Beavers have been influencing waterways for so long that healthy ecosystems have become reliant on their presence. Human activities such as removing instream wood, artificial straightening, and livestock grazing near creeks and rivers all contribute to waterways losing their natural complexity and becoming incised (deeply eroded with steep banks). Since it is difficult for beavers to build in incised streams, they rarely stay.

Protecting landscapes resilient to climate change is important. Beaver wetlands can provide relief throughout worsening heatwaves, droughts, and fires.Low-tech process-based restoration (ltPBR) aims to help beavers re- establish in degraded streams. Once the beavers take over, we can walk away and let the system do the work.