Institutional Obstacles to Beaver Recolonization and Potential Climate Change Adaptation in Oregon, USA

Baldwin, Jeff

doi:10.1353/pcg.2017.0005

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Beaver range is expanding in Europe, and several countries are realising the potential of utilising beaver activity for water management (Törnblom et al 2011, Kaczyński 2014), wetland restoration (Pollock et al 2017), and climate change mitigation (Baldwin 2017). Increasing beaver populations bring with them growing benefits and disadvantages; these must be balanced to ensure successful reintroductions and wetland restoration along with social acceptance.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecosystem services provided by beavers Castor spp.

et al. 2020

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We aimed to recognise beaver‐produced ecosystem services and quantify their theoretical value for the entire Northern Hemisphere. Activity of the Eurasian beaver Castor fiber and the North American beaver Castor canadensis in the landscape provides ecosystem services and disservices. Services produced by beaver activity include water purification, moderation of extreme events, habitat and biodiversity provision, nutrient cycling, greenhouse gas sequestration, recreational hunting and fishing, water supply, and non‐consumptive recreation. Beaver‐produced services have not been compiled, analysed, or quantified previously. Each service we evaluated is worth millions to hundreds of millions of US dollars (USD) annually. Habitat and biodiversity provision (133 million USD), along with greenhouse gas sequestration (75 million USD), are particularly valuable services in absolute terms, while non‐consumptive recreation (167 USD ha−1) and habitat and biodiversity provision (133 USD ha−1) have the largest annual per‐hectare values. Our results can be used to broaden decision‐making and management perspectives, as we offer value estimates to wildlife managers and municipality planners for assessing local site‐specific beaver wetland values and the opportunities for their realisation. Implementing Payments for Ecosystem Services schemes offer a concrete way for societies to benefit from beaver‐produced services while concurrently compensating beaver‐produced losses accrued to landowners. Building such schemes offer long‐term realisation of ecosystem services and damage mitigation. This would lead to increased societal well‐being and increased conservation interest and efforts.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecosystem services provided by beavers Castor spp.

et al. 2020

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“…Over time, the periodic breaching and construction of dams increased channel complexity through sediment deposition and the formation of new pools, riffles, and meanders (Demmer & Beschta, ). The reason for beaver abandoning the West Fork in 2017 is not known, but beaver can be prey for various carnivores, including wolves, cougar, bears, and coyotes ( Canis latrans ; Baldwin, ; Peterson & Ciucci, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can large carnivores change streams via a trophic cascade?

Beschta

Ripple

2018

Ecohydrology

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Large carnivores were persecuted in Yellowstone National Park, WY, USA, during the late 1800s and early 1900s, leading to extirpation of grey wolves (Canis lupus) and cougars (Puma concolor). Soon thereafter increased herbivory of riparian plant communities by Rocky Mountain Elk (Cervus elaphus) became widespread in the park's northern ungulate winter range or “northern range.” Wolves were reintroduced in 1995–1996, again completing the park's large carnivore guild. In 2004 and 2017, we sampled Geyer willow (Salix geyeriana), a commonly occurring tall willow, along the West and East Forks of Blacktail Deer Creek in the central portion of the northern range. Results indicated high levels of elk herbivory in the 1990s, as in previous decades, not only continued to keep willows short, generally ≤52 cm in height, but also resulted in stream widening and incision, leading to “oversized” channel cross‐sections and a drastically reduced frequency of overbank flows. However, by 2017, willow heights ≥200 cm ( truex¯ = 310 cm) were prevalent, and canopy cover over the stream, essentially absent in 1995, had increased to 43% and 93% along the West Fork and East Fork, respectively. These recent increases in tall willow heights, greater canopy cover, well‐vegetated streambanks, and the recent development of an inset floodplain all pointed towards a riparian/aquatic ecosystem beginning to recover. Overall, results were consistent with a landscape‐scale trophic cascade, whereby reintroduced wolves, operating in concert with other large carnivores, appear to have sufficiently reduced elk herbivory in riparian areas to initiate the recovery of Blacktail Deer Creek's riparian plant communities and stream channels.

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Public perceptions of mountain lake fisheries management in national parks

Chiapella

Strecker

2018

Journal of Environmental Management

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The legacy of fish stocking in mountain lake ecosystems has left behind a challenge for land managers around the globe. In the US and Canada, historically fishless mountain lakes have been stocked with trout for over a century. These non-native trout have cascading ecosystem effects, and can accumulate atmospherically deposited contaminants. While the negative impacts of stocking in these ecosystems have become increasingly apparent, wilderness fishing has garnered cultural value in the angling community. As a result, public lands managers are left with conflicting priorities. National park managers across the western US are actively trying to reconcile the cultural and ecological values of mountain lakes through the development of management plans for mountain lake fisheries. However, visitors' social perceptions, attitudes, and values regarding mountain lake fisheries management have remained unquantified, and thus largely left out of the decision-making process. Our study evaluated the recreation habits, values, and attitudes of national park visitors towards fish stocking and management of mountain lakes of two national parks in the Pacific Northwest. We found that most visitors favor fish removal using a conservation approach, whereby sensitive lakes are restored, while fish populations are maintained in lakes that are more resilient. An important consideration for managers is that many mountain lake anglers consume fish on an annual basis, thus we emphasize the use of outreach and education regarding the accumulation of contaminants in fish tissues. Our findings help elucidate the conflicting views of stakeholders, and we provide recommendations to inform management of mountain lakes fisheries in North America and abroad.

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Institutional Obstacles to Beaver Recolonization and Potential Climate Change Adaptation in Oregon, USA

Cited by 4 publications

References 3 publications

Ecosystem services provided by beavers Castor spp.

Ecosystem services provided by beavers Castor spp.

Can large carnivores change streams via a trophic cascade?

Public perceptions of mountain lake fisheries management in national parks

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