If the beavers were able to maintain permanent dams on the rivers, it would be detrimental to the health of the streams. The high gradient of our streams and good flows is what keeps the streams cool and oxygenated. If there were stagnant pools, the water temperatures would spike higher in the summer than they already do...beaver ponds further north make for good trout habitat but most of the lower elevations of the Smokies just get too warm as it is...
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