The North American beaver (Castor canadensis) has created and maintained wetlands across the arid west for centuries, yet this keystone species is still overlooked and often maligned. While beaver can in some cases cause damage to roadways and crossings, they provide essential aquatic habitat that mitigate impacts caused by the installation and maintenance of these kinds of infrastructure. In this podium talk the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center WATER Institute will discuss the history of the North American beaver, abiotic and biotic benefits to aquatic ecosystems and sensitive species in the arid west. Beaver stewardship techniques that support watershed restoration and climate change adaptation while protecting human infrastructure will also be discussed.