NatureScot Review 85: Analysis of the effects of beaver dam-building activities on local hydrology
Assesses the effects of European beaver Castor fiber dam building activities on local hydrology through: a review of the international literature; an evaluation of the flow regime and geomorphology of Scottish rivers; simple modelling of the interaction between beaver dams of differing size, variations in local slope and channel/floodplain dimensions, and low and flood flows; examination of 3 case study sites on the River Farrar, Abhainn Deabhag and the River Dee. Major constraints on the potential spatial distribution of reintroduced beaver and beaver dams are: a plentiful and suitable food supply; a relatively subdued flow regime and stable river bed; bank materials suited to burrow construction. Hydrological and fluvial geomorphological impact would be relatively small, the most significant impacts being an increase in the area of open water and wetland on floodplains and a change in species composition and reduction in deciduous tree cover due to soil waterlogging and tree harvesting by beaver.
Pages: 77
Published: 1997
