County Commissioners approved $75,000 to address drainage problems along Clay Township’s Beaver Dam Road at a meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 25.

The water level of Muddy Creek is threatening to spill over the road due to multiple dams that were built by beavers.

Dave Beachem, supervisors chairman, said the water is about 3 inches from coming up over the road. The water level is also encroaching on multiple properties, possibly putting several houses along Timblin Road at risk of flooding, he said.

“The roadway down there, along that stretch of road, is saturated,” said Jeff Scott, township supervisor.

If left unaddressed, he said, the flooding could undermine the entire road.

“We could lose half a mile of roadway, at least, and lose that section of access to the township,” he said.

Beachem said the problem has been ongoing, but has reached a point where something needs to be done very soon.

“Every time it rains, we’re almost afraid of losing the county bridge or township road,” he said.

Scott said the township is attempting to save the road by relieving the water.

In the past, township employees would try to dig out the culverts to open the waterways, Scott said, but the project is too large for the township to undertake.

Now that commissioners have approved funds to address the drainage problem, Beachem said the equipment that will be used and the timeline of the project is in the county’s hands.

Ideally, Beachem said, the project would get started before the winter.

“The county’s been wonderful in helping us,” Scott said. “We’ve reached out, and they’re the ones who assisted us the best.”

Scott said the township had reached out to several organizations for assistance on the project, including Moraine Preservation Fund and the state Game Commission.

In the summer, negotiations were underway with Moraine Preservation Fund to remove the beavers.

“(Moraine Preservation Fund) gave permission for us to go on their land (south of Beaver Dam Road) so we could open the dams,” Beachem said.

Moving forward, county Commissioner Kevin Boozel said much of the work will have to be done prior to wintertime. The planning process has already started with right-of-way agreements and assessment of dams.

Excavating and getting the dams broken up could be a long-term project, he said, and would have to be done carefully to prevent inadvertent flooding.

“One thing about beavers is they don’t just go away,” Boozel said.