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USDA/N.C. BMAP update: county participation, fees and service levels explained
Summary
A representative updated commissioners on Burke County’s participation in the Beaver Management Assistance Program, explaining the county pays a $6,000 participation fee, per‑visit and larger‑dam fees for landowners, and that DOT work receives priority; the program provides direct technical services and damage mitigation.
Chris Willis presented an update on the Beaver Management Assistance Program (BMAP) and described how Burke County’s participation works.
Willis said Burke County pays a $6,000 participation fee and that the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission contributes matching funds distributed across participating counties. He outlined the program’s fee schedule for landowners: an initial consultation is provided with options to live with beavers (exclusion devices), learn trapping, or request removal services. Removal is charged at $25 per visit and larger dams that require more than 30 minutes to clear are billed at $150. Willis also described use of a binary explosive in limited circumstances for dam removal and said the county’s local trapper, Josh Johnson, averages roughly six visits per job; DOT work to address road flooding is prioritized.
Willis summarized recent workload figures: four private jobs completed this year with 17 visits, monitoring five private jobs and three DOT sites, and estimated resources saved at about $11,300 for cornfields, bonds and standing timber protected. He noted some sites were damaged by Hurricane Helen and that neighboring counties are participating in BMAP as demand rebuilds.
Commissioners placed the presentation on the consent agenda for the next meeting; Willis offered to answer follow‑up questions about program mechanics and fees.
