In 1980, Mount St Helens buried a river valley in volcanic sediment. Then 58 beavers helped turn the wasteland into a thriving wetland

More than 40 years after the Mount St. Helens eruption buried a Washington river valley under volcanic sediment, 58 relocated beavers have helped restore the damaged landscape. Their dams and wetlands brought back native plants, fish and wildlife. However, conservationists fear a planned government project to raise a sediment retention structure could undo years of natural restoration.