Bio4Climate is excited to co-host the 2024 Midwest Beaver Summit alongside many outstanding environmental nonprofits, land trusts, restoration practitioners, and other organizations dedicated to conservation, implementing coexistence strategies, and cultivating awareness of the importance of beavers as keystone species in our ecosystems.
Join us on Wednesday, August 28 from 11 am – 3 pm Central Time for this VIRTUAL and FREE event. Register for your ticket today!
Zoom details will be shared before the event. See the full agenda of speakers below.
Full Agenda: 11:00 AM – 11:10 AM
Introduction
11:10 AM – 11:50 AM
Session 1: Beaver Wetlands, Flooding, and Drought
Dr. Emily Fairfax, Assistant Professor, University of Minnesota, Department of Geography, Environment, and Society
11:50 AM – 12:25 PM
Session 2: Who Speaks for Beaver? History and Folklore
Brian “Fox” Ellis, Storyteller and Director of Outreach, Illinois Audubon Society
12:40 PM – 1:10 PM
Session 3: Beaver Dam Impacts on Water Quality, Biodiversity, and Trout
Cortney Dean, PSM Conservation Biology Graduate Student, University of Wisconsin – Stout
1:10 PM – 1:25 PM
Session 4: Revised Environmental Assessment of WI’s Beaver Management Plan
Bill Nelson, Attorney, Environmental and Energy Strategies Practice Group, Godfrey and Kahn
1:35 PM – 2:05 PM
Session 5: Watershed Planning with Beavers for Climate Resilience
Kurt Menke, GIS Consultant, Septima, and Bob Boucher, President, Superior Bio-Conservancy
2:05 PM – 2:45 PM
Session 6: Navigating Conflicts Between People and Beavers and People Again
Alexa Whipple, Beaver Project Director, Methow-Okanogan Beaver Project
2:45 PM – 3:00 PM
Conclusion of Day
This summit is organized by Midwest Beaver Advocacy who is dedicated to building a coalition of stakeholders who understand the ecological value of keeping beavers on our Midwestern watersheds and who support affordable, streamlined permitting processes for pond levelers and culvert fencing (aka, ‘flow devices’).
Presented by:
Illinois Beaver Alliance
LC Nature Park
Superior Bio-Conservancy
Gold Sponsor:
Land Trust Alliance (national)
Midwest Beaver Management (IL)
Silver Sponsors:
Beaver Institute (national)
Friends of the North Pikes Creek Wetlands (WI)
Michigan Lakes and Streams Association, Inc. (MI)
MIDWEST-GREAT LAKES CHAPTER OF THE SOCIETY FOR ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION (regional)
Co-hosted by:
Anthropocene Alliance (national)
Bio x Design Ecological Restoration (OK)
Biodiversity for a Livable Climate (national)
Bur Oak Land Trust (IA)
The Conservation Foundation (IL)
Driftless Area Land Conservancy (WI)
Friends of the Chicago River (IL)
Friends Of The Fox River (IL)
Huron River Watershed Council (MI)
Illinois Audubon Society (IL)
Illinois Environmental Council (IL)
Inter-Fluve (national)
Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (IA)
The Land Conservancy of McHenry County (IL)
Lincoln Park Zoo Urban Wildlife Institute (IL)
LITTLE RIVER WETLANDS PROJECT INC (IN)
Manitou Creek Watershed Alliance (IL)
Milwaukee Riverkeeper (WI)
Monarchs, Milkweed, and More (IL)
Mycelium Regenerative Co-design (IL)
Native Range Ecological, LLC Range Ecological (WI)
Northfield Beaver Brigade (MN)
Prairie State Conservation Coalition (IL)
Save the Dunes (IN)
Sierra Club National Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) Team (national)
Sierra Club Wisconsin (WI)
Sycamore Land Trust (IN)
Together For Nature/juntos para la Naturaliza (IL)
The Wilds (OH)
Wonderland Community Project (IL)