Part 6/14:
A striking example is the 15-year effort at Vermejo Ranch to restore the Rio Grande cutthroat trout. Removing non-native and competing fish species, restoring streamside vegetation, and reintroducing beavers—nature’s engineers—have revitalized over 120 miles of native streams. Beavers' dam-building efforts create cooler, deeper pools that support native fish and recharge groundwater, illustrating how fixing one element triggers a cascade of ecological benefits.