Washington Creek Revived by Human-Made Beaver Dams

In eastern Washington, a damaged creek received an unusual form of aid in 2016. Restoration workers installed 26 artificial structures, designed to mimic beaver dams, along approximately 1,900 feet of Myers Creek. This initiative, part of the Triple Creek restoration project, aimed to counter erosion that had deepened the channel and drained surrounding wetlands after a major flood event in the 1990s.

The artificial structures, called Beaver Dam Analogues (BDAs), were constructed using simple materials like wooden stakes and branches. Some were designed to slow water flow and retain sediment, while others aimed to encourage the channel to meander. Alongside these structures, native vegetation was planted and invasive reed canarygrass was addressed.

Research indicates that both natural and artificial beaver dams can alter stream channels by slowing water, trapping sediment, and influencing shape. At Myers Creek, the BDAs interacted with spring 2017 floodwaters, redirecting flows and promoting sediment deposition. Sediment accumulated significantly, in some places up to 5 feet, raising the streambed closer to its historical floodplain.

Perhaps the most surprising outcome was the rapid return of beavers. They reappeared in the area just days after construction began in 2016, a return after an absence of nearly twenty years. By 2017, the beavers were actively contributing to the restoration, building their own dam and assisting with BDAs, bringing the project close to its goal of restoring the degraded stream.