Beaver Dams Affecting Pond Dam At Tolland Conservation Area

TOLLAND, CT — Tolland officials are living through an episode of "Leave it to Beaver" and, in reality, they want it to end with the beavers simply leaving.

In his latest report to the Tolland Town Council, town manager Brian Foley said the local Conservation Commission is researching solutions to solve the ongoing beaver issue that is jeopardizing the manmade dam at Knofla Pond.

The commission, Foley said, has identified a company that specializes in beaver management to perform a site visit and identify possible "low-cost" solutions.

Foley said the efforts could be offset by grants, but added it was premature to estimate how much they would cost.

Knofla Pond is located off Bakos Road, inside the conservation area that bears the same name.

The pond is located on the south parcel of the park and measures 6 acres. It is fed by ground water, springs and Cemetery Brook. The earthen dam creates the pond and an underground spillway allows Cemetery Brook to continue on to Shenipsit Lake.

Foley said typical options are excavating the lodges, trapping the beavers and using a "beaver deceiver," which is designed to keep water levels at a range that are manageable for both property owners and beavers.

So adopting that plan would rule out the beavers leaving, he said.