HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-22-25 Public Comment - M. Kortam - Sustainability Board Public Comment - BeaversFrom:Matthew Kortan
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Sustainability Board Public Comment - Beavers
Date:Wednesday, October 22, 2025 9:23:03 PM
Attachments:10-22-25 Public Comment - M. Kortan - Beavers.pdf
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Hello,
Attached is a public comment for members of the sustainability board.
Thanks,Matt Kortan
Members of the Bozeman Sustainability Board,
I am writing to encourage the Board to explore ways the City of Bozeman can support and
complement the Montana Beaver Transplant Program (MBTP) currently under review by
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. As a resident deeply concerned about the future of our
watershed and the sustainability of our community, I believe Bozeman is uniquely positioned
to act as a statewide leader on this issue.This program represents an evidence-based,
forward-thinking, and ethically sound approach to restoring ecological function, increasing
Montana’s climate resilience, and promoting more harmonious coexistence with wildlife.
Beaver dams slow streamflow, raise local water tables, and create ponds that increase
groundwater recharge and reduce downstream flooding and erosion. Studies by the U.S.
Geological Survey have shown that beaver complexes measurably increase late-season
streamflow, which is vital in drought-prone watersheds all over Montana. Here in Bozeman,
water scarcity has become a critical issue, even factoring into this year’s mayoral race with
the controversial WARD ballot initiative. Beaver wetlands will dramatically improve the
Gallatin Valley’s capacity to retain and purify water, where aquifers are under mounting
pressure from urban expansion and a warming climate. By restoring beavers to their historical
range, Montana would enhance drought resilience and water security statewide.
The systematic extermination of beavers during the fur trade was a piggish and greed-fueled
endeavor that regrettably destroyed riparian ecosystems across the American West. Their loss
now leaves us to deal with widespread stream incision, erosion, and aridification (Pollock et
al., 2015). Restoring beaver populations to where they rightfully belong is the least we could
do. Moreover, Indigenous nations in this region long recognized beavers as relatives and
teachers within a reciprocal ecological relationship. Indigenous ecological knowledge
emphasizes relationality, restraint, and balance. Since our culture has disregarded these
values in land management practices, we have managed to destroy in just a few generations
what native communities cultivated for thousands of years. Incorporating traditional
worldviews into state land management policy honors our history and offers a sustainable
framework for coexistence.
Beaver-created wetlands are also biodiversity hotspots. Their ponds support fish, amphibians,
waterfowl, moose, songbirds, pollinators, and countless plant species. The complex wetland
mosaics they build help buffer ecosystems from climate extremes, maintaining green, moist
refuges even during wildfires and drought. Without beavers, riparian systems degrade,
streams cut deeper channels, floodplains disconnect, and soil fertility declines. Reintroducing
beavers into suitable habitat will help stabilize banks, restore vegetation, and create thriving
riparian corridors across Montana’s watersheds.
Concerns about beaver-related flooding or infrastructure damage are easily addressed by
those who think beyond knee-jerk reactions and rage induced violence. As Ben Goldfarb
discusses in Eager, there are numerous low-cost, non-lethal tools such as flow devices, culvert
fences, and flexible pipes that allow beavers and people to coexist. Local organizations like
the Gallatin Watershed Council and Park County Environmental Council are already using
beaver dam analogues (BDAs) and targeted site selection to encourage beaver activity in
low-conflict areas. These projects have demonstrated high success rates in rewetting
floodplains, improving water storage, and reducing erosion, all while avoiding costly
infrastructure impacts. Lethal removal, by contrast, is both ethically evil and fiscally
inefficient. Removing individual animals does nothing to solve the underlying ecological issues
that beavers naturally mitigate.
Tourism is Montana’s largest industry, contributing nearly $6 billion annually and supporting
more than 50,000 jobs statewide (Montana Office of Tourism, 2023). Much of this economic
vitality comes from visitors drawn to our landscapes and wildlife. Healthy beaver populations
enhance those natural systems and create opportunities for wildlife viewing, outdoor
education, and eco-tourism. These industries align with many Montanans’ conservation values
and long-term community outlook. Prioritizing outdated attitudes rooted in extractive land
use over the economic and ecological benefits of restoration is an uncreative way to address
the changes happening in our state. Reinvesting in natural infrastructure, such as beaver
wetlands, offers durable, self-sustaining returns that strengthen both ecosystems and
communities.
Last, Montana’s Constitution guarantees its citizens “the right to a clean and healthful
environment” (Mont. Const. art. II, § 3). Without beavers, our watersheds, along with our
constitutional rights, are more vulnerable to water loss, contamination, wildfires, drought,
and erosion. Supporting the MBTP is therefore not only an ecological responsibility but also a
fulfillment of our state’s constitutional promise.
Ideas for action
The City of Bozeman can play an active role in advancing beaver restoration and coexistence
through several potential actions:
○ Direct city staff to research local policy mechanisms (i.e. ordinances,
incentives, or conservation partnerships) that could facilitate beaver-friendly
land and water management practices.
○ Incorporate beaver-based natural infrastructure solutions into Bozeman’s
Climate Plan, Watershed Management Plan, and Green Infrastructure
initiatives.
○ Identify city-owned lands, parks, or open spaces that could serve as potential
beaver habitat restoration zones or sites for BDAs.
○ Develop a Beaver Coexistence Toolkit for residents, including information on
non-lethal mitigation measures such as flow devices, culvert fences, and
flexible pipes (Goldfarb, 2018).
○ Collaborate with Indigenous nations and local tribal representatives to craft
beaver management and restoration policies that reflect traditional ecological
knowledge, cultural values, and the principle of respectful coexistence.
○ Collaborate with local groups like the Gallatin Watershed Council and Park
County Environmental Council that are already successfully implementing BDAs
and low-conflict restoration projects.
○ Host public workshops or listening sessions to educate residents about the
ecological and economic benefits of beavers while addressing concerns about
property and infrastructure impacts.
○ Partner with local schools, MSU programs, and community organizations to
promote citizen science and stewardship projects focused on riparian
restoration and wildlife coexistence.
○ Frame beaver restoration within Bozeman’s broader goals for water security,
wildfire resilience, biodiversity, and climate adaptation, aligning it with public
sentiment around sustainability and local quality of life.
○ Create a city position or designate a staff liaison to serve as a point of contact
between Bozeman and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, ensuring coordination on
beaver relocation efforts, data sharing, and community engagement.
I urge the Sustainability Board to initiate discussion on how Bozeman can proactively support
the Montana Beaver Transplant Program and integrate beaver restoration into the city’s water
management and climate resilience strategies. Bozeman can demonstrate visionary leadership
by embracing nature-based solutions that are not only ecologically sound, but economically
and ethically wise.
Sincerely,
Matt Kortan