Wenatchee-Entiat Beaver-Powered Restoration

The Wenatchee-Entiat Beaver-Powered Restoration project continued landowner assistance, beaver relocation, and installation of low-tech structures, including beaver dam analogs (BDAs) and Post-Assisted Log Structures (PALs) in new stream reaches. Over the course of a two-year period, the project assisted 12 landowners, captured 10 and relocated 8 beavers, and installed 22 instream wood structures in Alder Creek. Through these three beaver-powered restoration techniques we restored and conserved important natural stream and habitat processes, such as pool quality and quantity, floodplain reconnection, late season flow and wildfire resiliency. Beaver relocation and landowner assistance occurred in multiple locations along the Columbia River, Wenatchee River, and various sites within the upper Wenatchee subbasin. Low tech structures were implemented within the Upper Wenatchee Assessment Unit and funded through support from the HCP Tributary Committee.

To relocate nuisance beavers to areas for improved cool water storage, thus increasing instream flows during low flow season. To install small beaver dam analog (BDAs) in small tributary streams to improve instream habitat complexity and reconnect floodplain areas for rearing habitat. Both techniques are designed to improve habitat conditions for ESA-listed salmon and steelhead.