The Restoring the Deer Creek Headwaters at Childs Meadows Restoration Project utilizes beaver dam analogues (BDAs) and post-assisted log structures (PALS), living dams made from locally sourced materials that mimic natural beaver activity, and a modified grazing strategy in order to restore hydrologic, geomorphic, and biological conditions within the Childs Meadows complex.

Between 48 and 91 BDAs will be developed throughout the overall project area using natural, local materials. BDA structures will be constructed with a mixture of woody debris, rock, and soil to form a pond and mimic a natural beaver dam. The design and implementation of BDAs is a non-destructive method to promote the depositional processes that are responsible for riparian floodplain habitat and to create immediate deep-water habitat to promote beaver colonization (and the natural processes affected by beaver dams).

PALS constructions will utilize a variety of shapes and a range of material sizes based upon their location within the channel and their desired function. In general, these features consist of larger diameter and longer length materials than those used in the construction of BDAs.

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