Title

Hydrologic Effects of Beaver-Mimicry Stream Restoration

Document Type

Lecture

Publication Date

Fall 10-16-2019

Abstract

Beaver-mimicry stream restoration (BMR) seeks to simulate the effects of beaver activity on stream ecosystems. One common objective of this type of restoration is to increase seasonal water storage, which will in turn promote higher and cooler late-summer stream flows. However, the specific hydrologic mechanisms by which BMR would promote higher and cooler late summer flows remain poorly understood. To aid in understanding the types of effects that should be expected from BMR we have developed simple groundwater flow models that allow quantification of the amount of increased late-summer flow that can be expected for different types of treatments in different hydrogeologic settings. We have also monitored two restoration sites for four years, using a before-after, treatment-control experimental design. At these sites we have monitored groundwater levels, stream flows, riparian vegetation, and stream temperatures.

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Comments

Andy has been a Hydrogeologist at the Montana Bureau of Mines in Geology (MBMG) since 2009. He is also pursuing a PhD through Montana State University – Bozeman. He obtained a MA in Geology from Binghamton University (NY) in 2000. Andy worked as an Environmental Consultant near Philadelphia, focusing on restoring hazardous materials sites. He worked as a Hydrologist and a Fluids Geologist for the BLM in Miles City, MT, where much of his work focused on Coalbed Methane development, and on oil and gas reservoir management. Andy works in the Groundwater Investigation program at MBMG, where his projects have looked at the effects of groundwater development on the quality and availability of groundwater and surface waters.

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