From: Wendy Harris To: Barbara Brenner; Barry Buchanan; Carl Weimer; Todd Donovan; Rud Browne; Ken Mann; Satpal Sidhu Cc: Council Subject: updated science on beavers and ecosystem functions Date: Friday, July 07, 2017 5:01:51 AM There was a great deal of discussion regarding beaver management as part of the technical review committee. The Beaver Restoration Guidebook Working with Beaver to Restore Streams, Wetlands, and Floodplains, was just released by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,University of Saskatchewan and the US Forest Service. This guidebook provides a practical synthesis of the best available science for using beavers to improve ecosystem functions. I ask that it be included in BAS that the consultant or staff must consider when the CAO draft is (hopefully) sent back for the additional development and corrections that it needs to comply with the GMA. https://www.fws.gov/oregonfwo/Documents/BRGv.2.0_6.30.17_forpublicationcomp.pdf . Thank you for considering this request. Wendy Harris The Beaver Restoration Guidebook Working with Beaver to Restore Streams, Wetlands, and Floodplains Version 2.0, June 30, 2017 Photo credit: Worth A Dam Foundation (martinezbeavers.org) Prepared by US Fish and Wildlife Service Janine Castro National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Michael Pollock and Chris Jordan University of Saskatchewan Gregory Lewallen US Forest Service Kent Woodruff Funded by North Pacific Landscape Conservation Cooperative Version 2.0. Get the latest version at: https://www.fws.gov/oregonfwo/promo.cfm?id=177175812 i Recommended citation: Pollock, M.M., G.M. Lewallen, K. Woodruff, C.E. Jordan and J.M. Castro (Editors) 2017. The Beaver Restoration Guidebook: Working with Beaver to Restore Streams, Wetlands, and Floodplains. Version 2.0. United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Portland, Oregon. 219 pp. Online at: https://www.fws.gov/oregonfwo/promo.cfm?id=177175812 Version 2.0. Get the latest version at: https://www.fws.gov/oregonfwo/promo.cfm?id=177175812 ii Contents Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................... iv About This Guidebook .............................................................................................................. vi Michael M. Pollock, Janine Castro and Gregory Lewallen Section I - Beaver Ecology .......................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 1—Effects of Beaver Dams on Physical and Biological Processes ........................ 2 Gregory Lewallen, Michael M. Pollock, Chris Jordan and Janine Castro Chapter 2—Frequently Asked Questions about Beaver ..................................................... 20 Gregory Lewallen, Janine Castro, Chris Jordan and Michael M. Pollock Chapter 3—Beaver Myth Busters ........................................................................................... 43 Gregory Lewallen Section II - Beaver Restoration and Management ................................................................ 45 Chapter 4—Watershed Planning for Beaver Restoration Projects ..................................... 46 Michael M. Pollock, Kent Woodruff, and Chris Jordan Chapter 5—Relocating Beaver ................................................................................................ 64 Kent Woodruff and Michael M. Pollock Chapter 6—Beaver Dam Analogues (BDAs) ........................................................................ 85 Michael M. Pollock, Nick Weber and Gregory Lewallen Chapter 7— Urban Beaver Population Management ........................................................ 100 Gregory Lewallen, Heidi Perryman, Kaegan Scully-Engelmeyer, Ellen Wohl Chapter 8—Managing Habitat for Beaver ........................................................................... 115 Michael M. Pollock and Gregory Lewallen Chapter 9—Non-lethal Options for Mitigating the Unwanted Effects of Beaver .......... 117 Michael M. Pollock and Gregory Lewallen Chapter 10—Beaver Dam Viability Matrix: A User’s Guide ............................................ 126 Janine Castro Chapter 11—Beaver Restoration Case Studies ................................................................... 132 Gregory Lewallen, Heidi Perryman, Carol Murdock, Mark Beardsley, Daniel Armichardy, Scott Jay Bailey, Bob Hassmiller, Sean Bistoff, David Helzer, Kendra Smith, Susan Firor, Janet Hohle, Scott Reid, Jessica Doran, Brad Johnson, Mike Claffey, Matt Weaver, David Kliegman, Julie Ashmore, Lauren Rich and Cathryn Wild Section III – Additional Information and Resources .......................................................... 