Beavers can be a nuisance. Due to their dam-building, they can cause hydrology issues such as flooding and difficulty in traveling. However, Beaver man, Derek Gow, and Mark Elliott of the Devon Wildlife Trust, believe beavers could play a role in managing flood risk.

According to an article on Rewinding Britain: “In the Belgian Ardennes where beavers were reintroduced in 2003 a series of six beaver dams on the River Chevral resulted in a significant lowering of flood peaks on the downstream reaches of the river, and an increase in the interval between flood events.”

Moreover, research has shown that having beavers in nearby bodies of water improves water quality by creating nutrient-rich sediment and making fertile locations for a wide range of aquatic plants to colonize.