Understanding Impacts and Opportunities for Harmony Between Beavers and Cottonwood Galleries
Marenna Lovejoy
Carson City Parks, Recreation & Open Space, Carson City, NV
Carson City Parks, Recreation & Open Space Department owns and manages nearly 13 miles of contiguous river corridor along the Carson River which is centrally located in western Nevada. The cottonwood galleries within the Carson River corridor are an iconic feature of this city that provide great ecological and aesthetic value. Historic straightening and damming for irrigation has contributed to an incised river channel and consequently the regular scouring floods that cottonwoods need for recruitment are few and far between. Age and size class diversity is lacking and trends towards mature adults. Previously held conceptions were that beaver predation threatened the existing mature cottonwood galleries and decimated new saplings. To better understand these interactions, we initiated survey efforts in summer 2025 and have collected individual tree data for seven percent of the 13 mile river corridor in question. Preliminary analysis indicates that trees roughly 30” diameter and smaller that are proximal to the river are targeted by beavers. This preliminary data will inform our management practices and future survey efforts. Poster will highlight use of Survey123, research questions, preliminary results, future research, and management implications.