A small group of beavers is increasing biodiversity and creating cost-free flood mitigation infrastructure.
A West London Tube station that experienced frequent flooding turned to an unusual mitigation measure: beavers.
As Erik Barnes explains in a Good article, "A family of five beavers was released through the Ealing Beaver Project to act as “nature’s engineers” and help solve London’s flooding problem. Within weeks, the beavers built a dam in the creek, causing it to pool into a pond. Along with that, the beavers created new pathways and tributaries that further diverted water from the main creek."
The beavers built seven dams in their first year and led to expanded biodiversity in the area. According to Barnes, "This beaver introduction hasn’t just solved a climate-related flooding problem, but it has also brought other benefits. Visitors and residents enjoy the newly biodiverse nature reserves by going on 'beaver safaris' to see the creatures at work in person. Then there is the obvious benefit of the beavers solving these flooding problems effectively free of charge."
FULL STORY: As climate change causes flooding in London, experts found an effective, low-cost solution: beavers
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Journal of the American Planning Association