Controversy swirls over beaver dams

NEWBERG, Ore. - The city of Newberg wants beavers that have been damming up a creek on the outskirts of town gone, but the option to kill them has some neighbors upset.

The beaver dams have caused a culvert to plug up which city officials said is leading to water erosion underneath the road. According to the city, if enough damage is done, the road will collapse and damage a city water pipe that delivers water to west and northwest Newberg.

The city initially had the state trapper out to trap and kill the beavers using traps that drown the animals, but when some neighbors found out they became upset.

Sixteen-year-old Lauren Otto and a friend started a petition drive to tell the city to leave the beavers alone.

“I’m hoping the stream will be an ecosystem for a lot of different animals,” said Otto.

Adam Standridge, who lives along the creek, said the beaver dams have brought more wildlife into the area.

“So many more animals have come down to our property since they showed up,” he said. “More deer arrived, ducks come down, we have osprey out here, it’s amazing.”

But Lisa Nauman said she wants the beavers removed. “When I first heard it, I wasn’t for getting rid of the beavers, but it’s a small space and there’s not a lot of trees - and they’re (beavers) cutting all the trees down.”

The city of Newberg has called off the trapper and the public works director has punted the issue to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife which will decide the fate of the beavers. That decision could include relocating the animals or killing them.

It is unknown how many beavers are in the area, but they have built three dams and three lodges on the stream.

Public works officials say moving the beavers will take the problem somewhere else.