Saltwater Beavah

https://www.hakaimagazine.com/features/the-gnawing-question-of-saltwater-beavers/

Fascinating article. Thanks for sharing. Nessy should chime in soon, since you're speaking his language.

That article is full of bunk. As soon as they referred to these "keystone species" as helpful for spawning salmon by creating ponds for them, I tuned out.
The first thing fishery biologists do to improve a stream for spawning salmon is to get rid of the beavers. They have done this in the Western states in attempts to save endangered salmon species (subspecies).
Beavers are not going to have any success establishing a habitat suitable for avoiding predators and raising young with the water level rising and lowering 3-6 feet twice a day, 365 days a year.

They act like they have discovered something new. They should talk to some trappers and shorten their learning curve.
Seems like their biggest disappointment was not getting enough of that good government grant money.

I agree the beaver only damage trout & salmon streams ...raise the water temps
Thought it was interesting.

I had those same exact thoughts while I was reading the article. Do they think this is a new phenomenon? Shoot, I've seen beavers in those places as long as I can remember.

The best brook trout fishing in the north is in beaver ponds.When I do nuisance beaver work up north I always bring my small telescoping rod.

Fisheries biologists out here often point to trappers as the reason coho salmon aren't doing well. They think we have removed all the beaver off of the spawning streams, when in reality it's the cougars getting them since they did away with hound hunting for the big cats.

X2.Was just going to say that myself.beaver ponds really help the brook trout around hereAlot of my favorite spots are in beaver ponds or above their dams in brooks.

^ is it that beaver ponds make for good fishing because of trapped fish are trapped in a pond? Fish trapped in ponds it that good for the population and do they sustain that fish for the future? Why are ponds good and better for fish then the free running creeks?
Teach me and educate me about it.

Brook trout are one of the few trout species to thrive in warmer water, as found in beaver dams. When fishing local trout streams, the cut throat, rainbows like the cooler ripples and when you hit the beaver dams, it I rare to catch either one. Perhaps it is more about water movement than temp?

No the fish are not trapped by the dams,they are powerful swimmers.Cold water trout streams are always flowing over and thru the dams.Trout are not impeded at all.
The beaver ponds contain lots of sticks,debris,and old decaying feed,which means lots of acquatic insects which the trout thrive on.Also lots of minnows for the same reason.
Beaver ponds also provide lots of cover and places to hide for the small trout from predators like mink,otters,kingfishers etc.
Beavers are beneficial to brook trout.

Salmon
Trout
......and each individual kind of both

Depend on certain conditions. Stagnant creeks and ponds will have only so much oxygen..Soluble oxygen.
Water Temps and soluble oxygen may allow for one species (brook) and not necessarily for others.

Also a free flowing or semi free flowing stream will allow more and different nutrients into the downstream Waters.

*ie. Selective Trapping
.