Castor fiber as a Natural Flood Management tool in a Sussex catchment

This research explores the potential of reintroduced Eurasian beavers (Castor fiber) to contribute to natural flood management (NFM) in the Adur catchment, Sussex. By characterising beaver dam structures and identifying suitable dam-building locations using GIS and hydraulic modelling, the study simulated dam impacts on flood stages and inundation. Results showed that 84% of watercourses were suitable for dam construction, with dam presence increasing upstream water levels and reducing downstream flood extent. The findings support using beaver dams as a nature-based solution for flood risk mitigation and offer a modelling framework to assess potential impacts for future beaver reintroductions.