188 Beaver Resources .................................................................................................................... 188 Acronyms and Abbreviations ............................................................................................... 190 Literature Cited ....................................................................................................................... 191 Appendix A. Plant Species Eaten by North American Beaver ......................................... 212 Appendix B. Subspecies of C. canadensis Considered “Invalid” by ITIS ......................... 219 Version 2.0. Get the latest version at: https://www.fws.gov/oregonfwo/promo.cfm?id=177175812 iii Acknowledgements This guidebook builds on the hard work and dedication of many people and organizations who have recognized the potential of beaver to restore ecosystems. All contributions, insight, and support are gratefully acknowledged. Contact information for some of the organizations we found most helpful, along with additional reading suggestions, are found in the “Additional Resources and Information” section at the end of this guidebook. We have tried to identify, recognize, and fully acknowledge the work and ideas of others, but undoubtedly, there are omissions. If there are statements, facts, figures, or images that are not properly attributed, please let us know and we will make the appropriate corrections on the next version. Please send corrections to Gregory Lewallan at [email protected]. Principle Authors Gregory Lewallen, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. [email protected]. Michael M. Pollock, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Seattle, Washington. [email protected]. Kent Woodruff, United States Forest Service (retired), Winthrop, Washington. [email protected]. Chris Jordan, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Corvallis, Oregon. [email protected]. Janine Castro, United States Fish and Wildlife Service & National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Portland, Oregon. [email protected]. Editors Michael M. Pollock Gregory Lewallen Janine Castro Technical Editor Ann Sihler Contributors Thanks to the numerous individuals who provided case studies, figures and images, with a special thanks to those who reviewed the document and offered their suggestions and advice. The following is an alphabetical list of contributors to the Beaver Restoration Guidebook. Armichardy, Dan US Forest Service Leary, Ryan The Klamath Tribes Armstrong, Bob www.naturebob.com Lev, Esther The Wetlands Conservancy Beardsley, Mark EcoMetrics, LLC Lundquist, Kate OAEC Water Institute Bouwes, Nick Ecological Research Moore, Kelly Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Version 2.0. Get the latest version at: https://www.fws.gov/oregonfwo/promo.cfm?id=177175812 iv Brennan, Matthew Clean Water Services O’Brian, Mary Grand Canyon Trust Caldwell, Chuck The Beaver Patrol, Juneau, AK Ojala-Barbour Reed The Methow Beaver Project Conley, Kimberly US Forest Service Portugal, Elijah Utah State University Fetherston, Kevin R2 Resource Consultants Rustay, Michael Snohomish County Public Works Firor, Susan Terra Graphics Environmental Slocum, Tom Skagit Conservation District Frey, Jennifer K. New Mexico State University Smith, Karri K.A. Smith Consulting, Inc. Gilgert, Wendell Point Blue Conservation Sci. Stengle, James B. Certified Wildlife Biologist (retired) Hocker, Katherine SE Alaska Sketchbook Stockard, Torre The Methow Beaver Project Hartman, Heidi Oregon Dept. of State Lands Vickerman, Sara Defenders of Wildlife Hemphill, Nina US Forest Service White, Seth Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Comm. Hoehne, Suzanne Biohabitats.com, Ohio River Willson, Mary, The Beaver Patrol, Juneau, AK Weber, Nick Ecological Research Contributors to Beaver Restoration Case Studies Armichardy, Dan US Forest Service Hohle, Janet Idaho Office of Species Conserv. Beardsley, Mark EcoMetrics, LLC Johnson, Brad Johnson Environ. Consulting Ashmore, Julie Okanogan Highlands Alliance Kliegman, David Okanogan Highlands Alliance Bailey, Scott Jay Tillamook Esturary Partnership Murdock, Carol Clean Water Services Bistoff, Sean City of Portland Environ. Services Perryman, Heidi www.martinezbeavers.org Claffey, Mike Claffey Ecological Consulting, Inc. Reid, Scott The Town of Breckenridge Doran, Jessica Ecomentrics Rich, Lauren Upper Skagit Indian Tribe Firor, Susan Terra Graphics Environ. Engineer. Smith, Kendra Bonneville Environ. Foundation Hassmiller, Bob US Forest Service Weaver, Matt Five Rivers, Inc. Helzer, David City of Portland Environ. Services Wild, Cathryn Seventh Generation Institute Funding Provided By: The North Pacific Landscape