# Understanding the DAMS for Beavers Act

This bill creates a new federal grant program designed to help communities deal with beaver-related property damage without killing the animals. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would award grants to projects that use nonlethal methods to reduce damage from beavers while keeping the animals and their habitats intact. Think of it as funding for creative solutions to the beaver problem rather than traditional removal.

Here's what qualifies as a nonlethal approach under this bill: fencing to protect trees and culverts, special paint-sand mixtures to discourage beavers from chewing trees, and flow management devices that control water levels in beaver ponds. What's explicitly excluded are trapping, killing, relocating beavers, destroying dams, or building beaver dam analogues. The goal is to make properties less attractive to beavers or protect them from damage while letting the beavers stay.

Who can apply for these grants? State and tribal wildlife agencies can apply directly, but private landowners, nonprofits, and other organizations can also apply if they have experience with nonlethal beaver management and get approval from local wildlife authorities. If someone other than the property owner applies, they need written permission from the owner agreeing to use only nonlethal methods for the project's duration. The federal government would cover up to 75 percent of project costs, meaning applicants need to fund at least 25 percent themselves.

The bill includes a safety valve: if a project has been running for at least a year and still hasn't reduced beaver damage enough, or if there's a genuine threat to human safety, the Secretary of Interior can approve other methods. The program would receive $1 million per year from 2023 through 2027, with at least 90 percent going directly to projects rather than administration. Each year, the government must report to Congress on which projects were funded, how well they worked, and suggestions for improvement.

DAMS for Beavers Act

DelBene, Suzan K.

Developing Alternative Mitigation Systems for Beavers Act or the DAMS for Beavers Act This bill directs the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to establish a competitive grant program to assist projects that use nonlethal measures to reduce property damage caused by beavers and maintain or enhance habitat for beavers and other wildlife. In awarding grants, the FWS may prioritize projects that (1) include monitoring and research that facilitates evaluation of such projects and identification of best practices, (2) includes educational and outreach activities, (3) are located in an area that ensures grant recipients represent diverse geographic areas, and (4) satisfy any other criteria to effectively reduce damage to property and maintain or enhance habitat for beavers and other wildlife.