By Connie Tabbert
Editor
FORESTERS FALLS — A beaver dam wreaked havoc on Grants Settlement Road at Broome’s Road early Friday night after it broke causing a portion of the road to wash out.
Whitewater Region Township public works manager Bill Misener said he received the phone call about the washout around 7:30 p.m. June 20. This is the second washout in the same area from a beaver dam, although the previous washout occurred many years ago.
Thirty minutes after the phone call, he notified emergency services and the three rafting companies in that area that the road was closed to through traffic. It was expected the road would be opened by noon Satuday…and it was.
To repair the washout, pit run gravel was used to get a good base back into the road, he said. In the next couple weeks, a more permanent fix will be done, which will include paving the area that was washed out, he added.
When a beaver dam breaks, there is such a volume of water coming through that the culvert can’t handle it, he said. This particular beaver dam was located approximately 200 metres from the road, which was also a reason there was such a volume of water, he added.
When the dam broke, it caused water to rush over the road, and it was as deep as half a metre, Mr. Misener said. What caused the washout is that as the water goes over the road to the other side, it turns into a waterfall and starts eroding the earth beneath the road surface, he explained.
While it may never be known what caused the dam to break, Mr. Misener believes the heavier rains in the last week caused more water than usual to filter down into the pond created by the beavers. And, since he doesn’t believe the beaver pond was active, it wouldn’t be as strong as an active one.
As for who will pay the bill, Mr. Misener believes it will be the township, however, he will have to look into that, he said.
“This is the first major dam I’ve had break since I’ve been back working in Ontario,” Mr. Misener said.
“It won’t be a real expensive fix because we only lost a shoulder of the road and half of one lane in parts,” he said. “It’s not like the entire road went. We’re really lucky actually.”
Nobody was hurt and he’s not aware of any damage besides what was done to the road.
During last night’s council meeting, Mr. Misener was informed of a letter from Margaret Maloney, owner of RiverRun Rafting and London House Inn.
“Just wanted to give recognition to the good work and the great service RiverRun got this past weekend with the washout on the Grants Settlement Road,” she wrote. “We had a very busy weekend with a few hundred (people) coming and going all weekend long, so the quick action Friday night was crucial.”
Ms. Maloney noted this is not the first time she has noticed how hard the roads crew works. Two weeks ago she reported a large pothole on this same road, and it was repaired the same day. And, when a flash melt caused a major washout on Dittburner Road, again, it was quick action with repairs done the same day.
“All too often people want to complain about what’s not working,” she wrote. “But, I have absolutely no complaints. Kudos to the Whitewater roads crew and Bill Misener.”
Councillor Cathy Regier said it’s nice to get a positive letter.
“You certainly know when you’re not doing a good job,” she said. “It’s nice to know when you are doing a good job.”
Mr. Misener said he will let the roads crew know about the letter.
