Beaver Dam Mitigation and Nuisance Beaver Control

In 2023, the Gitanyow Fisheries Authority (GFA) was contracted by the BC Ministry of Forests to manage beaver dam mitigation and control in the Kitwanga and Nass watersheds. The work focused on preventing beaver dams from flooding forest service roads (FSRs) and causing ecological damage. GFA crews regularly inspected and dismantled problematic dams to protect road integrity and fish habitats. Beaver activity has increased in the area due to riparian logging and the collapse of the fur industry. The Upper Kitwanga River, a prime beaver habitat, faces challenges from beaver dam complexes that hinder fish migration and disrupt the ecosystem. In the Lower Kitwanga River, beaver dams could lead to barriers for salmon, preventing them from accessing the upper part of the river where much of the spawning and rearing habitat is found and leading to an increase in on route mortality. The project encompasses beaver dam breeching to avoid these risks. The project started in 2003 and is ongoing.