NORTH SMITHFIELD – A dam built – and then rebuilt – by beavers has caused ongoing problems with flooding on Mechanic Street and now, one town councilor is asking North Smithfield officials to pursue a humane solution.
Councilor Rebecca DeCristofaro has asked Town Administrator Scott Gibbs to look into using a beaver diversion device rather than the usual practice of euthanizing the critters.
“If this is an issue in town, then maybe a diversion plan is a better solution than just having to kill beavers year after year,” DeCristofaro told Gibbs at a meeting last week.
Much simpler than it sounds, a “diversion system” is essentially just a pipe through a beaver dam that allows water to flow past. Dams can be a troublesome – and often reoccurring – nuisance as the animals work to block water flow, causing build up that floods yards and roadways, and can result in costly damage.
“It’s a horrible problem,” said Gibbs. “They’re very destructive. I understand the sensitivity, but I also understand when people’s driveways are collapsing from flooding, that makes me a little bit anxious.”
It is not the first time the town has debated potential solutions to beaver troubles. Multiple diversion systems – also known as beaver deceivers – were installed at a town-owned property known as Cedar Swamp under the guidance of former Conservation Commission Chairman Paul Soares between 2014 and 2018. Paulette Hamilton was serving as town administrator at time, and recalls the discussions and eventual solution.
“Beaver diversion systems were not really that popular then,” Hamilton said. “It’s a very, very small investment for a long term solution to a problem.”
At the time, the systems cost around $1,200.
“I was very, very much against euthanizing,” said Hamilton. “It was a last resort.”
While the state suggests euthanasia as a means to deal with nuisance beavers, Hamilton noted it often doesn’t solve the problem.
“Others will come in and they’ll start using the same area,” she said.
Proponents say the systems have a 98 percent success rate and point to the benefits of beavers, noting their dams store sediment that helps to filter out contaminants from water, recharge groundwater reserves and help to create diverse wetland habitat. The wetlands can also act as firebreaks to help prevent the spread of wildfires.
“They really do a lot of good stuff,” said Hamilton.
On Mechanic Street, beaver dams on a 27 acre property purchased this year by Mike Mongeon of North Smithfield Tree Service has caused flooding that has damaged an abutting driveway, which has started to develop a sinkhole.
“It’s been flooding into the roadway,” said Gibbs. While town officials are actively working with the owner on a solution, Gibbs noted, “We do not have the legal right to go onto a private property and expend public funds.”
Gibbs noted the flooding is not a new issue and that town officials also worked with the past owner.
“This problem has resurfaced on numerous occasions,” Gibbs said.
DeCristofaro told NRI NOW this week that she’s serious about the issue. During the last council meeting, she told board members she would gladly relocate the animals to her own property if it wasn’t illegal in the state.
“I obviously love animals,” DeCristofaro said. “I have a whole farm.”
Gibbs said he’s hopeful a solution will be found.
“As the town administrator, I lean more on the rights of property owners than the beavers though, and it’s causing some serious property damage off of Mechanic right now, and it’s got to be resolved, he said. “We’re working carefully around this issue. The DPW director is looking at diversion as a possible option to mitigate the problem.”
When I resigned from the Conservation Commission I delivered two file boxes of 14 years of work including information on beaver diversion systems and the company that installs them to the town clerk’s office. If they cannot be located and I may be of assistance one simply needs to ask.
I have a diverter system on my property. I installed it many years ago and it works well. It’s technically called a pond leveler.
I’m curious, do we not document our own solutions? Why don’t we have a playbook on file from all the work done during Ms. Hamilton’s tenure (2008-2016)?
Vendors/Professionals used to evaluate the watershed situation, costs of remediation, etc. on file. If we did, the DPW director would have clear instructions on whom to reach out to and solve the current issue. It’s not like our beaver issue will just go away. I don’t know the lifespan for a diversion system but one would think logically that these situations will arise again.
Not disagreeing – but it is a different situation as it isn’t a town-owned property. As far as record keeping …. I’m willing to bet the knowledge of the past diversion system left with those in charge at the time. You and I both have been watching town politics long enough to know that in North Smithfield, history repeats itself every few years, and they seem to start from scratch every time.
It’s always like the movie “Groundhog Day,” in my estimation.
That’s exactly my frustration. For nearly 3 years, I’ve been reaching out to various members of the TC. I’ve pushed for tracking software to document the basics from public meetings. Any basic project management software could be used. Heck, even a spreadsheet would do if you wanted to…We should be tracking some of the items that come up.
~Questions from the TC to Finance Director
~Promises to return with answers from the TA or Finance or Planner
~Questions raised by the public
~Questions raised during meetings by the TC itself that someone promises to “look into” only to never be brought forth again
Zero interest in accountability. If we began documenting these items and issues in town, we would have more than our two local news services to provide history of issues. It simply boggles my mind that no one wants accountability.
Art the audit report states every year that the town has a lack of internal controls on finances and spending do you actually think they would have a simple record keeping system that would make them accountable.
That’s a great point actually. I’d be fired if I weren’t accountable for my output at work! I think that’s what frustrates me the most.
You can go in with all the good intentions you like but no one can track everything without documentation.