Beaver Flume

About

The Beaver Flume is a proof-of-concept physical model that explores the feasibility of constructing man-made beaver dam analogs (BDAs) in a low-grade, straight-channel stream currently residing in SAFL's 20 inch flume. The beaver dam analog (BDA) structures in this flume help inform the design and research questions of the Beaver Stream Lab, a life-size outdoor physical modeling facility that will be used to investigate the behavior of BDAs in flood and drought events in Minnesota and the upper Midwest.  
Beaver dam analog set up in an oversized tank
A model beaver dam contained within a flume
A birds eye view of the beaver flume
A plush beaver sits atop of the beaver flume

Specifications

  • The beaver flume currently resides in one of SAFL's general purpose flumes. The 20-inch flume measures 9.1 m x 0.5 m x 0.7m and has a maximum discharge of 5 cfs.