Beavers Restored a Dying River in the Desert: Here’s What Happened

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00:00Beavers restored a dying river in the desert.

00:03Here's what happened.

00:08Rivers across the American West are drying up, and the usual fixes aren't working.

00:13Emma Dodon, a Utah State University graduate student, leads a project to relocate beavers

00:18to dry Utah rivers.

00:21They relocated 47 beavers, preventing euthanasia and helping to repair ecosystems.

00:27Before release, each beaver went through a three-day quarantine to prevent disease.

00:32Tagged with microchips and radio transmitters, they emerge at night, when temperatures are

00:37cooler to restore fragile waterways by building dams.

00:44The job is not easy.

00:46We saw some mortality, Dodon recalls, as beavers struggled with heat and relocation stress,

00:53while some fell prey to predators.

00:56A few remained in place, while others moved up to 12 miles downstream, likely benefiting

01:01the river system.

01:03Those that stayed began building dams where none had existed before, creating the wetlands

01:08that make all the difference.

01:11Small dams recharge water supplies, create wildlife havens, and trap pollutants.

01:16A scientist named Emily Fairfax confirmed these dams protect land from fire.

01:25Six years later, the Price River boasts revitalized water levels, fish thrive, and the town of helper's

01:32economy grows.

01:34San Rafael River habitat increased 230 percent, prompting artificial dam construction to attract

01:41more beavers.

01:42The Utah beaver project mirrors a global movement for wetland restoration.

01:50In California, Sarah Beasley collaborates with the Yurok tribe to aid the salmon-impacted Klamath

01:57River.

01:58Richard Brazier's UK work shows beaver dams enhance water storage, fish habitats, and flood

02:03production.

02:08Beaver restoration is spreading across the US and UK, highlighting beavers as vital partners

02:13in solving environmental issues and showcasing nature's role in land restoration.