Wild Wasatch: How Swaner’s beavers shape a winter wetland – TownLift Park City

Report on the Ecological Contributions of Beaver Populations at Swaner Preserve and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Conservation Management and Beaver Activity

Beaver populations at the 1,200-acre Swaner Preserve serve as critical ecosystem engineers, with their seasonal activities directly supporting local conservation efforts and aligning with global sustainability targets. Under the management of Rhea Cone, Director of Conservation, the preserve’s ecological health is significantly influenced by the work of at least two active beaver colonies. As winter approaches, these colonies engage in reinforcing dams, fortifying lodges, and creating underwater food caches. This report details how these natural engineering processes contribute to achieving key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Advancing SDG 15: Life on Land through Ecosystem Restoration

Beavers as a Keystone Species

The role of beavers as a keystone species is fundamental to the ecological integrity of the Swaner Preserve, directly contributing to SDG 15, which aims to protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. Their activities create and maintain complex wetland habitats that support a wide array of other species.

• Habitat Creation: Beaver dams transform simple streams into vibrant wetlands, increasing biodiversity.
• Support for Wildlife: The resulting deep-water pools and lush vegetation provide essential habitat for muskrats, waterfowl, shorebirds, and fish.
• Vegetation Management: By altering vegetation patterns, beavers create a mosaic of different habitats, further enhancing biodiversity.

Sustainable Habitat Management

The beaver population at the preserve fluctuates based on resource availability. In alignment with SDG 15, management efforts include planting native willow and cottonwood trees to ensure a sustainable food source for current and future beaver colonies, thereby supporting long-term ecosystem health.

Contributions to Water and Climate Goals

Enhancing Water Resources (SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation & SDG 14: Life Below Water)

Beaver engineering provides a nature-based solution for water management, directly supporting the objectives of SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 14 (Life Below Water). The dams constructed by beavers have a measurable positive impact on the local hydrology.

1. Water Filtration: Dams slow water flow, allowing sediment and pollutants to settle, resulting in cleaner water downstream.
2. Flood Mitigation: The wetland complexes act as natural sponges, absorbing and slowing the release of floodwaters.
3. Aquatic Habitat Improvement: The dams create deep pools of water that remain cooler in the summer and are less likely to freeze solid in the winter, providing critical refuge for fish and other aquatic organisms.

Climate Action through Carbon Sequestration (SDG 13: Climate Action)

The wetlands created and maintained by beavers are significant carbon sinks. By trapping organic matter and fostering plant growth, these ecosystems sequester atmospheric carbon in their soil and biomass. This natural process is a vital contribution to climate change mitigation, directly aligning with the goals of SDG 13.

Management Strategies for Sustainable Coexistence

Ecological Challenges and Resilience

In April 2024, a beaver colony near the EcoCenter was lost to a tularemia outbreak, a setback for local biodiversity (SDG 15). However, the incident highlighted the resilience of the ecosystem. The abandoned dam continues to function, maintaining the wetland habitat and supporting diverse wildlife, including ducks, geese, and grebes. This demonstrates the lasting positive impact of beaver infrastructure, even in their absence.

Promoting Human-Wildlife Coexistence (SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities)

Managing the interface between beaver activity and human infrastructure is essential for sustainable communities, a core principle of SDG 11. Swaner Preserve employs several strategies to foster coexistence rather than conflict.

• Protective Fencing: Simple wire fencing is used to protect specific trees from being felled by beavers.
• Pond-Leveler Systems: A pond-leveler system installed near the EcoCenter allows for the management of water levels to prevent flooding while permitting beavers to maintain their dam.
• Relocation Programs: In cases where coexistence is not feasible, relocation is utilized as a non-lethal management tool, moving beavers to areas where their engineering can aid in restoration efforts.

Conclusion: The Integral Role of Beavers in Sustainability

The activities of beavers at Swaner Preserve are fundamental to maintaining a healthy and resilient wetland ecosystem. Their work as ecosystem engineers provides a powerful, nature-based solution that directly supports the achievement of multiple Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 6 (Clean Water), SDG 11 (Sustainable Communities), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 15 (Life on Land). The infrastructure they build sustains the entire wetland community through the winter, underscoring their indispensable role in environmental stewardship.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The article extensively discusses the role of beavers in creating and maintaining wetlands, which directly impacts water resources. It highlights how their dams improve water quality, manage water flow, and support freshwater ecosystems.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The article makes a direct connection to climate action by stating that the wetlands created by beavers act as “significant carbon sinks” because they “sequester carbon.” It also mentions that beaver dams help in mitigating the effects of climate-related hazards by slowing down floodwaters.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: This is the most prominent SDG in the article. The entire piece focuses on the conservation and restoration of a terrestrial and freshwater ecosystem (the Swaner Preserve), the role of a keystone species (beavers), the management of biodiversity, and efforts to control invasive species.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 6.6: Protect and restore water-related ecosystems.
  • The article is centered on the conservation and ecological health of the 1,200-acre Swaner Preserve, a wetland ecosystem. The work of the conservation director, which includes “land restoration” and “stream restoration,” and the natural engineering by beavers to “create and maintain wetlands” directly contribute to this target.
• Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters.
  • The article states that beaver dams “slow down floodwaters,” which is a natural method of strengthening the ecosystem’s resilience to flooding, a common climate-related hazard.
• Target 15.1: Ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services.
  • The management of the Swaner Preserve is a direct example of conserving and restoring an inland freshwater ecosystem. The article details how beavers’ activities create “vibrant wetlands,” which provide essential ecosystem services like water filtration and habitat creation.
• Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.
  • The article explains how the wetlands created by beavers support a wide range of wildlife, including “fish, muskrats, waterfowl, and shorebirds.” Conservation efforts, such as planting willows and cottonwoods to support beaver colonies, are actions taken to maintain this habitat and its biodiversity. The mention of the tularemia outbreak that killed a beaver colony underscores the fragility of this biodiversity and the need for protection.
• Target 15.8: Introduce measures to prevent the introduction and significantly reduce the impact of invasive alien species on land and water ecosystems.
  • The role of the conservation director explicitly includes “invasive weed control,” which is a direct measure aimed at achieving this target within the preserve.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for Target 6.6: The article implies progress is measured by observing the health and extent of the wetland. Specific mentions include “more cattails, more willows, and vibrant wetlands have emerged” and “changes to the vegetation types surrounding the dams.” The cleanliness of the water is also a key indicator, as noted by the statement, “Water leaving beaver complexes is cleaner than when it enters.”
• Indicator for Target 13.1 & 13.3: An implied indicator for climate mitigation is the capacity of the wetlands to act as “significant carbon sinks” by sequestering carbon. For adaptation, the slowing of floodwaters serves as a qualitative indicator of increased resilience.
• Indicator for Target 15.1 & 15.5: Progress is indicated by the stability of the beaver population (“at least two active beaver colonies”) and the presence and increase of other wildlife. The article notes that staff observe “increases in bird activity” and the presence of “ducks,” “geese,” and “grebes” as a result of the beaver-maintained habitat.
• Indicator for Target 15.8: The implementation of an “invasive weed control” program is a direct indicator of action being taken to manage and reduce the impact of invasive species within the preserve.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: townlift.com