Conservation District Beaver Conservation District Beaver Control ProgramControl Program

Issues that lead to legislationIssues that lead to legislation::

Damage to crop fieldsDamage to crop fields

Damage to timberDamage to timber

Conservation District Beaver Conservation District Beaver Control ProgramControl Program

Created under Act 630 of 1993Created under Act 630 of 1993 Administered by the Arkansas Natural Administered by the Arkansas Natural

Resources Commission through Arkansas’ Resources Commission through Arkansas’ Conservation DistrictsConservation Districts

Act 1358 of 1997 appropriated $150,000 Act 1358 of 1997 appropriated $150,000 per for two yearsper for two years

CDs will be reimbursed $5 per beaverCDs will be reimbursed $5 per beaver Beaver harvesters must be certifiedBeaver harvesters must be certified

CD ParticipationCD Participation

To receive money through the To receive money through the Conservation District Beaver Control Conservation District Beaver Control Program, CDs must submit a District Program, CDs must submit a District Beaver Control Plan, which complies with Beaver Control Plan, which complies with the commission’s rules, by September 1 of the commission’s rules, by September 1 of each year, each year,

Before harvesting can begin, the Before harvesting can begin, the commission must approve the district commission must approve the district

plan which:plan which:

Designates a beaver control officerDesignates a beaver control officer Provides that the tails be notched when brought to Provides that the tails be notched when brought to

the officerthe officer Sets up a schedule for beaver control officer to Sets up a schedule for beaver control officer to

submit reports of payments to the harvesters to the submit reports of payments to the harvesters to the district board and for board application for district board and for board application for reimbursementreimbursement

Approximates the number of beavers to be harvested Approximates the number of beavers to be harvested within the yearwithin the year

Allocation of funds by ANRCAllocation of funds by ANRC

projected Harvestprojected Harvest Funds carried over from prior yearFunds carried over from prior year other factors to insure fairness and assure other factors to insure fairness and assure

funds are expended each yearfunds are expended each year

Conservation DistrictsConservation Districts

Maintain a list of beaver harvesters in the Maintain a list of beaver harvesters in the countycounty

Require harvesters certify number of Require harvesters certify number of beavers trapped beavers trapped

Harvesters are required to identify the Harvesters are required to identify the landowners they trapped on for each landowners they trapped on for each billing.billing.

CD Participation and Annual CD Participation and Annual Funding LevelFunding Level

State - $150,000 State - $150,000 County - $146,000County - $146,000 Other - $ 32,000Other - $ 32,000 Total - $328,000Total - $328,000

50 conservation districts receive funding 50 conservation districts receive funding for this program in Arkansas.for this program in Arkansas.

Other funding for Conservation Other funding for Conservation District Beaver Control ProgramDistrict Beaver Control Program

County FundingCounty Funding - Quorum Court- Quorum Court - Voluntary Tax- Voluntary Tax

Irrigation and Drainage Districts Irrigation and Drainage Districts

LandownrersLandownrers

Bounties Paid by DistrictsBounties Paid by Districts

Bounty Bounty Number of CountiesNumber of Counties $5 10$5 10 $10 30$10 30 $15 6$15 6 $20 1$20 1 $25 3$25 3

Total FundingTotal Funding

Since 1997 the State of Arkansas has funded Since 1997 the State of Arkansas has funded the beaver control Program at the $2.1 million the beaver control Program at the $2.1 million level (Approximately 420,000 beaver harvested)level (Approximately 420,000 beaver harvested)

Counties have expended $2.0 million dollars. Counties have expended $2.0 million dollars. Most of these funds have been used to increase Most of these funds have been used to increase bounties.bounties.

Other funding sources have provided an Other funding sources have provided an additional $448,000.additional $448,000.

It’s hard to estimate what landowners have It’s hard to estimate what landowners have thrown into the funding mix to get harvesters on thrown into the funding mix to get harvesters on their property.their property.

SummarySummary

After 14 years the beaver still causes After 14 years the beaver still causes millions in flood damages to crops and millions in flood damages to crops and timber each year.timber each year.

However, we have been successful in However, we have been successful in some areas. Beaver are being controlled some areas. Beaver are being controlled enough to keep irrigation ditches open, enough to keep irrigation ditches open, road ditches unclogged, and major road ditches unclogged, and major drainage channels free of beaver dams. drainage channels free of beaver dams.

What can be done to improve on What can be done to improve on our success in the future?our success in the future?

What can be done to improve on our success in What can be done to improve on our success in the future?the future?

The allowable bounty for the State needs to be The allowable bounty for the State needs to be increased from $5 to $10 to increase the increased from $5 to $10 to increase the incentive for harvestersincentive for harvesters

Additional funding needed. The allocation for Additional funding needed. The allocation for this program has stayed the same since 1997.this program has stayed the same since 1997.