The Developing Alternative Mitigation Systems for Beavers Act, known as the DAMS for Beavers Act, directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish a competitive grant program that funds projects using nonlethal methods to reduce property damage caused by beavers while maintaining beaver habitat. Eligible applicants include states, tribal agencies, local governments, nonprofits, universities, and property owners working together to implement solutions like protective fencing, tree guards, and flow management devices. The program prioritizes projects that include monitoring, research, adaptive management, and educational outreach, with the federal government covering up to 75 percent of project costs. The bill authorizes three million dollars annually for fiscal years 2025 through 2029, with no more than 10 percent available for administrative expenses, and requires the Secretary to submit annual reports to Congress evaluating program effectiveness and geographic diversity. Projects must commit to using only nonlethal coexistence measures for the duration of the grant, though exceptions exist for human safety concerns, flood control mandates, or if a project fails to reduce property damage after one year.
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