Beaver Removal at Leaburg Canal
EWEB recently completed targeted wildlife management activities at the Leaburg Canal after increased beaver activity and repeated dam removals in 2025 raised concerns about the stability of the canal embankment.
Between November 2025 and January 2026, EWEB removed three beavers and one nutria from the canal area. We are continuing to monitor the canal, but at this time, we believe the situation is resolved and no additional removals are needed.
Why is EWEB removing beavers from the canal?
Burrowing animals — including beavers and nutria — present a dam safety risk at the Leaburg Canal. The canal is a nearly 100-year-old earthen structure that EWEB is in the process of decommissioning due to safety concerns. Today, the canal remains classified as a “high hazard” facility, meaning a failure could pose risks to downstream communities. EWEB is required to maintain the structural stability of the canal until decommissioning is complete. Addressing conditions that could contribute to embankment failure is a regulatory and public safety obligation.
Animal burrows can create voids and seepage pathways inside embankments, increasing potential for erosion and structural failure. Federal dam safety guidance from FEMA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers identifies animal burrowing as a condition that must be actively managed.
Facts about the removal
Safety Requirements
- Leaburg Canal is a federally regulated, high-hazard facility with known structural vulnerabilities.
- EWEB is legally required by FERC to maintain the stability of the canal until decommissioning is complete.
- Burrowing animals can weaken earthen embankments by creating internal voids and seepage.
- Beaver dam materials within the canal can create debris hazards and cause water to flow over the canal's banks during high flow conditions from rain or snowmelt, which can cause erosion or flooding.
Difficultes with Relocation, Removal Recommended
- The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODF&W) advised EWEB that lethal removal was the most appropriate option, based on evidence that relocated beavers often do not survive and may spread disease.
- The wildlife removals were limited in scope and conducted by a licensed Wildlife Control Operator in compliance with state regulations.
- Beavers are abundant in the McKenzie Valley, and this removal is not expected to affect the broader beaver population in the area.
Our Care for the Environment
We care deeply about habitat and wildlife protection, and we strive to reflect the environmental values of our community. Our legacy of watershed stewardship is based on decades of preventing or reducing activities that are harmful to water quality and wildlife and promoting public awareness to maintain our healthy watershed in partnership with others.
This was a challenging situation and a difficult call. We relied on ODF&W — the state's lead authority on wildlife management — and followed their guidance.
Lethal removal is a last resort. When other options are available, we pursue them, again in partnership with wildlife management authorities. For example, at the Carmen-Smith Hydroelectric Project, EWEB and the U.S. Forest Service are working together on a pond-leveler system to manage beaver activity safely. This investment allows beavers to stay on site and continue their ecologically beneficial activities without creating infrastructure safety risks.
