Colorado Parks and Wildlife wants to see more beavers back at their historic range in the state. That’s clear from the “overarching goal” stated in a recently released draft strategy: “Increase beaver populations and beaver-occupied wetland habitats in Colorado until social or ecological carrying capacity is reached.” Those social and ecological factors are complicated — also clear from the 125-page document called the Beaver Conservation and Management Strategy. … In building dams, beavers are known to affect stream flows in a way that guards against flooding, protects water quality by controlling debris and combats drought by recharging groundwater. 

Other wetland biodiversity news:

• The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, Calif.): Endangered sandhill cranes​