Beavers are part of the wild kingdom along the Natchez Trace Parkway, but the engineering rodents have been creating problems for surrounding landowners with their dam building. While National Park Service crews at times have to breach the dams, a team from NASA has been working with the agency to develop solutions for dealing with the beavers.

According to a park release, along sections of the 444-mile-long parkway "beavers have altered current and historic wetland conditions by changing stream flow along adjacent rivers and streams. While the ecological services provided by these beavers benefit wetland habitats, excessive dam building causes issues with flooding, property damage, and road maintenance."

NASA came into the picture by turning to satellite data from December 1992 to January 2015 to create a time series of land classification maps that show wetlands along the parkway. This time series and modeling work is intended to aid Park Service managers in wetland conservation and beaver management planning. This information can also be used to aid other National Park Service units with wetland conservation efforts, according to NASA.