"Exploring Idaho's Hidden Gem: The Emerald Refuge"

A NASA-supported project in Idaho is using remote sensing data to predict which streams can support beavers and monitor the impact of their return. The project aims to update the Beaver Restoration Assessment Tool (BRAT) and create applications that use Earth observations to measure beaver rewilding impacts. By analyzing data from satellites like Landsat and Sentinel-2, scientists can track the growth of mesic vegetation near rivers and streams, which serves as a proxy for water availability. This information helps identify suitable sites for beaver reintroduction and highlights the positive effects of beavers on biodiversity, drought resilience, and water availability in ecosystems.