Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter

Wednesday September 9th, 2026 from 9 am-12 pm. Join the Swaner Preserve in repairing and re-building several Beaver Dam Analogs along a small stream on the Swaner Preserve! Beaver dam analogs (BDAs) are a stream restoration structure that improves water and habitat quality on the Preserve. Unlike beavers, Swaner staff and volunteers do not repair the dam-mimicking structures daily, but rather once or twice a year. These human-made beaver dams provide ecological benefits of their natural counterparts by increasing habitat, lowering water temperature, recharging groundwater, and more! Meeting location will be in the Newpark area near Swaner's Wetland Discovery Trail. Plenty of parking is available here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/nsPLzmRRYSBekyX56 From here we will walk approximately 0.25 miles to our project site. There are no restrooms on site but there are restrooms at the EcoCenter which is about a 15 minute walk from the project site. This is a great way to get onto areas of the Preserve that are not open to the public. Volunteers should be able to walk over uneven ground, get in and out of a small stream cheannel, spend the day outdoors, bend over for extended periods, work outdoors in a variety of conditions, and comply with the safety guidelines. Be prepared to get your hands dirty and have a lasting impact on the Preserve for years to come. Volunteers will be weaving woody vegetation, mud, and rock into the structures, and gathering willow branches for material from nearby. Waders or muck boots are required and will be provided. Volunteers should wear a hat, sunscreen, pants, and socks. Bring water and a snack. Contact Rhea with any questions at rhea.cone@usu.edu or 435-797-8956.