Topic Results: Flow Devices
Back to Currated List of TopicsBest Management Practices for Pond Levelers and Culvert Protection Systems
The two primary categories of beaver flow device solutions are pond levelers and culvert protection systems. The following combination of design fundamentals, best management practices, and site-specific criteria form a set of standards for making, installing, monitoring, and maintaining both culvert protection systems and pond levelers as beaver coexistence solutions. This document is intended to empower the landowners, organizations, municipalities, and wildlife professionals who are interested in finding solutions to ongoing conflicts between human infrastructure and beaver habitat while still retaining the beavers and their benefits. If you would like to install a pond leveler or culvert protection system, use these standards to guide your planning, design, installation, monitoring, and maintenance. If you don’t have the capacity to implement these BMPs, there are an increasing number of trained professionals who can assist in your project. To coordinate your installation with the applicable regulatory agencies, adhere to the state-specific, stepwise permitting process outlined in the document appendices
Billerica Municipal Beaver Management Program Analysis, 2000 – 2019
This landmark 20 year study compares traditional lethal beaver control versus nonlethal management methods in the town of Billerica, MA. A total of 55 beaver conflict sites were studied. Sites that were managed with nonlethal control methods cost taxpayers significantly less than sites that were managed with beaver removal, and provided millions of dollars of ecological services to the town annually that would have been lost with beaver removal.
The Beaver Restoration Guidebook, Version 2.01, 2018
This guidebook provides a practical synthesis of the best available science for using beaver to improve ecosystem functions. The overall goal is to provide an accessible, useful resource for those involved in using beaver to restore streams, floodplains, wetlands, and riparian ecosystems.
Landowner Resources – The Miistakis Institute
A collection of self-help information and videos for landowners experiencing a beaver conflict.
The Evolution of Flow Devices Used to Reduce Flooding by Beavers: A Review
This review article traced the origin of non-lethal tools used to reduce beaver flooding as far back as the early 20th century.
The Clemson Pond Leveler
Educational article on building a Clemson Pond Leveler
Solving Beaver Flooding Problems through the Use of Water Flow Control Devices
This paper describes the social and ecological context for current beaver problems, how WFCDs function, gives installation and maintenance tips, and presents results of two surveys that assessed the effectiveness of WFCDs in alleviating beaver flooding problems in Connecticut and Massachusetts.
Tips for non-exclusionary culvert protection structures
The Beaver Patrol (in Juneau, Alaska) developed a culvert protector that allows in-stream movement of larger fish, turtles, and other animals, while preventing beavers from placing larger wood into culverts.
Flow Device Cost-Benefit Analysis
An analysis from the Pacific Northwest on the relative costs and benefits of flow devices.
Best Management Practices for Beaver Problems, 2005
A study of 482 flow devices by Beaver Solutions LLC in Massachusetts demonstrated that flow devices are the Best Management Practices for beaver dam flooding problems. Published by the Assoc. of MA Wetland Scientists, 2005.
Beaver Management Flow Device Study 2003
A 2003 landmark study of flow device success rates at 277 beaver-human conflict sites in Massachusetts.
An Analysis of the Efficacy and Comparative Costs of Using Flow Devices to Resolve Conflicts with North American Beavers Along Roadways in the Coastal Plain of Virginia 2008
A cost analysis of beaver trapping versus nonlethal flow device use by the Virginia Dept. of Transportation
Control of Beaver Flooding at Restoration Projects 2001
Describes alternatives to control undesirable flooding caused by beavers at wetland restoration projects
Beaver Exclusion-Turtle Passage & Reptile Exclusionary Fence Concept Designs: Literature Review and Field Testing
The purpose of this research was to assess whether there is an integrated approach to providing both turtle passage and beaver exclusion from drainage culverts on highways managed by the Ministry of Transportation.
Getting A-Log: More In Mass. Seek Coexistence With Beavers
WBUR article following Mike Callahan and Beaver Solutions installing a flow device in Millis, MA
How to Build & Install A Flexpipe
A detailed description on how to install a flow device.
The Snohomish Pond Leveler Info Sheet
Snohomish pond leveler design.
Beavers: Wildlife Damage Management Technical Series
The focus of this publication is to provide basic information on beaver ecology, damage, and management.
Modifications to the Clemson Pond Leveler to Facilitate Brook Trout Passage
The Clemson Pond Leveler effectively controls beaver pond flooding but will not pass migrating fish as it is typically installed. This modified design will allow for the passage of fish.