Lijing Wang, an assistant professor in the Department of Earth Sciences, led a study that examines how beaver ponds influence groundwater movement under varying subsurface structures. The work uses a combination of field data, geophysical surveys, and a neural density estimator to calibrate a hydrologic model of a mountainous alluvial floodplain in the Upper Colorado River Basin. The findings indicate that beaver ponds can increase groundwater recharge up to tenfold. However, much of this water subsequently flows downstream through subsurface channels instead of sustaining local water tables. The study also reveals that thick soil layers above gravel beds can enhance evapotranspiration, potentially offsetting groundwater gains due to higher water losses to the atmosphere. While beaver activity enhances wetland resilience and biodiversity, it may also reduce oxygen levels in subsurface waters and mobilize heavy metals near contaminated sites.

Link to the study

Link to a UConn Today article about the research