beavers from where they are causing problems to where they can solve them. This includes the allocation of $2 million to relocate beavers from areas where they are causing damage to areas where they can be of ecological benefit.
California’s Secretary of Natural Resources, Wade Crawford, praised the decision, saying, “I’m very proud of our transformation from a laggard to a leader in beavers. While there is no magic bullet for environmental restoration, beavers are a keystone species and an important piece of the puzzle for restoring California’s ecosystems.”
Beavers were once abundant in California, but by 1900 they had disappeared from much of the state’s habitat due to hunting and development. Those that remain are often seen as pests by landowners who don’t want their trees damaged or their farmland or roads cleared by beaver colonies.
However, climate change is altering California’s hydrology, bringing more rain and less snowmelt, exacerbating wildfires, droughts, and the depletion of groundwater and aquifers. Beaver ponds, which are essentially giant underground sponges, can slow down rivers and streams, storing water for dry summers and droughts. During times of flooding, these sponges absorb some of the excess water, creating elasticity.
Beavers are also vital to the health of rivers and our future water supply. Wetlands around beaver ponds absorb carbon and purify the water, filtering out pollutants like nitrogen and phosphorus. Beaver “engineers” build dams and canals that create connections between land and water, making beaver wetlands important centers of biodiversity for plant and animal species, including many endangered species.
The benefits of keeping beavers in the landscape are substantial. According to the University of Helsinki, the annual savings from beaver restoration efforts are estimated to be around $500 million in the Northern Hemisphere alone.
California is leading the way in beaver conservation, with beavers being relocated to areas where they can make a positive impact. Last year, beavers were released into two locations on traditional lands of California’s First Nations: the Maidu Mountains and the Tule River Indians.
The relocation of beavers is a significant step forward for environmental and ecological resilience. It shows that, by working together with nature-based solutions, we can create environmental and economic benefits for our communities.
**Frequently Asked Questions:**
Q: Why is California protecting beavers?
A: California is protecting beavers because they are a keystone species that can help restore the state’s ecosystems and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
Q: What are the benefits of having beavers in the landscape?
A: Beavers can help slow down rivers and streams, creating storage for water during dry summers and droughts. They also build wetlands that absorb carbon and purify water, and create habitats for endangered species.
Q: How will California be relocating beavers?
A: California will be relocating beavers from areas where they are causing damage to areas where they can make a positive impact. This will include releasing beavers onto traditional lands of California’s First Nations and working with landowners to create beaver-friendly habitat.
Q: How much is the state spending on beaver conservation?
A: The state has allocated $2 million to develop statewide coexistence strategies and relocate beavers to areas where they can be of ecological benefit.
**Conclusion:**
California’s decision to protect beavers is a significant step forward for environmental and ecological resilience. By embracing nature’s water engineers, California is demonstrating that, with careful planning and cooperation, we can create positive outcomes for our ecosystems and communities. As the state continues to relocate beavers and restore habitats, it’s clear that California is leading the way in beaver conservation. All eyes are now on California…and its beavers.
