An Ecosystem Out of Balance
With drier conditions, fewer willows, and smaller ponds, the Kawuneeche Valley’s landscape looks much different than it did just a few decades ago.
Historically, the Valley supported dense stands of tall willows, an indispensable material for beaver habitat and healthy wetlands. The wetland ecosystem stretched eight miles long and half a mile wide. However, after a long history of human land use and growing populations of elk and moose, the willows in the Kawuneeche Valley are depleted. As a result, the Valley is unable to provide several of its essential functions, including flood control, drought mitigation, environmental resilience, and recreational opportunities.
Diminished Willows
The following images illustrate the Valley’s extensive loss of willows in recent decades.
Since 1999, the Kawuneeche Valley has lost 98% of its tall willow stands. This decline impacts the Valley’s water retention, streambed landscape and water flows, and creates opportunities for invasive plant species to thrive.
Images courtesy of David Cooper from Colorado State University
Declining Beaver Populations
Wetland ecosystems, like the Kawuneeche Valley, provide important ecological benefits, including water filtration, flood and erosion control, and healthy wildlife habitat.
Beavers, one of nature’s most prolific engineers, once played a vital role in supporting the Kawuneeche Valley’s ecosystem. By constructing dams, they slow water flow, which helps sustain a healthy streambed, water table, and floodplain, all of which are important for building resilience to events such as wildfire and floods.
Beavers used to thrive in the Valley, with ponds scattered throughout and keeping the Valley’s vegetation and soil hydrated. However, decades of diverse land use and high populations of moose and elk have affected the scope and size of the wetlands and reduced the beaver population as a result.
This shift left the Valley drier, leading to significant consequences: declining water quality, reduced wildlife habitat, and weakened resilience to climate change impacts such as flood and wildfire.
Since 1953, the Valley has lost 94% of its surface water associated with beaver ponds, contributing to the spread of invasive plant species.
Stay Updated!
Our project team is hard at work to ensure the Valley and its wildlife return to the conditions that nature intended. As our work continues, there will be opportunities for you to join our team on field tours, site visits, and more!
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