Topic: Beaver-Human Coexistence: Dam Worth It!
Date and Time: Thu, May 7, 2026; 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM (Eastern)
Format: Hybrid, In-person & Online
Register: Link
Synopsis of the presentation:
Beavers are ecosystem engineers that alter the physical structure of riparian ecosystems and create new wetland habitats. Humans and other species benefit from the many ecosystem services beavers and their wetlands provide, including increases in biodiversity, water quality, carbon sequestration, and fire and drought resistance. Historically extirpated from Lower Michigan, beavers are now returning and bringing their many ecological benefits with them. However, beaver alteration of the landscape can cause conflict with human infrastructure and land use. The project you will learn about in this presentation seeks to address these conflicts by providing science-based coexistence strategies. We utilized the Beaver Restoration Assessment Tool to predict where beavers are likely to colonize, performed a policy analysis to assess current beaver regulations, and engaged with land managers and property owners to understand current challenges and provide recommendations for coexistence strategies.
Presenters
This research was completed by Masters students from the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS), who partnered with the Huron River Watershed Council and the Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum to support beaver coexistence planning in the Fleming Creek watershed. They have already shared their findings at recent professional gatherings, including The Stewardship Network Conference and the Midwest Fish & Wildlife Conference. You will have the chance to hear directly from them today as they present their work.
Evening's Agenda
Doors open at 6:30 pm for a meet and greet with members, supporters, and the local Sierra Club Executive Committee. At 7:00 pm, we will begin introductions and the presentation, followed by a question-and-answer session at 8:00 pm. For those participating remotely, the presentation will start promptly at 7:00 pm.
The BELFOR Office in Livonia has generously agreed to host our event! Their address is 28400 Schoolcraft, Livonia, MI 48150, USA. The conference room is at the front entrance to the building closest to Schoolcraft Road; Sierra Club representatives will be there to greet you. The Zoom link will be emailed to participants.
About SEMG Monthly Meetings & Presentations:
The Sierra Club Southeast Michigan Group (SEMG) features free presentations as part of SEMG's monthly, first-Thursday 7pm meetings. These meetings may be on Zoom or in person and begin with 10 minutes of announcements after which the speaker is introduced. The presentations last about an hour including Q&A and Sierra Club members and supporters, along with the general public, are invited.
All Sierra Club Southeast Michigan members and supporters with email addresses receive notice of the time, place and speaker beforehand. To sign up for and manage email updates from The Sierra Club visit: https://myaccount.sierraclub.org/MyAccountLogin
Recordings of past Educational Programs are below:
2/6/25 Recycling Reinvented by Tracy Tomaszewski, Recycling Specialist in the Materials Management Division of EGLE (View)
3/6/25 Benchmarking for a Sustainable Future: Detroit’s Role in Advancing Energy & Water Efficiency by Kendal Kuneman, Executive Director of Detroit 2030 District (View)
4/3/25 Sally Cole-Misch, Best Part of Us: A Conversation with Author Sally Cole-Misch on Storytelling, Environmental Advocacy, and the Great Lakes (View)
5/1/25 Just When We Thought We'd Seen It All - Dealing with Government Tumult in Times of Rapid Change. Marilyn Kelly, Former Past Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme court.
6/5/25 Another Inconvenient Truth - Links Between the Climate Crisis and the Military by Jim Rine helped form the Veterans for Peace Climate Crisis and Militarism Project (View)
9/4/25 Food Waste Reduction in Michigan (View)
10/2/25 2025 Michigan Legislative Update (View)
12/4/25 Metro Detroit Parks & Wildlands Forum, Livonia Michigan (View)
2/5/26 Shaping Greener Communities: The Role of Local Sustainability Committees (View)
3/5/26 Data Centers: Environmental and Community Impacts and the Path Ahead (View)
x/x/26 Nuclear Risks and the Great Lakes: A Conversation with Kevin Kamps and M (View)