Beavers are ecosystem engineers, and one of our best natural climate solutions. Please speak up today in support of HB 3932 to help ensure beavers can play that role in areas of Oregon where water quality is at risk.
The Beavers and Water Quality Bill would close beaver hunting and trapping in waterways on public lands that the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) classifies as ‘impaired.’ Beaver activities, including canal-digging, dam-building, and pond-filling can help slow water flow, restore impacted water tables and underground aquifers, create natural wetlands that filter toxins, expand riparian habitats for wildlife including sensitive bird species, and incorporate woody debris in streams for imperiled salmon. In other words, beavers improve water quality and restore habitat.
Worryingly, over 100,000 miles of Oregon’s waterways are in poor health — impaired by high temperatures, sedimentation or toxins, sometimes all three. DEQ is tasked with restoring these waterways, but doing so requires significant resources to design and implement plans to reduce the impairment. Fortunately, beavers can help, and they’re free!