SLO Beaver Brigade

Environmental Powerhouses

Why do fish like Beaver Ponds?

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  • Thermal photo of beaver dam by Dr. Emily Fairfax
  • Visual photo of beaver dam by Dr. Emily Fairfax
This photo (by Dr. Emily Fairfax) shows the beaver dam along with the temperature. The dam temperature, close to 90 degrees, and water temperatures in the 60’s.
  • Thermal Image of shallow pool by Dr. Emily Fairfax
  • Optical Image of shallow pool by Dr. Emily Fairfax
This shallow pool shows temperatures of 60 degrees! With surrounding dam at 90 degrees. The reason for this, explained to me by Dr. Fairfax, is the ground water is surfacing here, recycling with surface water, creating great fish habitat. (photos by Dr. Emily Fairfax)

I am not a scientist, but it’s easy to see that cool water fish would need these deep pools and upwelling waters of beaver dams.

It will be exciting to track this throughout the heat of the summer.

Stay tuned!