Public Comments needed in support of beavers being re-established into the Las Cienegas National Conversation Area

 

I am posting Watershed Management Group's call to action because I support having beavers re-established into the Las Cienegas National Conversation Area. Beavers were the first rainwater harvesters. Their dams slow down and spread the water which encourages new plant growth creating a diverse habitat. Beavers have actually restored watersheds!

Please, read through the following information and draft a short, personalized public comment to the Bureau of Land Management before the deadline on Saturday, June 18th. WMG has put together everything you need to write your public comment below.

 

It’s an important time to take action and help Release the Beavers! The Bureau of Land Management is accepting public comments until next Saturday, June 18th on whether to re-establish beavers in Las Ciénegas National Conservation Area. WMG’s staff has carefully reviewed the full Environmental Assessment on this proposal, and they believe this a much-needed opportunity for beavers to do their amazing work recharging groundwater, improving water quality, and creating climate resilience in Ciénega Creek. Can you make a public comment in support of this proposal?

WMG has been working to re-establish beavers in Ciénega Creek since 2019 through public education, advocacy, our recent Beaver Practitioners Workshop at Las Ciénegas National Conservation Area, and our Binational Beaver Survey in Southern Arizona and Sonora, Mexico. In 1999, 16 beavers were released into the San Pedro National Conservation Area, and in the decades since, this population has fluctuated and expanded to other areas, such as Sonora, Mexico. Our 2021 Binational Beaver Survey assessed the latest beaver populations in this area on both sides of the border, and found an estimated 52 individual beavers within 9 family groups along the San Pedro (see the map above).

These results are encouraging. They show that it’s possible to re-establish beavers in our perennial desert creeks and for them to flourish, grow, and disperse to help restore rivers in our region. This is possible in the San Pedro River, and it is possible in Ciénega Creek!

Now, to make the proposal for beavers in Ciénega Creek a reality, the Bureau of Land Management needs to hear from more beaver advocates like you. If you haven’t had a chance to make your comment yet, see below to learn about our take on the Environmental Assessment, learn about the process, and learn how to make your comment today. Our collective voices got this proposal off of the backburner, and together we can also make it happen! (See details below.)

What’s An Environmental Assessment, and How Does It Work?

According to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), all major projects on public lands in the U.S. must have Environmental Assessments before being approved. This means the agency implementing the project must evaluate and share how the project will impact the local environment, suggest multiple ways (aka "alternatives") to accomplish the project, and consider public comment before making its decision. The public comment period for this Environmental Assessment will stay open through Saturday, June 18th - 10 more days!

WMG'S take on the Beaver Environmental Assessment

The Environmental Assessment makes it clear that reintroducing beavers to Ciénega Creek will have significant positive impacts for recharging groundwater, improving water quality, creating climate resilience, providing steady surface flows for aquatic species, and more. The Environmental Assessment also thoroughly evaluates possible concerns for Ciénega Creek resulting from re-establishing beavers, and makes a strong case that beaver-based restoration will strongly benefit the area.

The Environmental Assessment suggests three possible courses of action:

Alternative A: Re-establish Beavers with Option to Include Beaver Dam Analogues (BDAs)
Alternative A would re-establish beavers in Ciénega Creek, with the option of also using Beaver Dam Analogues (BDAs) – low-impact, natural structures made from materials like wooden posts that mimic the natural activities of beaver dams, and help make pools deeper for beavers to support them when they are first released. By providing additional support, BDAs increase the chance that beavers will be able to successfully build dams and create communities in Las Ciénegas National Conservation Area. WMG supports Alternative A to provide more flexibility for beaver-based restoration, and a greater chance of success for the beavers!

Alternative B: No Action
Under Alternative B, beavers would not be re-established in Ciénega Creek. The Environmental Assessment makes it clear that this would have a negative impact on the creek, resulting in Ciénega Creek continuing to dry up, reduced groundwater supply, and reduced habitat for native riparian species.

Alternative C: Re-establish Beavers without Beaver Dam Analogues (BDAs) Alternative C is identical to Alternative A, without the plan for Beaver Dam Analogues (BDAs). WMG supports Alternative A instead of Alternative C to provide more flexibility for the project, and to create a greater chance of success for the beavers.

How to Comment on the Environmental Assessment (EA)

The public comment period for this Environmental Assessment will stay open through Saturday, June 18th - 10 more days, and we encourage you to make your comment as soon as possible!
To make your public comment, click the green "Participate Now" button on the left side of this page. Once you're on the "Participate Now" page, place your cursor over the "Beaver Reintroduction" link and scroll to the right until you see a green "Participate Now" button:

Then, click the "Participate Now" button and make your public comment! Or, to reach the public comment page directly, click here.

What Should I Say in My Public Comment?

There is an example public comment below that reflects WMG’s views, but you can also write your own! We encourage you to read the full Environmental Assessment and personalize your comment to reflect why this issue matters to you.

Toward the end of the comment form, there is a question asking if your comment is representative of a group. Since WMG has already made our official public comment, your comment represents you as an individual, and not the organization.

Sample Public Comment:

"Thank you for releasing the Environmental Assessment for the Re-establishment of Beaver (Castor canadensis) on Las Ciénegas National Conservation Area. The assessment makes it clear how much re-establishing beavers would benefit Ciénega Creek and the surrounding area: recharging groundwater aquifers, maintaining steady surface flows for aquatic species and slowing down flood flows, improving water quality, mitigating drought, and more. Please move forward with re-establishing beavers in Las Ciénegas National Conservation Area and support Alternative A of the Environmental Assessment to allow the flexibility to use Beaver Dam Analogues (BDAs). I also ask that you approve and begin implementing this project quickly after the 30-day EA comment period ends so beavers can start doing their good work at Ciénega Creek, and so we have this example to learn from and potentially apply to other desert creeks and rivers for beaver-based restoration. Drought, climate change, and water shortages pose serious risks to Ciénega Creek and southwest desert creeks and rivers, and it’s important to move this project forward as soon as possible. Please support Alternative A and allow beavers to help restore our watersheds! Thank you for your consideration."

Once you’ve made your comment, I hope you’ll share this advocacy opportunity with friends and family by sharing this blog! Thank you for advocating for beavers to help restore Ciénega Creek.