How To Keep Beavers from Plugging Culverts
Comparing the Different Methods of Protecting Culverts
Table 2 shows the advantages and disadvantages of five methods to prevent beavers from plugging culverts.
| DRAIN PIPES Advantages: Inexpensive; maintain a set water level. Disadvantages: Require installation; regular cleaning and maintenance; success varies. |
| CULVERT PIPES Advantages: Inexpensive; easy to construct and install. Disadvantages: Must be set deep enough to keep the intake fully submerged; require regular maintenance; reduce waterflow through the culvert; may hinder fish passage; success varies. |
| CLEMSON BEAVER POND LEVELERS Advantages: Low maintenance; maintain set water levels; several levelers can be used in heavy flow areas. Disadvantages: High initial investment to build and install; intake must be fully submerged to work optimally; single sets are inadequate to handle high volumes or fast flowing water; levelers may reduce waterflow and hinder fish passage. |
| CULVERT GUARDS Advantages: Inexpensive; easy to install; success is good when the guards are cleaned regularly. Disadvantages: Require frequent cleaning; may reduce the culvert's discharge capacity; susceptible to ice damage; may block fish passage. |
| CULVERT FENCES Advantages: Keep culverts clear; allow high-waterflows to spill over any blockage and drain through the culvert; maintain constant water level; can be regulated when fences are combined with pipes. Disadvantages: Expensive, especially if an extended area needs to be enclosed; require regular maintenance; may create an impoundment that affects roads or railroad grades; beavers may build dams high enough to flood the roadbed; fences may reduce waterflow and block fish passage. |
