Date of Award
Fall 11-20-2025
Document Type
Masters Capstone Project
Degree Name
M.S. in Environmental Policy and Management
Organizational Unit
University College, Environmental Policy and Management
First Advisor
Arianna Nowakowski
Second Advisor
Jennifer Golightly
Third Advisor
Rolfe Larsen
Fourth Advisor
Bobbie Kite
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
All Rights Reserved.
Keywords
Beavers, Disaster risk reduction, Climate resiliency, Kawuneeche Valley, Rocky Mountain National Park, Drinking water security, Colorado beavers, Colorado headwaters, Ecosystem restoration, Wildfire risk, Flood risk, Mega-fires, Climate change, Beaver reintroduction, Estes Park, Water utility resiliency, Watershed health
Abstract
Colorado’s headwaters are the source of drinking water to millions and are a key pillar of the state’s tourism industry. Consequently, they are some of the most vulnerable areas to natural disasters including wildfires, droughts and flooding. Climate change will increase the severity and frequency of these natural disasters. This project focuses on some of the most vulnerable areas from an economic and climate change perspective of Colorado’s headwaters including the Big Thompson River, and the Colorado River. These headwaters located in and around Estes Park, Grand Lake and Rocky Mountain National Park are currently severely impaired. Low-tech process-based restoration will improve ecological services, lessen natural disaster risk, and allow for the successful reintroduction of beavers. As a keystone species, beavers will continue and maintain the process-based improvements thus allowing wetlands to perform their natural ecological services and maintain a reduced natural disaster risk.
Copyright Date
11-11-2025
Publication Statement
Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
Rights Holder
Matt Mullins
Provenance
Received from Author
File Format
application/pdf
Language
English (eng)
Extent
32 pgs
File Size
1.7 MB
Supplementary File Description
Beaver Capacity Mapping Data Analysis
File Format: application/vnd.ms-excel
Language: English (eng)
Extent: 2 tabs
File Size: 543 KB
Recommended Citation
Mullins, Matt, "Safety, Security, and… Beavers? An Engineer's Low-Tech Climate Strategy" (2025). University College: Environmental Policy and Management Capstones. 226.
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/ucol_epm/226
Data Analysis
Included in
Emergency and Disaster Management Commons, Engineering Commons, Environmental Policy Commons, Environmental Studies Commons, Natural Resources Management and Policy Commons