Volunteer Stewardship Days: Help Maintain Beaver Habitat in the Monument

This fall, join us for a series of stewardship days focused on maintaining beaver dam analogs (BDAs) in the Monument. These structures mimic natural beaver dams, slowing water, reducing erosion, and creating healthier riparian systems that benefit wildlife.

One of our project sites is part of the Mardon Meadows restoration area, a collaborative effort to protect habitat for the endangered Mardon skipper butterfly. There, beaver dam analogs were constructed alongside an exclosure fence to reduce cattle impacts. As BDAs increase water retention in Hoxie Creek, the wet meadow habitat that the skipper depends on has a better chance of recovering and thriving.

Volunteers will help by gathering and staking live willow cuttings and placing woody material to strengthen the dam structures. No prior experience is needed, just a willingness to lend a hand in the field while learning about the connections between water, meadows, and rare species.

We will meet at the Rite Aid parking lot in Ashland and caravan to the location from there. Carpooling is optional but not required. If you are hoping to drive your own vehicle, high clearance is highly recommended.

Host or Publisher Friends of Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument