I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 9501 
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a grant program to 
assist projects that use nonlethal coexistence measures to reduce property 
damage caused by beavers, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 13, 2022 
Ms. DELBENE (for herself, Mr. HUFFMAN, Mr. LARSEN of Washington, Mr. 
BOWMAN, Ms. NORTON, Mr. CARSON, Mr. LEVIN of Michigan, and Ms. 
TLAIB) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a grant 
program to assist projects that use nonlethal coexistence 
measures to reduce property damage caused by beavers, 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Developing Alternative 
Mitigation Systems for Beavers Act’’ or the ‘‘DAMS for 
Beavers Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. BEAVER DAMAGE MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
establish a grant program under which the Secretary may 
award grants on a competitive basis to assist projects that 
use nonlethal coexistence measures to— 
(1) reduce property damage caused by beavers; 
and 
(2) maintain or enhance habitat for beavers and 
other wildlife. 
(b) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible for a grant under 
the Program, an applicant shall submit to the Secretary 
an application at such time, in such manner, and con-
taining such information as the Secretary may require, 
which shall include the following: 
(1) A description of the experience, qualifica-
tions, and training (including planned training) of 
the applicant with respect to the use of nonlethal co-
existence measures. 
(2) In the case of an application submitted by 
an applicant other than a State or Tribal wildlife or 
natural resources management agency (or equiva-
lent), a certification that the applicant has consulted 
with such an agency (or equivalent). 
(3) In the case of an application submitted by 
an applicant other than the owner of the property on 
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which a relevant proposed project will be located, a 
certification from such owner that such owner— 
(A) approves the project; and 
(B) for the duration of the project, will 
only allow the use of nonlethal coexistence 
measures on the property for purposes of reduc-
ing property damage caused by beavers (except 
in the case of a circumstance subject to an ex-
clusion under subsection (d)(2)(A)(i)). 
(c) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under the Pro-
gram, the Secretary may give priority to a project that— 
(1) includes monitoring and research that facili-
tates evaluation of the project and identification of 
best practices; 
(2) includes educational and outreach activities; 
(3) is located in an area that ensures grant re-
cipients under the Program represent diverse geo-
graphic areas; and 
(4) satisfies any other criteria the Secretary de-
termines relevant to effectively reducing damage to 
property and maintaining or enhancing habitat for 
beavers and other wildlife. 
(d) CONDITIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—As a condition of receiving a 
grant under the Program, for the duration of the 
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project facilitated with grant funds a grant recipient 
may only use nonlethal coexistence measures for 
purposes of reducing property damage caused by 
beavers on the property on which the project will be 
carried out. 
(2) EXCLUSION.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Paragraph (1) shall not 
apply if the Secretary determines that— 
(i) an activity other than a nonlethal 
coexistence measure is necessary to protect 
human health or safety; or 
(ii) the project assisted with grant 
funds has been implemented for not less 
than 1 year and such project has not suffi-
ciently reduced the damage caused by bea-
vers. 
(B) 
DOCUMENTATION.—The 
Secretary 
shall maintain a record of each determination 
made under subparagraph (A). 
(e) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of the cost 
of a project for which a grant is awarded under the Pro-
gram may not exceed 75 percent. 
(f) ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 
90 days after the end of each fiscal year for which grants 
are awarded under the Program, the Secretary shall sub-
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mit to Congress, and make publicly available, a report that 
includes— 
(1) a detailed description of the projects funded 
by grants under the Program; 
(2) an evaluation of the effectiveness of the 
Program in selecting projects according to the prior-
ities described in subsection (c); and 
(3) recommendations to improve the effective-
ness of the Program. 
(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following defi-
nitions apply: 
(1) NONLETHAL COEXISTENCE MEASURE.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The term ‘‘nonlethal 
coexistence measure’’ means a measure that 
does not incorporate— 
(i) the gripping, trapping, injuring, or 
killing of a beaver; 
(ii) the destruction or removal of a 
beaver dam or lodge; 
(iii) the relocation of a beaver; or 
(iv) the installation of beaver dam 
analogues. 
(B) INCLUSIONS.—The term ‘‘nonlethal 
coexistence measure’’ may include fencing used 
to protect culverts, fencing and paint-sand mix-
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tures used to protect trees, and flow manage-
ment devices used to control water levels in bea-
ver ponds. 
(2) PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘Program’’ means 
the grant program established under subsection (a). 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Di-
rector of the United States Fish and Wildlife Serv-
ice. 
(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $1,000,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027. 
(2) LIMITATION.—Not more than 10 percent of 
the funds made available each fiscal year under 
paragraph (1) may be used for administrative ex-
penses of the Program. 
Æ 
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