Managed Aquifer Recharge: turning a hazard into a resource

Aquifer recharge happens when beavers slow the flow of water, connect streams with floodplains, and when the weight of the water in beaver ponds presses water down into the ground, filling the spaces between soil particles with water instead of air. Beavers can raise the water table, creating underground reservoirs that can then help supply base flows in streams during dry periods. These changes can help hold water back to reduce flooding downstream, provide water later in the season when it’s i