Understanding Beaver Habitats Using social-ecological-technological systems (SETS) Framework in Johnson Creek, Portland

Keywords: Beavers, Beaver dam, Portland, SETS
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Sunday
Session Start / End Time: 2/27/2022 08:00 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/27/2022 09:20 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 13

Abstract

Beavers are native to Oregon and can be found in abundance in the state's water bodies. Beavers construct dams that promote wildlife, water quality, and groundwater recharge. Although over-hunting for fur and urban growth once endangered the species, they have recovered and have even established themselves in urban areas after the protections were implemented. While many researchers and practitioners analyze and emphasize ecological factors as the most important to beaver habitat distribution, no single research has completely analyzed all of the characteristics of beaver habitats. As beavers and human habitats become more interconnected than ever before, the role of social and technological factors needs to be considered. Thus, a unified review using the social-ecological-technological systems (SETS) lens may better explain the impact humans and their built environment have on beaver habitats. We explored the SETS characteristics of beaver habitats in GIS using a set of SETS indicators and USGS data from four years of Beaver habitats along Johnson Creek in Portland, OR. We attempted to answer the following research questions: Why do beavers return to rebuild their dams in specific locations? How do beaver habitats relate to their surrounding SETS characteristics? The findings would demonstrate the influence of different variables while ranking them on a scale of most important to least important. This research better informs environmental practitioners in the future stream and wildlife habitat conservation and restoration efforts.