Project goals and outlook

© O. Just

Analysis of the status quo

With the aim of describing the current procedures in dealing with beaver dams and the existing challenges in the Czech Republic and Saxony, research is first carried out on existing

• Legal bases & regulations,
• responsibilities,
• technical and non-technical possibilities and
• difficulties and needs

in beaver dam management. In addition to technical issues, such as the appropriate dimensioning and structural design of dam drains ("beaver deceivers"), the main aim is to shed light on the special conditions under which exceptions to intervention in beaver dams may be justifiable. To this end, a close exchange with experts and authorities on both sides of the German-Czech border is planned.

Aim

Two-dimensional hydronumerical models are to be created for these areas on the basis of the available data and the data to be collected as part of the monitoring, whereby the models are to depict both the conditions on the surface of the terrain (heights, composition) and in the subsoil (e.g. soil type, groundwater surface intervals) in an appropriate approximation. In various runoff scenarios (from low to high water), the interaction of surface and groundwater is to be simulated for model variants with and without beaver dams in order to be able to make quantitative statements about flow and storage processes, especially in the subsoil. In this way, it is hoped that the contributions caused by dams to increasing climate resilience (e.g. groundwater recharge) or to conflicts that arise (e.g. waterlogging of agricultural land) can be identified in more detail. As a result of the planned activities, tools (guidelines, modeling approaches) will be provided that allow data-based management of beaver dams. In addition, environmental education for citizens in the border region as well as the exchange of knowledge between the German and Czech partners and universities is another declared goal of this cooperation, which is to take place through several joint excursions and workshops during the project period.

Outlook

The project should lead to the following results and activities:

• Trilingual (CZ, DE, ENG) project website
• Dissemination of project information via
  • social media channels
  • Press releases
  • Radio and/or TV interviews
• Bilingual, printed project flyer ("one pager")
• At least 2x trilingual information boards on the impact of beaver dams
• 1x mobile model "Hydraulic effect of beaver dams" (environmental education)
• 2x one-day, bilingual workshops with relevant stakeholders
• 2x joint excursions with citizens in combination with trade fairs
• 2x joint excursions with students in combination with trade fairs
• 1x short film (20-30 min) on the topic of "beaver dams"