The beavers have cut down a number of cottonwood trees in the area and their dams have caused flooding of trails in certain areas, said Richard Dahl, Westminster parks services manager.

"It has gotten steadily worse each year," Dahl said. "We really needed to have a management plan so we can effectively deal with them."

The plan recommends several methods of containing the beaver population, including wiring off trees, implementing water level control devices and trapping and relocation. Euthanizing the rodents is the last alternative, he said.

The city's parks and recreation department will work with the Colorado Division of Wildlife to help implement the plan.

"The beavers are a great resource, but I think we've reached a maximum population," Dahl said.

The city estimates there are approximately 60 to 100 beavers currently living along the Big Dry Creek corridor. A recent field survey recorded at least 30 active beaver dams along that same area, Dahl said.

One of the main goals of the plan is to protect the Plains Cottonwood, a native tree that the beavers have targeted to build their dams. The city plans to protect the trees by placing wire cylinders around the base of the trunks of the Cottonwoods.

The city also could establish so-called beaver-free zones along the Big Dry Creek corridor, Dahl said. The zones could be established based on flooding potential, historical significance, visual impact from trail user and other criteria, he said.

Once the zones are established, all the trees in the area would be protected with wire mesh. In addition, the city could take action on a number of beaver management actions, including trapping, dam construction or euthanasia.

Read the entire beaver management plan by clicking here. Scroll to page 16 of the PDF document.