Project Links
Mitigation of Beaver Dam at Culvert
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park » Mitigation of Beaver Dam at Culvert » Document List
The National Park Service, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal NHP, has investigated methods to alleviate expansion of waters from a beaver dam onto private property adjacent to park property. A beaver dam has blocked the flow of water through a culvert that flows under the Potomac Interceptor in the area adjacent to park neighbors on MacArthur Blvd, Mile 12.1 of the park, Montgomery County, Maryland. The beaver dam has created a wetland that has expanded over several years and has caused water to cover parts of adjacent neighbors' backyards.
A previously unsuccessful attempt to reduce the water level involved the installation of a beaver baffle. This type of structure allows continuous water flow which discourages beavers. As a result, park resource staff have placed an overflow type devise within the dam's waters. The overflow will maintain enough water to protect the wetland but will allow the level of water to be regulated to prevent water extending into neighbors back yards. The project area will be monitored for level of success for this structure.
The park's Interdisciplinary Team reviewed the project for impacts to natural and cultural resources. The project does not pose any serious or long-term effects to the environmental, historical, cultural, archeological, or visual resources. It meets categorical exclusion #E.4 – Removal of non-historic materials and structures in order to restore natural conditions when the removal has no potential for environmental impacts, including impacts to cultural landscapes or archeological resources.
Upon review under the National Historic Preservation Act/Section 106 Programmatic Agreement, no historic properties will be affected.
A previously unsuccessful attempt to reduce the water level involved the installation of a beaver baffle. This type of structure allows continuous water flow which discourages beavers. As a result, park resource staff have placed an overflow type devise within the dam's waters. The overflow will maintain enough water to protect the wetland but will allow the level of water to be regulated to prevent water extending into neighbors back yards. The project area will be monitored for level of success for this structure.
The park's Interdisciplinary Team reviewed the project for impacts to natural and cultural resources. The project does not pose any serious or long-term effects to the environmental, historical, cultural, archeological, or visual resources. It meets categorical exclusion #E.4 – Removal of non-historic materials and structures in order to restore natural conditions when the removal has no potential for environmental impacts, including impacts to cultural landscapes or archeological resources.
Upon review under the National Historic Preservation Act/Section 106 Programmatic Agreement, no historic properties will be affected.