Highlights from Year 1 (2019-20) to Year 3 (2021-22) are listed below.
Year 3 Highlights (2021-22)
The objective of the 3-year Beaver Mapping and Assessment Project (2019-2022) was to inventory and map all wetlands and structures, identifying lodges and estimating occupied and unoccupied beaver habitats in the Bonanza Corridor to develop a plan for beaver restoration where appropriate. Current and historic beaver habitat and activity levels were assessed and taken into account in the planning and implementation phases for each of the wetland enhancement sites in the Bonanza Biodiversity Corridor. Mapping and evidence-of-use observations were obtained over a three year period, with 2021 involving a detailed field survey of all potential habitat.
A total of 143.8 ha of habitat was assessed and suggests that active beaver populations occupy 48.6% (67.1 ha) of the suitable habitat in the BBC (lakes, creeks, and wetlands). Based on the number of lodges found, the current population of beavers is approximately 35. The colony-based population estimate indicates that 45 beavers may inhabit the BBC. Using the colony-based approach, the carrying capacity of the BBC, if all current, historic and potential habitat is fully used, is 90 beavers inhabiting 18 distinct colonies. Over the three year period of this project, beaver activity increased throughout the BBC, mainly along the middle and upper portions of Bonanza Creek. Wildlife cameras captured beavers working on dams and channels in the Upper Bonanza area. In 2021, numerous additional dams and runs were found along Bonanza Creek, with beaver use altering the flow within Bonanza Creek and its floodplain.
