With this year's extremely low snowpack, parts of Oregon and Washington face continued drought. This week, Governor Brown signed drought disaster declarations for Lake and Malheur counties, and more declarations could be on the way.
But scientists are finding that nature could offer solutions for water storage. Beavers create natural reservoirs that can help retain water. OPB's Bend reporter Amanda Peacher recently spent time with Suzanne Fouty and Sarah Mowry on a search for beavers at Camp Polk Meadow Preserve near Sisters, and sent this audio postcard.
Here's a slideshow to go with it:
A recent episode of Think Out Loud examined how beaver dams provide salmon habitat.
And check out this Oregon Field Guide segment about the restoration of Whychus Creek: