‘One of the worst beaver dam problems in the state’- state official

“These dams are built so tight you can hardly tear them down,” said David Marlow, who grew up at White Oak.

DUFF, TN (WLAF) – Areas of the White Oak community have seen more than their share of beavers, dams built by beavers, flooding (very top photo) and destruction the last 20 to 30 years. “Beavers have overpopulated this area, and this is an area where beavers were once relocated,” said State Representative Dennis Powers. It’s Powers hopes and the hopes of community members that help is not long away.

A relocation of beavers some 40 years ago has prompted the relocation of beavers in 2024. “Many beavers were relocated to this area when mine reclamation was happening in the 1970s and ’80s, and I’m afraid this is going to be an ongoing problem,” said Powers.

There’s flooding in the field behind this center, the White Oak Center, which is across Little White Oak Road from the school.

“Community members used to be able to keep the dams cleared away, and the flooding is so bad now that you can’t get to them,” said David Marlow, who grew up at White Oak. Hay fields are flooded, of lot of timber’s been killed out, yards can’t be mowed and some basements of homes are suffering flooding, according to Marlow. Fields where youngsters used to play ball and a playground, in particular, can’t be used because of the flooding.

“Our hope is that the $10,000 that has been appropriated for this coming fiscal year will help eradicate the dams and reduce the flooding,” said Powers. The funds will be used to contract with the Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services Division to remove the dams and relocate some of the beavers, according to Powers.

Two TWRA officials toured the problem area at White Oak on Friday with Powers and Marlow.

“The beavers have built several massive dams up here, and there about five dams over less than a mile of White Oak Creek. You can tear out a dam, and the beavers will build it back overnight. They won’t use what we tore out. The beavers will go get fresh materials. They’re workers I’ll say,” said Marlow.

“Middle and West Tennessee have set up a River Basin Authority to deal with this problem and other issues, and because of that, they can apply for state and federal grants and also corporate donations.  That might be the only way to solve the problem in East Tennessee, too,” said Powers. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 05/29/2024-6AM-PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAVID MARLOW)

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