Directions: Highlight the key words and phrases that best explain the main idea and supporting

details of each paragraph. Write a summary of each paragraph in the right-hand margin.
Beavers to the California drought rescue

With their strong buck teeth and flat tails, beavers are known as ecosystem engineers. They
once lived throughout California until fur traders nearly wiped them out in the 19th century.
"This state has lost more of its wetlands than all other states, and beavers can rebuild those
wetlands," said Rick Lanman. He is with the Institute for Historical Ecology in Los Altos.

Working The Night Shift

Beavers begin their dams at night. They start by dragging a tree across a shallow stream. They
then fill it in with rocks and mud carried with their paws, and branches dragged by using their big
front teeth. The dams keep water from flowing away.
The beaver dams help the environment in ways that humans cannot easily copy. They alter land
into a sponge that soaks up water. Their gnawing and nesting habits promote richer soil and
slow down water flow, improving endangered fish habitats. Their dams raise the level of
underground water. This feeds bushes alongside streams that help keep river banks from
washing away. It also creates habitats for birds and deer, and even the endangered California
red legged frog.

Summary
Beavers build dams at night and they help environment.

Many Uses Of Beaver Ponds

Because beaver dams are so good at helping drain ground water, they can help streams flow
during the summer months. Otherwise, the streams could dry up.
It's no surprise that thirsty Western states are turning to the beavers with open arms.
"There's a growing interest in using beaver as a habitat restoration tool," Michael M. Pollock
said. He is an ecosystems expert with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in
Seattle, Washington. "They create good wetland habitat much more cheaply" than other
methods .
"Beaver ponds are beneficial ," Pollock said."They also create a lot of wetland that provide a lot
of food for fish."
Beavers can also help reverse the rising temperatures of water, which can harm fish. Their
dams create deep pools that have cooler water at the bottom and warmer water at the top.
Because of the different temperatures , "fish are able to find the temperature that is ideal for
them at a given time," Pollock said.

Summary

Places that have low water go to bervers to get water

All About The Beaver

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is starting to welcome the beaver. Supporters of
beavers applaud the change.

"Our effort now is to show its many sides, sides that have always existed," said Kevin Shaffer, a
fisheries manager for the department. He said it is investigating how beaver dens improve
wildlife habitats and water conservation. The department is collecting information about
beavers, their role in the environment, and current rules and laws affecting beavers.
Other dry states in the West have rules for managing beavers. California allows beavers to be
hunted and killed or moved if they cause trouble. Utah has a beaver management plan, and
New Mexico recently ordered its Fish and Wildlife department to come up with a plan.
Oregon, Washington and Idaho also have programs to move beavers.
"It would be great if we could recognize the benefit of the beaver," said Kate Lundquist. She is
the director of the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center's Water Institute, a group that is drafting
plans for how beavers can help.

Summary
States are trying to get out of there state. They got wildlife departments to move there beavers
to another place.

The Beaver Is Back

California used beavers to prevent erosion from the 1920s and 1940s in 58 counties, including
those in the Bay Area around San Francisco and Santa Cruz, according to a recent study.
Itproves that beavers are native to nearly all of California. The beaver population grew from
fewer than 1,000 to 20,000 by 1950. No one knows how many beavers are currently in
California.

A beaver family can improve damaged land more cheaply than humans, but repairing a habitat
is not as simple as moving in beavers. They can seriously damage underground pipes and
farmland. Beavers can also flood homes.
The Fish and Wildlife Department is experimenting with artificial beaver dams. The man-made
dams would mean the department would not have to move beavers,

Summary
California used beavers to prevent erosion. But beavers folded homes.

In the text, it discusses how beavers are used to improve the drought in California. From the
text, list three ways that the beaver helps California.
1.Their dams create deep pools that have cooler water at the bottom and warmer water at the
top.

2.dams are so good at helping drain ground water

3.fisheries manager for the department. He said it is investigating how beaver dens improve
wildlife habitats and water conservation.