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Committee approves memorial directing agencies to develop statewide beaver management plan
Summary
Senate Memorial 3, asking several state agencies to prepare recommendations for a statewide beaver management plan, passed the Rules Committee after an amendment added the Department of Agriculture and Environment to the working group.
The Senate Rules Committee adopted Senate Memorial 3 asking the Department of Game and Fish, the Forestry Division of Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources, the State Land Office, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Environment to jointly develop recommendations for a statewide beaver management plan and report back by October 2025.
Sponsor Senator Hamlin told the committee that beaver ponds and associated wetlands act as contaminant sinks, improve downstream water quality and increase riparian resiliency during drought. The original memorial was amended at the Department of Agriculture’s request to add the Department of Agriculture and the Environment to the interagency group.
Supporters included Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, which urged the committee to balance watershed benefits with agricultural needs and called for practical assistance such as infrastructure adaptations and expedited relocation when beavers conflict with agricultural operations. Sierra Soil and Water Conservation District said landowners along the Rio Grande have requested help addressing beaver damage to cottonwoods and irrigation ditches, and asked that soil and water districts, irrigators, farmers and ranchers be included in stakeholder outreach.
Committee members raised questions about existing agency authority and about potential costs. John Courtney, deputy director of LFC, said House Bill 2 currently includes $3.5 million for Game and Fish capacity building for the American beaver. Senator Hamlin said a similar memorial was passed in 2014 but no plan was developed; the sponsor said the renewed effort is prompted by drought‑resilience and watershed concerns.
Senator Bergman moved a due‑pass recommendation; the committee recorded six votes in favor and forwarded the memorial for further consideration. Sponsors and committee members said they expect the interagency process to include agricultural stakeholders and landowners in order to craft both conservation and mitigation measures.
