A Valley in Decline
Kawuneeche Valley, in the western region of Rocky Mountain National Park, has seen better days.
An overpopulation of moose has led to heavy overgrazing, pushing native beavers out of their natural habitat. Without beaver-built water systems to slow and spread streams, the valley has suffered extensive ecological degradation.
Why Beavers Can’t Come Back Alone
According to Jeremy Shaw, a research scientist at Colorado State University, the damage has gone too far for beavers to naturally return.
“The system is too far gone for beavers to bounce back on their own,” Shaw told the National Parks Conservation Association.
That reality sparked an unconventional solution.
Enter the “Human Beavers”
Shaw is now leading a team of so-called “human beavers” — scientists and park rangers building 29 man-made dams designed to mimic natural beaver behavior.
These structures, known as beaver dam analogs (BDAs), slow water flow, reduce erosion, and create wetland conditions that beavers prefer.
“We’re trying to jump-start it,” Shaw said. “Our goal is to give beavers the best habitat possible, and hopefully they’ll build up their population from there.”
A Proven Restoration Strategy
Beaver-based restoration techniques first gained traction in the early 2000s, when researchers in Oregon constructed more than 100 BDAs. The results were striking: local beavers returned and began building their own dams.
Similar projects in Great Basin National Park saw comparable success. The structures reduced erosion, protected native cutthroat trout, and helped beaver populations recover naturally.
Benefits for Wildlife — and People
Beyond restoring plants and wildlife in Rocky Mountain National Park, these efforts also support human communities.
Kimberly Tekavec, a source water protection specialist in Colorado, estimates that the project could help safeguard clean drinking water for more than one million Coloradans.
“There are so many benefits that this project serves,” Tekavec said.