MWBP Background information

PictureBeaver complex on Onehorse Slough in the South Santiam watershed.
The MWBP includes the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF); the Luckiamute (LWC), Marys River (MRWC), North Santiam (NSWC), South Santiam (SSWC) and Calapooia (CWC) Watershed Councils; the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde (CTGR) Natural Resources Department; and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians (CTSI) Natural Resources Department. Project partners beyond the MWBP include Utah State University (USU), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA NMFS), Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Oregon State University (OSU) Extension Office, Benton County and Freshwaters Illustrated.
The regional partnership of the ​MWBP brings a landscape scale approach to the social and ecological aspects of working with beaver for water quality and habitat benefits across the region.
PictureRitner Creek, tributary to the Luckiamute River.
Major declines in beaver populations and dams in the 18th and 19th centuries caused extraordinary damage to watershed ecosystems, including aquatic habitats. This damage has been compounded by a host of other anthropogenic impacts, including development and worsening climate conditions. Restoring beaver populations and habitats where appropriate, implementing mitigation strategies where conflict occurs, and simulating dam-building activities can help address legacy impacts while providing a cascade of ecosystem benefits to prepare against future disturbance.
Historical removal of beavers and their dams, as well as historical practices such as splash damming and log drives, have left many streams scoured to bedrock and unable to recover without intervention.
PictureA beaver pond in Hook Creek, tributary to the Luckiamute River
Overwhelming support exists among researchers, agencies, and restoration/conservation organizations to develop a social-ecological road map for promoting beaver and their dams. In response, the MWBP is leveraging that support through paired Technical Assistance (TA) and Stakeholder Engagement (SE) projects. The basins involved cover the ceded lands of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians, as well as parts of Marion, Linn, Benton, Lincoln, and Polk counties. These regions are host to ESA-listed Chinook and winter steelhead and a wide array of beaver-dependent fish and wildlife species.

​MWBP Technical Assistance (TA) Project

The MWBP TA project supports: 1) fine-scale beaver habitat assessment and prioritization of key locations for restoration through the Beaver Restoration Assessment Tool (BRAT) and extensive field verification; 2) development of beaver management plans and restoration and conservation strategies for at least two reaches for each watershed council that integrates results from the assessment, stakeholder engagement project, and feedback from regional experts; 3) sharing results and process with partners, stakeholders and other restoration practitioners to advance beaver-focused restoration efforts across Oregon. ​

​MWBP Stakeholder Engagement (SE) Project

​​The MWBP SE project supports: 1) in-depth opinion research about beavers through a survey, interviews, and focus groups to learn from various stakeholder perspectives; 2) development of a “beaver response” protocol and audience-specific messaging, materials, and an engagement plan based on input from the research phase; 3) implementation of the Phase I engagement plan to recruit landowners in priority geographies identified through the TA process; and 4) sharing results and lessons with partners, stakeholders, and other restoration practitioners to advance beaver-focused restoration efforts across Oregon.
Beaver and salmon have been co-existing and co-evolving with each other for millions of years - far longer than humans have been on this earth! Check out this fantastic 6:41 minute video by Freshwaters Illustrated that features Fish Biologist and Restoration Specialist, Steve Trask, speaking about the importance of beaver to salmon restoration efforts in our region.

Thank you to our funders!

We are grateful for the generous support of the following organizations and foundations: