News in Brief Climate

Flood planners should not forget beavers

Critters’ construction slowed water surge during rainstorm, scientists report

beaver

BUSY BEAVERS  Dams built by beavers can temporarily store flood water, reducing flooding downstream, new research shows.

dw_ross/Flickr (CC BY 2.0) 

By Thomas Sumner

- More than 2 years ago

MONTREAL — Busy beavers can curtail rising floodwaters, new research shows. The work suggests that beaver dams can provide natural flood protection and that officials should consider encouraging beaver construction projects as part of flood prevention plans, the researchers say.