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Selectmen repeatedly weigh beaver flooding, private access and flow devices
Summary
Brooksville selectmen across multiple 2023 meetings discussed recurring beaver-caused flooding, the limits of town authority on private land, permission letters for trappers, and interest in installing beaver 'deceivers' (flow devices) while the state and landowners consider responses.
Brooksville selectmen addressed recurring complaints about beaver flooding at several meetings in 2023, noting the problem has surfaced at Varnumville, Shepardson Creek and other low-lying areas.
At the Dec. 20 meeting, Mark reported beavers on the Trowbridge side of the river but said an abutter denied access for trapping; the abutter told the town it is considering installing a beaver deceiver to reduce the risk of flooding. On Dec. 13 the board recorded that trapping can proceed only from properties where owners give permission, and selectmen accepted letters authorizing a trapper (Pete Hardy) to work from specific private property.
Selectmen and staff repeatedly said the town cannot enter private land without permission and urged residents to provide written authorization when they want trappers to act from their property. The meeting minutes show staff and committee members exploring a range of responses: permitting authorized trapping, pursuing flow-control devices on willing properties, and consulting state agencies where dams or stream alteration raise regulatory questions.
Why it matters: beaver-related flooding affects private driveways, low-lying parcels and town infrastructure. At least once in 2023 the town sought state input (Gayle contacted DEP in earlier notes) and local partners such as the Blue Hill Heritage Trust (Hans) offered technical help and discussed a $4,500 flow-deterrent solution used on nearby properties.
What happens next: the minutes show no townwide ordinance change was adopted in 2023; instead, the board is coordinating case-by-case responses: seeking landowner permission for trapping, discussing installation of flow devices with willing owners, and referring civil disputes to the sheriff when property access is denied.
