Beaver-like dams can protect communities from flooding, study finds

River barriers similar to those built by beavers can protect communities at risk of flooding by storing water upstream then slowly releasing it, a study has found.

Researchers from Cardiff University and the University of Worcester assessed the impact of leaky barriers, made from natural material such as trees, branches, logs and leaves, on a small Shropshire river over a two-year period.

The barriers, made to imitate beaver dams, deliberately raise water…