Experience watershed restoration from concept to construction.
Join White Buffalo Land Trust, SLO Beaver Brigade, and Nature's Engineers for an immersive, one-day workshop exploring the science and practice of Beaver Dam Analogs (BDAs)—low-tech, process-based restoration structures that mimic the ecological functions of natural beaver dams.
Hosted at White Buffalo Land Trust's living laboratory for regenerative agriculture, this workshop combines expert instruction, field exploration, and hands-on construction to provide participants with a practical understanding of how BDAs work with natural processes to restore water, reconnect floodplains, improve habitat, and build more resilient working landscapes.
Designed for landowners, restoration practitioners, agency staff, students, and conservation professionals, participants will explore the ecological principles behind process-based restoration, learn the fundamentals of BDA design and implementation, and contribute to an active watershed restoration project alongside experienced practitioners.
By the end of the day, you'll leave with both the technical understanding and practical experience to help plan, implement, and support nature-based watershed restoration on the landscapes you steward.
LEAD FACILITATORS
Audrey Taub | SLO Beaver Brigade
Audrey Taub is the Executive Director of the San Luis Obispo Beaver Brigade, a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in February of 2020. Audrey grew up on the banks of the Hudson River in NY State. She has a Masters Degree in Mathematics from SUNY Potsdam and studied nature education at the Wilderness Awareness School in Duvall, WA. In 2005, she moved to San Luis Obispo County where she lives with her husband and 3 children. In 2020, she founded the SLO Beaver Brigade after a discussion about what we each could do to contribute to climate regeneration. Supporting the beavers in our county was our answer to that question.
Cooper Lienhart | Nature’s Engineers
Cooper Lienhart is a dedicated restoration practitioner rooted in the California Central Coast, where he founded Nature’s Engineers — the first process-based restoration firm in the region. Created in 2023, the company is committed to “restoring long-term health to our rivers and streams”.
With a B.S. in Environmental Management & Protection from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Cooper has worked since 2020 with the SLO Beaver Brigade to educate and engage communities about the critical role of beavers in climate-resilient landscapes.
Cooper brings hands-on expertise in designing and installing more than 500 Beaver Dam Analogs (BDAs) and headcut-repair projects across Western watersheds.
In this workshop he will lead Day 2, guiding participants through brush gully stuffing and headcut repair techniques, as well as a lecture on Process-Based Restoration and creek-walk discussions on BDA placement.
His focus is on educating and empowering land stewards to apply low-tech, ecologically grounded interventions that mimic beaver engineering, reconnect hydrology, and restore landscape function.
Jesse Smith | White Buffalo Land Trust
Jesse is the Director of Land Stewardship and is guiding the development of the Jalama Canyon Ranch as well as working with local and global leaders to broaden and deepen the positive impact of regenerative agriculture on our soil, our health, and our communities. His passion and expertise in agricultural system design and community engagement are a cornerstone of our strategy to achieve a systemic shift towards a regenerative food economy and ecology.
Workshop Details
Duration: One full day (9:00 AM–4:00 PM)
Format: Mix of lectures, field walk, and hands-on restoration work
Meals: Farm-to-table lunch provided
Cost: The training cost is $175 USD and includes instruction, materials, and locally sourced, delicious lunches each day.
Limited scholarships are available. FOR INQUIRIES & QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT OUR PROGRAMS TEAM AT PROGRAMS@WHITEBUFFALOLANDTRUST.ORG
Learning Outcomes:
Participants will come away with the capacity to:
Explain the ecological role of beavers as ecosystem engineers and their influence on watershed function.
Describe the hydrologic principles that underpin process-based watershed restoration.
Understand how Beaver Dam Analogs (BDAs) and related structures restore natural watershed processes.
Evaluate site conditions and key considerations for BDA planning, design, permitting, and implementation.
Interpret watershed conditions in the field and identify opportunities for nature-based restoration.
Participate in the construction and installation of Beaver Dam Analogs using low-tech, process-based restoration techniques.
Build connections with a network of land stewards, restoration practitioners, technical assistance providers, and conservation professionals.