Embrace-ear-seed: reshaping environments: low-tech, process-based restoration with beaver DAM analogues to enhance watershed resilience in human-modified landscapes

Susquehanna University received a $190,296 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation's Division of Earth Sciences (CFDA 47.050: Geosciences) awarded on June 1, 2025, with completion targeted for May 31, 2027. The award funds the EMBRACE-EAR-SEED project, which evaluates the efficacy of beaver dam analogues (BDAs) as a low-cost, process-based restoration approach for managing urban stormwater and enhancing watershed resilience. The research will be conducted at the university's field station in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, utilizing detailed monitoring of water flow, retention, and quality to assess how BDAs stabilize flashy urban streams and improve their capacity to absorb and mitigate impacts from extreme weather events and other urban stressors.

The project produces comparative analysis and empirical data on the cost-effectiveness and ecological benefits of BDAs relative to traditional stormwater management infrastructure such as concrete channels and culverts. The research outcomes are intended to inform decision-making by city planners and policymakers regarding broader adoption of BDA restoration methods as a sustainable alternative to conventional stormwater systems. Through field-based investigations and demonstrated results at the on-campus demonstration site, the project will generate evidence to support the potential economic and environmental advantages of low-tech, process-based restoration approaches in urban stream management.

Abstract

Urban streams are ?ashy, and have rapid ?uctuations in water levels, leading to frequent ?ooding and pollution in urban areas. By mimicking the functions of natural beaver dams, beaver DAM analogs (bdas) o?ER a sustainable alternative to conventional, often costly, stormwater systems. Bdas may enhance the ecological resilience of urban streams by improving their ability to withstand and recover from adverse e?ects such as ?ooding and pollution. This project, based at susquehanna university?s ?ELD station, evaluates newly constructed bdas and their e?cacy in improving the health and management of urban streams overwhelmed by stormwater. The outcomes will inform whether adoption of low-cost, low-tech, process-based BDA restoration methods is e?ective in controlling stormwater. By evaluating e?ectiveness of bdas, the study will support decision making about the broader adoption of bdas by city planners and policymakers as a new approach to urban stream management. Through ?ELD-based investigations at an on-campus demonstration site, this project will determine how bdas can stabilize ?ashy urban streams and improve their capacity to absorb and mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events such as storms, droughts, and ?oods, as well as other urban stressors. Detailed monitoring of changes in water ?OW, retention, and quality will be used to assess the e?ectiveness of bdas. The project will also evaluate the cost-e?ectiveness and ecological bene?TS of bdas in comparison to traditional stormwater management solutions like concrete channels and culverts, which are typically more expensive and o?ER limited bene?TS for ecological health and stormwater management. Bdas may demonstrate signi?cant economic and environmental advantages. Furthermore, this project will broaden its reach beyond academic research by partnering with local organizations to provide BDA-focused educational programming. This will enhance community involvement and promote sustainable stormwater management practices. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.