As a water provider that sources much of its supply from high mountain snowpack, we have a compelling reason to help preserve the quality of that water. In Colorado, that means taking proactive steps to protect watersheds from threats to water quality and our infrastructure.
One of the most significant threats to watersheds in Colorado – and across the West - is wildfire. Not only do wildland fires result in catastrophic losses to life and landscapes, but they also have long-term impacts to water quality - ranging from erosion and flood control issues to increased sediment contamination in reservoirs.
We partner with the Colorado Forest Service on fire mitigation projects to help reduce the risk of wildfire in watersheds. This valuable partnership focuses primarily on forest health treatments like thinning fuel-heavy areas and creating strategic fire breaks. Projects are happening right now on the North and South Slopes of Pikes Peak near our reservoirs where conifer overgrowth has occurred and created denser fuel loads.
Once, many years ago, there were more open meadows on Pikes Peak where a different sort of fire mitigation was happening – one engineered primarily by beavers. These industrious creatures, in the natural course of their day, built permeable dams that allowed some water to flow through but mostly slowed stream flows enough to allow water to spread and soak into the ground. The resulting landscapes became riparian corridors that welcomed “wetter” trees, such as aspen and willow, and open meadows that acted as natural fire breaks.
Now, thanks to a grant from the Colorado Water Conservation Board as part of their Wildfire Ready Watersheds/Colorado Watershed Restoration Program, we have an opportunity to try and restore beaver habitat on Pikes Peak. The funding allows us to leverage our current Wildfire Ready Watershed planning and strategies by implementing a beaver-based, low-tech solution to supplement on-going fire mitigation efforts.
Yes, we’re attempting to entice beavers back to the Peak.
The actual process is known as Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration. The project area is on Springs Utilities-owned land located near North Catamount Reservoir, which is an ideal location for high elevation beaver meadow restoration and happens to be an area beavers once occupied.
After strategic removal of conifers and conversion of culverts to low-water crossings, simulated Beaver Structures (SBSs) and Post Assisted Log Structures (PALS) will be added to mimic the natural system created by beavers.
The project timeline:
- 2024- early 2025: Project planning, baseline data collection, and forestry management project work
- September 2025: Install SBSs and PALS, collect post construction data
- 2026: Adaptive management of the SBSs and PALS (add, remove, modify structures as needed) and post project data analysis
Ultimately, we hope to spy actual beaver activity in the area within a few years of implementation. Regardless, the project will help protect our nearby infrastructure, increase the resiliency of North Catamount Creek, improve water quality and enhance ecosystem health.
Stay tuned!
Beaver meadow restoration projects are happening in other parts of the state. Read more in this recent Colorado Springs Gazette article.
