Channel Aggradation by Beaver Dams on a Small Agricultural Stream in Eastern Nebraska

Authors

M. C. McCullough, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
J. L. Harper, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
D. E. Eisenhauer, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
M. G. Dosskey, USDA National Agroforestry Center, Lincoln, NebraskaFollow

Date of this Version

9-12-2004

Comments

Proceedings of the 12-15 September 2004 Conference (St. Paul, Minnesota USA).

Abstract

agricultural area of eastern Nebraska. A topographic survey was conducted of a reach of Little Muddy Creek where beaver are known to have been building dams for twelve years. Results indicate that over this time period the thalweg elevation has aggraded an average of 0.65 m by trapping 1730 t of sediment in the pools behind dams. Beaver may provide a feasible solution to channel degradation problems in this region.