biostudies-literatureGraham HAUniversity of ExeterNatural Environment Research CouncilWellcome Truste14735https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9828392biostudies-literatureUnknown36(11)Beavers influence hydrology by constructing woody dams. Using a Before After Control Impact experimental design, we quantified the effects of a beaver dam sequence on the flow regime of a stream in SW England and consider the mechanisms that underpin flow attenuation in beaver wetlands. Rainfall-driven hydrological events were extracted between 2009 and 2020, for the impacted (<i>n</i> = 612) and control (<i>n</i> = 634) catchments, capturing events 7 years before and 3 years after beaver occupancy, at the impacted site. General additive models were used to describe average hydrograph geometry across all events. After beaver occupancy, Lag times increased by 55.9% in the impacted site and declined by 17.5% in the control catchment. Flow duration curve analysis showed a larger reduction in Hydrological processesExploring the dynamics of flow attenuation at a beaver dam sequence.PMC9828392NERC/PE/2016_087580011415Anderson KGraham HABrazier REElliott MPuttock AKfalseExploring the dynamics of flow attenuation at a beaver dam sequence.Beavers influence hydrology by constructing woody dams. Using a Before After Control Impact experimental design, we quantified the effects of a beaver dam sequence on the flow regime of a stream in SW England and consider the mechanisms that underpin flow attenuation in beaver wetlands. Rainfall-driven hydrological events were extracted between 2009 and 2020, for the impacted (<i>n</i> = 612) and control (<i>n</i> = 634) catchments, capturing events 7 years before and 3 years after beaver occupancy, at the impacted site. General additive models were used to describe average hydrograph geometry across all events. After beaver occupancy, Lag times increased by 55.9% in the impacted site and declined by 17.5% in the control catchment. Flow duration curve analysis showed a larger reduction in 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Nov2026-03-27T15:40:13.483Z2025-04-05T10:26:45.875ZS-EPMC98283923663648710.1002/hyp.14735