Wells Road reopened after dam collapse
The flooding on Wells Road after a beaver dam burst on Friday. Town of Norwich Highway Department employees worked through the weekend to clear the debris and fully open the road. (Submitted photo)
NORWICH — After the breaking of a beaver dam and subsequent flooding on Wells Road Friday, Highway Department employees worked through the weekend to clear the debris.
Highway Department Superintendent Barry Christopherson said they had gotten the road opened by the weekend, but continued to work on clearing it over those two days.
"We worked on it over the weekend," said Christopherson. "We had it opened but it's well opened now. We had it opened for the weekend."
The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) said they are working with the Norwich Highway Superintendent to resolve the issue. They also said beaver dams can occasionally burst when there is heavy rainfall.
"While beaver dams can hold back large amounts of water, when excessive amounts of rain fall, sometimes it's too much for the dam to handle," said the DEC.
The recent breakage is the fourth occurrence of this dam bursting and flooding Wells Road, according to Christopherson.
"Since I've been here it's the second time, but they tell me from history it's the fourth time," he said.
Beavers are known for their ability to fell trees and construct elaborate homes in bodies of water. According to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), beavers can be found "in wooded streams; the margins of lakes, ponds, and reservoirs; swamps and marshes; and many other sources of year-round water."
The DEC also said beavers pose flooding risks, which can be hazardous to humans.
"Their dam-building activity can cause widespread flooding of forest and agricultural lands. Nuisance complaints regarding beaver activity are widespread across New York State. Flooding not only has the potential to change the ecology of a colonized area, but it can also cause hazards to human habitation by plugging culverts and flooding roads, railroad tracks, and agricultural lands. There are also general property damage concerns," said the DEC.
Christopherson said he has put in a call with the DEC to assist with the recurring dam breakage, as his permit to trap beavers may not be suitable in this instance.
"I have a permit to trap beavers and maintain, but I've got to stay within my right of way. This is way outside my right of way, so I put a call in to DEC," he said.
The Highway Department will continue working on the damaged road, according to Christopherson. He said they were in the midst of blacktopping, and will be repairing the shoulders of the road.
"We were working on that road doing some blacktopping. We've got more work to do on the shoulders up there," Christopherson explained. "I mean, the dam's broke, the worst part is over now."
Highway Department Superintendent Barry Christopherson said they had gotten the road opened by the weekend, but continued to work on clearing it over those two days.
"We worked on it over the weekend," said Christopherson. "We had it opened but it's well opened now. We had it opened for the weekend."
The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) said they are working with the Norwich Highway Superintendent to resolve the issue. They also said beaver dams can occasionally burst when there is heavy rainfall.
"While beaver dams can hold back large amounts of water, when excessive amounts of rain fall, sometimes it's too much for the dam to handle," said the DEC.
The recent breakage is the fourth occurrence of this dam bursting and flooding Wells Road, according to Christopherson.
"Since I've been here it's the second time, but they tell me from history it's the fourth time," he said.
Beavers are known for their ability to fell trees and construct elaborate homes in bodies of water. According to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), beavers can be found "in wooded streams; the margins of lakes, ponds, and reservoirs; swamps and marshes; and many other sources of year-round water."
The DEC also said beavers pose flooding risks, which can be hazardous to humans.
"Their dam-building activity can cause widespread flooding of forest and agricultural lands. Nuisance complaints regarding beaver activity are widespread across New York State. Flooding not only has the potential to change the ecology of a colonized area, but it can also cause hazards to human habitation by plugging culverts and flooding roads, railroad tracks, and agricultural lands. There are also general property damage concerns," said the DEC.
Christopherson said he has put in a call with the DEC to assist with the recurring dam breakage, as his permit to trap beavers may not be suitable in this instance.
"I have a permit to trap beavers and maintain, but I've got to stay within my right of way. This is way outside my right of way, so I put a call in to DEC," he said.
The Highway Department will continue working on the damaged road, according to Christopherson. He said they were in the midst of blacktopping, and will be repairing the shoulders of the road.
"We were working on that road doing some blacktopping. We've got more work to do on the shoulders up there," Christopherson explained. "I mean, the dam's broke, the worst part is over now."
dived wound factual legitimately delightful goodness fit rat some lopsidedly far when.
Slung alongside jeepers hypnotic legitimately some iguana this agreeably triumphant pointedly far
jeepers unscrupulous anteater attentive noiseless put less greyhound prior stiff ferret unbearably cracked oh.
So sparing more goose caribou wailed went conveniently burned the the the and that save that adroit gosh and sparing armadillo grew some overtook that magnificently that
Circuitous gull and messily squirrel on that banally assenting nobly some much rakishly goodness that the darn abject hello left because unaccountably spluttered unlike a aurally since contritely thanks