The Strathcona Regional District wants to work with the beavers on Cortes Island, rather than against them, to prevent flooding.
Beaver Dams and blocked culverts have caused flooding along Kw’as Bay Road, impacting residents and interfering with emergency and park access. The district received more than $350,000 from senior governments for disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation, and will spend some of that on using beaver-friendly methods to reduce flooding.
“This grant demonstrates the value of regional collaboration,” said SRD Chair, Mark Baker, in a news release. “Aligned with the Board’s focus on Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Adaptation, our project involves installing three pond levelers and a culvert protection fence to mitigate flooding, reduce risks, and restore wetlands to coexist with beavers, a vital keystone species.”
The funding will also help cover the creation of a documentary about the beaver coexistence and flood mitigation project.
