Current Issues and Projects Regarding Beaver in Montana

1. Current Issues and Projects Regarding Beaver in Montana Steve Carpenedo Mt DEQ – Wetland Program

2. Presentation Outline • Brief history of beaver management in Montana. • Impact beaver have on landscape patterns, riparian habitat, and streams. And some changes as a result of reduced beaver populations? • What projects are currently being undertaken in Montana to address these changes? • My current work developing a beaver habitat suitability model. • Points to ponder during today’s Wetland Council Meeting.

3. Management of Beaver in Montana Trapping quota per person based on # of trappers Unlimited trapping with no tagging or limits Unlimited trapping allowed with a limit per person 60 – 400 Million Individuals 1st fur trappers arrive in Montana 1st Fur Trapping Fort Built “End” of main beaver trapping era Montana’s 1st Territorial Game Law Beavers became a protected species Listed as a furbearer but protected 1770’s 1840’s 1880’s 1970’s 1993 Present 1900 1941 1953 1807 Pre-Settlement

4. Management of Beaver in Montana • What is the current population and distribution? • Recent trends show a decreases in numbers of beaver trapped state wide. • Majority of trapping is for nuisance beaver. • FWP on web does provide information on “Living with beaver”.

5. Influence of Beaver on the landscape • What has been the effect of the historic loss of dam building beaver on aquatic resources? • Free flowing streams • Sediment Retention • Modifying nutrient cycling and decomposition of organics • Change in aquatic invertebrates • Fish and Wildlife Populations • Stream resiliency • Influencing fire regimes

6. Regaining our lost ecosystem functions • Current known projects • Ruby River Beaver Augmentation • Relocating nuisance beavers from Virginia City. • TU’s Riparian Restoration using Relocated Nuisance Beaver in Western Montana. • Water management alternatives in the Big Hole Watershed. • WCS and DEQ development of Habitat Suitability model for identifying beaver relocation sites.

7. Beaver Habitat Suitability Model • Overall purpose • Model Development • Scaling Variables • Variable Examples • Stream Gradient • Herbaceous Emergent Vegetation • Average Valley Width • Stream Gradient • Stream Flow Permanence • Herbaceous Emergent Wetlands • Submerged Aquatic Vegetation • Woody Vegetation Riparian Areas • Average Valley Width • Percent Canopy Cover of Trees • Percent Canopy Cover of Shrubs • Average Height of Shrub Canopy • Species Composition of Woody Vegetation

8. Beaver Habitat Suitability Model • Final Steps • Where are there currently active beaver in the Big Hole Watershed? • Determine the influence each variable has on the model

9. Questions to ponder • What is the proper approach to identifying suitable habitat? Is there anecdotal evidence from your work that will help guide future projects? • What about using beaver as a water storage alternative? For improving water quality? • Landowner perception of beaver and educating them as to the benefits. • What protocols do we need to follow to ensure success of relocation projects.

10. Questions to ponder • Is the current management structure of beaver as a furbearer acceptable to ensure they remain on the landscape and continue to provide valuable functions? • What are some other strategies that may be incorporated to ensure that beaver expand into new locations? • Are small scale relocations feasible for accomplish habitat restoration? • How can we get an accurate picture of the current population status and distribution of beaver in the state? • What about beavers and their interaction with invasive/non-native species?

11. Questions?