Water level fell substantially overnight on a ADC beaver job I’m working. Had foot traps set for backfoot catches, about forearm deep.
Check today found two traps at end of slides no beaver other traps still set in inches of water. I remade sets moving them deeper once again maybe water level is at its new normal. Anyway, do I still have a chance at foot trapping these “missed” beaver or will they be shy?
What is a good course of action to try next?

They might, emphasis on might, avoid those slides. You can still find other spots to foothold the beaver if they do avoid the slides. There is NOTHING to spook a beaver with a foothold if you have to move it.

Were they blind sets or lured sets?

^^^^^ and why’s the water level dropping? Stable water typically helps, as opposed to fluctuating. I’d probably Hang snares on trails or floating logs ....or blind footholds at crawl outs and crossovers.

Farmer/landowner probably pulled the dam trying to help things...grrrr

Snare em, I tell all the owners, I must control the water level until I kill em all...

had a toe in a foothold one day on a drowning set, re-made set, caught the beaver 3 days later in the very same trap, missing toe and all!

These beaver have a flooded swampy mess going on along a section of creek. Yes I’m getting “help” from adjacent landowners who keep tearing out dams. All property owners not on the same page. Some want the beavers to stay won’t allow trapping. Where I’m trapping is a small section of this creek swamp. Property owner is trying to protect trees. I fear most of them are water killed anyway. I’m setting slides, and small dam breaks. Multiple dams in this area no one big one, just lots of small dams. It’s like the beavers have ADD and just randomly dam wherever. Most dams are on adjacent properties keep getting walked on or torn out beyond my control. I have used No scent So far. Can’t find channels most of water is so dark you can’t see and it’s that loon poop mud that makes it loose your hat deep. All I can do is work the edges in waders and set on slides or small dams. Did I mention the hike to get back there.... drive a mile in, hike a mile. This job will pay good if I can get em.

If your setting dam breaks and they are plugging holes with the trap and not stepping in the foothold, you must not be using breasting sticks to make them drop feet onto pans. Very effective, as Paul teaches in his Beaver Sites and Sets DVD. That 1 vid started my business.

My experience w/ missed beaver and footholds is like some of the others. Caught em with toes missing knowing that I got the toe earlier! traprjohn made a good point about the breasting sticks and Pauls dvd. I use the dam break Paul teaches but w a slight variation and I really like it. I use the smear set of whatevr it is officially called but I have to be careful not to make them shy of the loop.

Make them climb the stair and nab them on the front foot. Won't matter what the water's doing.
Adding extra swivels on your traps should help and sure your digging out a trap bed so your pan is level or below grade, with some pan tension. What are you using for footholds?

..and at the dam break, don't forget to offset trap 4-5"