Rio Grande Return installed a pond level on Rio Quemado. It prevents flooding but allows beavers to live there.
Through our Riverscape Restoration Program, Rio Grande Return works to increase beaver habitat with a goal of expanding beaver populations across New Mexico for the ecosystem benefits they provide. An effective way to support beaver populations is to mitigate human – beaver conflicts using techniques that protect human infrastructure but also allow for beaver infrastructure such as beaver dams, ponds, woody debris, lodges, bank dens and underwater channels.
Rio Grande Return constructs and maintains pond levelers and culvert protection fences to mitigate flooding from beaver dams, and can install fencing for tree protection if needed. Because of the dynamic nature of beaver activity, coexistence structures and associated beaver dams are monitored regularly and structures are modified or removed as conditions change. If human infrastructure is not threatened, dams are left alone. If a dam is threatening human infrastructure, coexistence structures are installed. Because deep water is critical for the survival of beavers, pond water levels are only lowered enough to prevent flooding of infrastructure.
An example of human – beaver coexistence work is an ongoing contract between Santa Fe County and Rio Grande Return to monitor beaver activity and construct coexistence structures at four open space properties that have beaver habitat (i.e. willows, cottonwoods and flowing water).