Science Buzz Cafe # 442 The Surprising Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter

BEAVER IN CALIFORNIA: CREATING A CULTURE OF STEWARDSHIP with Kate Lundquist, Brock Dolman (Occidental Arts & Ecology Center Water Institute) and Special Guest Ben Goldfarb

Traveling from the East Coast, Ben Goldfarb will be joining Brock and Kate this evening to read excerpts from his wonderfully entertaining and well-researched beaver book Eager. Books will be available for purchase and signing by Ben after the presentation.

A vital part of our local ecosystems, the North American beaver (Castor canadensis) was once close to extinction in the United States. Kate Lundquist and Brock Dolman of the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center WATER Institute (www.oaec.org/water) will share the historical plight of this “keystone” species as well as insights about its remarkable biology and many ecological benefits. Beaver create aquatic habitat that benefits many other species. Their dams can improve water quantity and quality, increase late season flow and reduce the impacts of flooding. Beaver dams, bank burrows and food caches provide critical habitat for many native and endangered California species.

The WATER Institute has launched a Bring Back the Beaver Campaign (www.oaec.org/beaver) to educate citizens about the importance of beaver. Kate and Brock collaborate with agency scientists, environmental organizations, consulting biologists and interested citizen activists to support existing colonies and change policy and practices towards creating a culture of beaver stewardship.

Learn how you too can help beaver in both urban and rural communities across California restore watersheds, recover endangered species such as salmon, and increase climate change resiliency.

Wildlife biologist Brock Dolman and watershed advocate Kate Lundquist have been working together for nearly two decades to restore watersheds through outreach, education, advocacy and research. Their award-winning Bring Back the Beaver Campaign has been featured in the documentary Dirt Rich and the newly-released book Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter by environmental journalist Ben Goldfarb.

Kate Lundquist and Brock Dolman are Co-Directors of the Water Institute established at the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center (OAEC) in 2004 in order to promote understanding of the importance of healthy watersheds to healthy communities. The WATER Institute develops innovative science-based solutions for communities and the environment to address the legacy of hydrologically destructive land-use practices and policies on California’s watersheds, and the urgent need to address the impacts of climate change on the water cycle.

The Occidental Arts & Ecology Center (OAEC) is an 80-acre research, demonstration, advocacy and organizing center in Sonoma County, California that develops strategies for regional-scale community resilience.