Beaver Dam to Blame for Washed Out Road in Vermont

Beavers that built a dam in front of a culvert are to blame for the washout of a paved road in a St. Johnsbury, Vt., industrial park that’s expected to cost at least $120,000 to repair, officials said.

Town Manager John Hall said the animals plugged a 4-foot culvert beneath the road in the St. Johnsbury-Lyndon Industrial Park, filling an adjoining wetland with standing water while rain increased the water level behind the dam. Workers dismantled the beaver dam piece by piece as the water fell, he said.

The standing water was pumped out, a process that took days, Hall said.

The road began to crumble two weeks ago, The Caledonian-Record reported.

The roadway has not yet been repaired, but workers have dismantled the beaver dam.

Hall said the town is seeking financial assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the repair.

He said town officials feared standing water could destroy the road, charge across the nearby St. Johnsbury Country Club and downhill to “take out” a small pond behind Weidmann Electrical Technology.