In November, WATER Institute Co-Director Kate Lundquist attended the State of the Beaver Conference in Canyonville, Oregon, to connect with an activated community of beaver believers.
Kate’s talk, entitled “Beaver and Process-Based Restoration From Ridge to Reef,” demonstrated how beaver restoration and mimicry have the power to transform not only our waterways but our uplands as well.
It was heartening to hear that presenters such as Reece Mercer from Western Beavers Cooperative could see the benefit in applying our Fuels to Flows gully stuffing technique as a viable and relevant model for process-based repair in the deeply degraded eastern Oregon ecosystem she is working in.
Kate’s partner, Kevin Swift of Swiftwater Design, also presented at State of the Beaver. To celebrate this beloved ecosystem engineer, his parents, Bill and Sue Swift, brought beaver-shaped cookies and a cake for the audience, replete with orange “iron-stained” teeth.
Throughout the three-day conference, attendees gathered for presentations, discussions, and films that uplifted beaver success stories, especially in the arid West and the Pacific Northwest. It was inspiring to see so many groups reflecting on how they are successfully elevating the conservation value of beaver in their regions.
Highlights included Beavers Northwest sharing about coexistence innovations in Washington; Yurok Tribal members recounting their Fisheries team’s process-based restoration successes and the Wildlife team’s new beaver restoration program; Utah State Beaver Ecology and Relocation Collaborative noting best practices for relocation; Tule River Tribe’s updates on their recent translocations; and Dr. Suzanne Fouty’s presentation about the complex beaver management policy process unfolding in Oregon.
A special shoutout to Tribal Partnerships Liaison and Beaver Behaviorist Jordan Kennedy, Ph.D., who delivered an inspiring keynote on how the interplay of Indigenous and Western scientific knowledge can create holistic relationships with beaver.
It was inspiring to see participants of varying ages and backgrounds from all over the west come together to exchange ideas and mentor one another on best beaver stewardship practices. We look forward to more moments of shared learning at future events.
