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A paper company in northern Minnesota is suing the federal government over what it said was a bungled beaver dam removal that flooded two roads and a campground and left a lake clogged with debris.

Blandin Paper Co., which owns 180,000 acres of forest in seven counties, contracted with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2019 to manage beaver dams on its land in Itasca County, near Pokegama Lake.

But two USDA employees blew up a dam on the company's property without first dismantling another beaver dam downstream on the same creek, an action that caused a cascade of water that ultimately put the paper company under the scrutiny of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, according to the complaint.

Blandin also claims that it appealed directly to USDA for repayment of the costs to fix damage from the flood but was denied. The company's suit was filed Dec. 14 in federal court.

Blandin declined to comment through an attorney.

USDA also declined to comment through a spokesperson and has not filed an answer in court.

According to the agency's website, it offers technical and direct assistance for farmers and foresters in dealing with beavers and notes that an analysis of its work showed "$20.93 was saved for every dollar spent on beaver damage management."

But in the case of Blandin's dam removal, the company said in its complaint, the total tab to clean up the damage and pay inspection fees to the DNR came to $817,902.30.

Once the two USDA contractors blew up the first dam, a second one downstream was overwhelmed, which "caused a tremendous flash flood of water and sediment," according to the suit. Water gushed downstream on the creek bed, uprooting trees and boulders, clogging the culvert under Sugar Hills Road, then washing over that road and Sherry's Arm Road beyond it. The water flooded private property and parts of Fishing Springs Campground, then finally deposited dirt, rock and debris across 19,000 square feet of Pokegama Lake.

The DNR later ordered Blandin to repair the damage to the unnamed creek and the lake, which are public waters. A document provided by the DNR showed 14 sites where Blandin was responsible for stabilizing streambanks, fixing floodplains and repairing the original flow of the waterway. The company eventually removed some 1,100 cubic yards of dirt from the lake.

According to an agreement between Blandin and USDA, the federal agency was responsible for obtaining permits to do the dam removal work. But the DNR later informed the company that no one had secured the permit necessary to alter public waters.

Blandin hired USDA to reduce beaver damage by removing the animals from their land by either trapping or shooting, and removing their dams with either explosives or hand rakes. But Blandin claims the two USDA employees were negligent in failing to study how the first explosion they set off would affect the rest of the terrain.

The company has completed its restoration work, however. According to the suit, the DNR determined that the repairs were sufficient in October 2021.

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https://m.arcamax.com/currentnews/newsheadlines/s-2765604

Good luck suing the federal govt. Looks like an opportunity for a private trapper to get some nuisance work in the future.

Good old bureaucracy

They probably had a smart one or two left and decided to let er blow. lol.

Is government ever accountable?

Rarely

So would this be why a certain employed USDA trapper is not posting anymore on Tman ?

Good example of people with no common knowledge. I am sure there are plenty of beaver trappers in that area that could of done a much better job.

The problem as I see it is why should the paper company have to sue the USDA for reimbursement. The USDA should have been liable for their employees actions as is every other real world employer is.

Is the USDA exempt?

I have been told by different entities that contract with USDA that they like the insurance provided. Doesn't look like it worked here.

Nothing new. Several years back the state had USDA come in on a road widening project to deal with some beaver. USDA blasted the dam and dumped the entire contents of a fetid beaver swamp into the drinking water reservoir of another county just a mile downstream. That county had to shut down the entire water supply and purchase drinking water from a county north of them.

Only if being held accountable will result in buying votes for the party in power.

Was gonna ask that.Why are they doing nuisance beaver work without liability insurance.
Cant do it here without liability insurance.
Maybe they had insurance but insurance wont pay because they failed to get the required permits?

Why would USDA need insurance when they almost always operate under state Memorandum of Understanding that exempts them from state law?

That's what they have here in Georgia. They don't have any restrictions on how they catch critters.

State and Federal Governments are self insured. Why would you need insurance when you have taxpayers?

Hope it goes to a jury