A small group of protesters gathered Sunday afternoon at Dowdy Park to voice opposition to the planned removal of beavers and beaver dams from Town Creek, a move city officials say is necessary to help control flooding in downtown Summerville.

The protest, held at 2 p.m. Sunday, drew a limited crowd but strong opinions from those in attendance, who expressed concern about the treatment of the animals and the long-term environmental impact of removing them from the waterway.

The demonstration was organized by Kristy Colbert, a former Chattooga High School teacher, who has argued that beavers have been part of the local ecosystem for years and should not be blamed as the primary cause of flooding. Colbert has said debris and lack of routine creek maintenance may be contributing more to water issues than wildlife activity.

The protest followed comments made by Mayor Rickey Hughes earlier in the weekend, when he discussed recent flooding conditions after several inches of rain. In a social media post, the mayor noted that improvements and maintenance helped prevent major flooding downtown, and referenced beaver removal as a potential next step. That post was later updated, though Colbert says a screenshot she shared shows the mayor confirming that beavers would be trapped.

Colbert and other protesters raised concerns about what could happen to the animals if removed, particularly during winter months, and questioned whether relocation or trapping could result in harm or death.

WZQZ reached out to Summerville Mayor Rickey Hughes for comment about Sunday’s protest and the city’s plans regarding beaver removal. Mayor Hughes responded, “no comment,” at this time.

Some protesters say they plan to attend Monday evening’s Summerville City Council meeting to speak during public comments and urge city leaders to reconsider how the beaver issue is handled.

City officials maintain that beaver dams are contributing to water backup and flooding concerns along Town Creek and downtown areas.

State agencies typically address beaver-related flooding issues on a case-by-case basis. The Georgia Department of Transportation, for example, does not routinely remove beaver dams unless they threaten infrastructure such as roads or culverts. In many cases, agencies use water-level control devices, sometimes called “beaver deceivers,” which allow dams to remain while reducing flooding risk. Management practices must comply with regulations from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which classify beavers as a nuisance species while also recognizing their environmental role.

For now, the issue remains unresolved locally, with the debate expected to surface from public comments during Monday’s council meeting as city leaders balance flood control concerns with environmental and animal welfare considerations.