Skip to main content

Beaver Translocation Protocol

The Beaver Translocation Protocol identifies and evaluates habitat suitability for beaver translocations. The protocol is based on forms used by the Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife for beaver introductions within the state of Washington. This protocol is intended to assist with LTPBR planning for potential translocation sites for nuisance beaver but can be used in certain cases to locate potential sites for LTPBR implementation.

Protocol Summary

AttributeValue
NameBeaver Translocation Protocol
StatusExperimental Grade
Version1.0
XML URLhttps://github.com/Riverscapes/RiverscapesXML/blob/master/QRiS/protocols/beaver_translocation_protocol.xml
CitationWashington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife. 2025. Beaver Translocation Protocol. Prepared by Anabranch Solutions.
AuthorsZach Burgert, Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife

How to Use

After adding this protocol to your QRiS project, you can begin mapping data associated with beaver translocations. This includes:

  • Assess Previous Activity: Add site-specific polygons to document past beaver activity and evaluate associated risks at specific locations.
  • Analyze Habitat: Digitize channel lines to map and assess habitat and geomorphic features.
  • Track Release Sites: Place points to mark the exact location of beaver release sites and record the total number of beavers released.

Layers

AttributeTypeDescription
Site ObservationsPolygonoverall assessment of site for beaver activity and translocation risk
Suitability AssessmentLineassessment of habitat and geomorphic features in the channel relevant to sustain beaver activity
Post Release Monitoring AssessmentPointnumber of beaver released at release site

Layer Attributes

Site Observations

FieldDescriptionValues
Number of Observed Beavercount of observed beaver at siteuser defined input
Number Active Damscount of actively maintained dams at siteuser defined input
Number of Active Denscount of actively maintained dens at siteuser defined input
Number of Active Lodgescount of actively maintained lodges at siteuser defined input
Number of Forage Cachescount of forage caches at siteuser defined input
Presence of Trackspresence of beaver tracks at siteyes/no
Presence of Fresh Chewings/Cuttingspresence of beaver chewings or cuttings at siteyes/no
Presence of Scent Mounds/Droppingspresence of scent mounds or droppings at siteyes/no
Landowner Riskrisk of damage to local landowners' property from beaver activity
  • Low
  • Medium
  • High
    • Infrastructure Riskrisk of damage to local infrastructure from beaver activity
  • Low
  • Medium
  • High
    • Overall Risknumeric value on scale from 0 (lowest risk) to 5 (highest risk) based on landowner & infrastructure risk0-5 value defined by user

    Suitability Assessment

    FieldDescriptionValues
    Stream Gradientstream gradient/slope of channel
  • ≤3%
  • 4-6%
  • ≥7%
    • Stream Flowstream flow of channel
  • Low (≤10 cfs)
  • Moderate (11-50 cfs)
  • High (≥50 cfs)
    • Stream Depthstream depth of channeluser-defined value
    Multiple Pools Greater than 3 ftpool assessment of channelyes/no
    Stream Substrate Typedominant type of substrate on channel bed
  • Silt/Clay/Mud
  • Sand
  • Gravel
  • Cobble/Boulders
  • Bedrock
  • Other
    • Habitat Unit Availabilityassessment of habitat for beaver to expand into
  • Large Pond
  • ≥ 2000 ft of stream length in each direction
  • ≤ 2000 ft of stream length in each direction
    • Hardwood Food Sourcedistance of hardwood food sources from channel
  • ≤ 30 ft
  • ≤ 100 ft
  • ≤ 300 ft
  • ≥ 300 ft
    • Hardwood Food Source Abundanceabundance of hardwood food sources near channel
  • Plenty
  • Some
  • Few
    • Herbaceous Food Sourceabundance of herbaceous food sources near channel
  • Abundant
  • Minimal
    • Adjacent Floodplainassessment of floodplain
  • Adjacent Floodplain
  • Narrow Channel
    • Bank Heightheight of banks
  • Low (≤3 ft)
  • Moderate (3-6 ft)
  • High (≥6 ft)
    • Bank Substrate Typedominant type of substrate on channel banks
  • Silt/Clay/Mud
  • Sand
  • Gravel
  • Cobble/Boulders
  • Bedrock
  • Other
    • Dam/Lodge Building Materialsavailability of dam and lodge building materials near channel
  • Variety of 1-6” Diameter Woody Vegetation Available
  • Insufficient Building Material Present

    • Post Release Monitoring Assessment

    FieldDescriptionValues
    Number of Beaver Releasednumber of beaver released at release siteuser defined input