Come get your hands muddy! Join us at Caribou Ranch Open Space for a hands-on beaver dam analog (BDA) build day. BDAs are simple, low-tech structures -- posts driven into the streambed with woven willow branches -- that mimic the function of natural beaver dams. They slow water, raise water tables, and help degraded streams rebuild their braided channels and floodplain connectivity.
This is low-tech process-based restoration (LTPBR) in action. No engineering degree required -- just a willingness to stand in a cold stream and weave branches. Rowan will lead the installation, explaining the science behind beaver mimicry structures and how they transform stream complexity over time. We will build 3-5 structures on a tributary that has been incised from decades of channel straightening.
Bring waterproof boots, warm layers, work gloves, and lunch. Tools and materials provided. All skill levels welcome -- this is how we learn to restore the Front Range one stream reach at a time.
I will bring the portable water quality monitoring kits from CU so we can do baseline measurements before and after the BDA installation. It would be great data for our community science dashboard. Also a perfect opportunity to train new volunteer monitors on the equipment.
Please log in or sign up to comment.