Eurasian beaver activity increases water storage, attenuates flow and mitigates diffuse pollution from intensively-managed grasslands

• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.10.122
• Publication Date: 2016-10-26T04:47:21Z
• Authors: Alan Puttock; Hugh A. Graham; Andrew M. Cunliffe; Mark Elliott; Richard E. Brazier
• Keywords: 570; Environmental Engineering; 550; Rodentia; 01 natural sciences; Water Quality; Water storage; Water Movements; Environmental Chemistry; Animals; Flow attenuation; Waste Management and Disposal; 0105 earth and related environmental sciences; Water Pollution; Water; 15. Life on land; Pollution; Grassland; 6. Clean water; Water quality; England; 13. Climate action; Ecosystem engineering; Eurasian beaver; Environmental Monitoring

Beavers are the archetypal keystone species, which can profoundly alter ecosystem structure and function through their engineering activity, most notably building of dams. This have a major impact upon water resource management, flow regimes quality. Previous research has predominantly focused on activities North American beaver (Castor canadensis) located in very different environments, to intensive lowland agricultural landscapes United Kingdom elsewhere Europe. Two Eurasian beavers fiber) were introduced wooded site, situated first order tributary, draining from intensively managed grassland. The site was monitored understand impacts storage, Results indicated that primarily via creation 13 dams, increased storage within (holding ca. 1000m3 ponds) likely had significant attenuation impact, as determined peak discharges (mean 30±19% reduction), total 34±9% reduction) rainfall discharge lag times 29±21% increase) during storm events. Event monitoring entering leaving showed lower concentrations suspended sediment, nitrogen phosphate (e.g. for sediment; average site: 112±72mgl-1, 39±37mgl-1). Combined with attenuated flows, this resulted diffuse pollutant loads downstream. Conversely, dissolved organic carbon downstream higher. These observed changes argued be directly attributable activity at created diverse wetland environment, reducing hydrological connectivity. important implications reintroduction programs may provide nature based solutions catchment-scale management issues faced landscapes.