SELINSGROVE — Susquehanna University students are studying whether man-made structures resembling beaver dams can help restore streams. Researchers are examining how different designs affect erosion and where gravel and sediment collect.
The structures, called beaver dam analogs, mimic natural dams and can help streams recover their natural structure. Susquehanna installed eight of them in 2023 along a tributary at its field station.
Assistant Professor Siobhan Fathel says early findings show a dam’s permeability changes water flow, erosion and sediment movement. Future research will use National Science Foundation-funded sensors to continuously monitor stream conditions. More information is available at susqu.edu.
