Beavers In New Mexico

The Rio Fernando is a gorgeous stream in Taos, New Mexico that flows through the town before joining the Rio Pueblo de Taos and eventually the Rio Grande River. Here is where revitalization and education efforts by an environmental nonprofit and the community are underway to protect its wetlands and bring back keystone animals like the North American Beaver. Chief water engineers, beavers are a main ingredient in healthy water restoration. Historically, people mistakenly believed beavers were stealing the water not realizing their beneficial impact on watersheds. The ponds they build cool and purify the water for other wildlife to benefit from. Their pond activities also assist during severe droughts as water is stored for longer periods into the summer months and beyond. Working in collaboration with land owners who say the dams at times flood their properties, the non-profit is strategically and safely placing outlet pipes in the dams to control the water levels. It prevents flooding