Eastford pipe system fools beaver, keeps street flood-free
What’s going on: Eastford Public Works installed a homemade “beaver deceiver” this summer at the pond at Westford and Church roads. The beaver dam causes Westford Road to flood. The system of pipes channels water from the pond through the dam and toward a culvert that runs under Westford Road. The beaver can’t block the pipe, Public Works supervisor Ben Schmidt said.
Ahhh there is NOTHING I love to read more than a story about public works solving beaver problems humanely! Yeahhh Eastford! Of course you will remember per our discussion last week that this is not technically a ‘beaver deceiver’ and calling it one would be classified as a TYPE I error, but still it looks good from the front. I’m hopeful that the other end of the pipe is still artfully protected and that since its back east it has already survived a few rains and the beavers truly aren’t going to simly plug it up when the water level rises.
In the meantime I would just remind everyone that Connecticut is a beaver-complex state with some folks dedicated to preserving their value and others ready to exterminate at a moments notice. It takes all kinds I guess. Hopefully the good works going on in Eastford will encourage a few others to try it on their own.
Additional measures: This week, Schmidt installed a grate at the entrance to the culvert that runs under Westford Road. “Beavers are smart,” Schmidt said. “They started damming up the backside of the culvert and blocked it.” It flooded Westford Road again.
What’s next: Public works will continue to monitor the situation. “This is the most success we’ve had at stopping it,” Schmidt said.
