Residents: Beavers DAM-age property and wetlands, photo gallery

BURNT HILLS -- A clan of beavers is wreaking havoc on residential properties in Burnt Hills, according to some frustrated homeowners.

See the photo gallery by clicking here.

"All the trees are destroyed," said Kohler, as he looked out from his backyard where water meets grass in a murky mess.

The source of the problem seems to be a series of dams built in a line downstream of Kohler's home. The succession of dams is causing water to build up, he says, turning his backyard into a marshy mess.

"You used to be able to walk out to that strip of grass," pointing to a muddy mixture that sucks you right in when walking on it.

Another neighbor, Pete Allen, a 37-year veteran of the area, says the high water levels caused by the dams are not only killing his shrubs but attracting insects.

"I think it's an environmental hazard," said Allen.

Beaver dams are not a new problem, and the State Department of Environmental Conservation issues permits for trapping or destroying nuisance beavers and dams.

The issue here in Burnt Hills is that the dams (there are at least two) are on private property, and so far the owners have expressed no interest in removing the dams.

Ward Stone, a wildlife pathologist with the Department of Environmental Conservation, says he believes at least one property owner in the line of dams is holding out for environmental reasons.

Eric Kohler and his neighbor, Pete Allen, say they've reached out to Ballston Supervisor Patricia Southworth. 

In a phone interview with CBS6, Southworth said that since the water doesn't touch town property, the town cannot get involved.

She did say that she is working to try and get the parties together to work on a solution.