Britain released two beavers into a 10-hectare forest; peak water flow fell 46.6% in 5 years

Eurasian beaver and kit by the River Tay in Scotland. Image Credit: Wikipedia In 2019, two Eurasian beavers were released into a 10-hectare woodland in North Yorkshire, where their activity gradually reshaped the way water moved through the site. Over the next five years, the animals built dams and created new areas of standing water, changing both the stream and surrounding landscape. A study published in Ecohydrology found that median peak water flow below the enclosure fell by 46.6%, while baseflow increased by 417% compared with the upstream control. The researchers also recorded changes in water quality, vegetation and wildlife during the trial.How did two beavers change water flows in the 10-hectare forestThe study examined a five-year beaver reintroduction trial at Cropton Forest in Yorkshire. Two Eurasian beavers were released into the fenced 10-hectare woodland in April 2019. The enclosure contained 824 metres of Sutherland Beck, along with several human-built structures designed to slow water and reduce flooding.The beavers quickly began reshaping their surroundings. They felled trees, altered the stream and constructed six dams during the trial. Their work created ponds ...