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New Mexico Legislator Encourages Proper Beaver Management for Climate Adaptation
“Its clear that we need to manage these busy animals in New Mexico intentionally both to relieve conflicts and reap the benefits they can provide,” said Senator Tim Keller. “Beaver can be an ally in mitigating drought and ensuring a reliable water supply in the state.”
The North American beaver, with its dams and ponds and associated wetlands, if restored to suitable but unoccupied habitats could increase water storage of streams and rivers in New Mexico that are undergoing dramatic changes in runoff patterns; would serve to greatly attenuate the effects of flooding associated with heavy precipitation events as well as landscapes impacted by wildfire; and would serve to greatly enhance the persistence and resilience of many endangered animals and plants in New Mexico, including the Rio Grande cutthroat, the official state fish of New Mexico.
“Senator Keller recognizes the simple and cost-effective benefits of managing beaver in our state for better water production,” said Bryan Bird an ecologist with WildEarth Guardians. “His solution is quite creative and will benefit all waterstake holders.”
Scientific research shows that beavers play a vital role in increasing river and wetland ecosystem resilience in the face of climate change and New Mexico would benefit from a strategic plan for statewide beaver management designed to capture the full watershed benefits of beaver populations and minimize conflicts with other land uses, such as agriculture and the development of transportation infrastructure. The state of Utah recently adopted a statewide beaver management plan developed in a process that involved a wide range of public and private landowners, users and managers.
SM4 BEAVER POPULATION & MANAGEMENT PLAN
http://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/legislation.aspx?chamber=S&legtype=M&legno=%20%20%204&year=14