Posted 2/22/2016
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District
Shenango
Lake maintenance workers cleared a beaver dam from a road culvert at Golden Run
Wildlife Area to prevent flooding, Feb. 3.
Using a
backhoe with a tree trunk as a ram rod, the maintenance crew cleared the
culvert of debris. Kyle Kraynak and Jason Cote, park rangers, then built a
water flow control device at the culverts entrance. Made of heavy gauge concrete reinforcing wire
rolled into a cylinder, the 10-foot long device was inserted about two feet
into the culvert, with the protruding end slightly elevated.
The
constructed device is long enough that the beavers will have difficulty
blocking the entire structure, especially further away from the culvert
entrance. The elevated end allows for
water to continue to flow through the structure and the culvert pipe. Eventually the device will need to be cleaned,
but is working as designed
Scientific
research indicates that beavers are attracted to the sight, sound or feel of
running water which compels them to build a dam. Beavers, and beaver dams, are
found in streams across the country, creating ponds for birds, fish and other
wildlife.
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