Beavers may be used to combat pollution
BEAVERS could be reintroduced to a lake for the first time in 400 years in a project to combat pollution.
The project at Roadford Lake, West Devon, is being considered by South West Water (SWW) to prevent harmful blue-green algae from forming. The reservoir supplies drinking water to much of the Westcountry.
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Introducing beavers to the water, say SWW managers, would lead to the creation of naturally formed damns which would filter out the pollutants from run-off that cause the algae to form.
It is currently illegal to release beavers into the wild without a licence. A feasibility study is being carried out to see if one should be issued for Roadford Lake. The project is a multi-agency scheme including Natural England, SWW and the Derek Gow Wildlife Consultancy.
The scheme has been opposed by residents who say they fear their land could be at risk from flooding.
Chris Durston, who has land bordering the area, said: "My land is very low-lying and there is a very real risk that I could lose it to flooding caused by beavers building a dam.
"I don't think they have thought through the consequences of reintroducing something that has not been here for many hundreds of years."
SWW has been working closely with Mr Gow, a wildlife consultant who lives close to Roadford Lake. He said while there were no "done deals" on the matter, it was likely landowners would be given financial incentives for allowing some of their land to become waterlogged.
He said: "Beavers pose no risk to humans and they are very good for the local biodiversity. By allowing them to cut back trees on the water's edge, they allow light in, which helps to encourage an abundance of plant and wildlife.
"People concerned about their land flooding would have no problem. There would be no rules protecting dams built – it will be possible to take them down."
He said reintroducing beavers would also help the water vole population, which finds it very hard to nest anywhere because of the amount of trees on river banks.
Mr Gow said: "In this time of heavy recession, we can't really be looking at anything that will discourage tourism. If we have beavers in the water, then there is every likelihood that people will want to come to the area."
SWW uses an electrically powered oxygenation system which prevents the algae from forming on water in its reservoirs, but it will not prevent the natural, but potentially lethal, pollutant from forming indefinitely.
Martin Ross, the firm's environmental manager, said: "The run-off from fields is causing nutrient enrichment in the reservoir. This can lead to the formation of blue-green algae making the water very difficult to treat in order for it to be suitable to be used as drinking water. This algae is toxic to dogs.
"We could continue using the oxygenation process, but this will cost a lot of money – a cost that would have to be reflected in customers' bills. Alternatively, we can reintroduce beavers, which have no pension plan, holidays or sickness and no health and safety issues in the workplace to consider."
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by Justin, Cornwall
Saturday, January 03 2009, 4:16PM
“Jacqueline,I'm all for bio-diversity in our enviroment,but beaver's in British waterway's,no chance. I am not paranoid about this issue,I just feel that the beaver has no right to be in our enviroment. Proper consultation needs to be done on this issue,as soon as possible with local people and SWW. I'm not happy about a mammal which was never a species native to Britain in the first place. I support the work which is being done with other water born mammals like the vole and the otter,but NOT the beaver.....sorry Jacqueline.”
by Chris Durston, Beaworthy
Saturday, January 03 2009, 2:06AM
“Thanks for the support you guys!
Not sure about the ill written initial comment, but I guess that was supposed to be in favour of beaver. Perhaps its not only the beaver that should be extinct!
To Mr Charles Henry; sounds like you're almost as annoyedwith the state of our system as am I. When are people going to wake up to what is being done to our country and our pockets in the name of the green issues. Every one of the lunatic fringe erodes our freedom and devalues our existence. Soon, they will all want the food that the countryside is trying to produce.”
by Jacqueline (Cornwall Mammal Group), West Cornwall
Friday, January 02 2009, 10:03PM
“Come on Justin (of Cornwall) Are you not just a little paranoid ???
"{Beavers take over Devon}" ?
Perhaps your joking??
Lets think logically Justin, take the Brown Rat?
( of NON native origin)
Apparantly experts say there are "MORE of them than US?
aaaaahhhh!
Are they taking over?
NO
Why?
Because one thing US humans are VERY VERY Very (yes 3 verys) good at is >>>killing mammals that get in our our way>
How?
Mmmmm well >Running them over in our cars for starters
OR
Trashing thier homes and habitat >Hunting> poisioning traping >shooting > introducing NON Natives to out compet or predate on them and thats without trying.
Perhaps you folks are nimbies, and like your widlife to be somewhere else?
On the Telly in Africa or some where far far-away??
Make NO mistake we
(i use the Royal we) the British Animal loving Public Have already managed to kill off most of Britains NATIVE mammals without even trying
Even the protected ones are not mush better off
The way we are going Britains NEXT "going to be" extint trophy could go to the harmless "Water Vole" ??
Experts say they have dissapeared completly from many counties including Cornwall?
Pritty shamefull isnt it?
Dear dear Ratty (meaning the water vole not the Brown Rat, yes it is confusing) ?
But its easy to tell the difference
"{Ones as common as us though treated as a pest (Brown Rat) the other is PROTECTED but
carries the aclaimed title of
"{ Britains Fastest Declining Native Mammal}"
Beavers deserve a chance to share Britains waterways once AGAIN
I belive some of the commnets on this blogg are ill informed?
Please folks "do a bit of research before you make a judgment" ?
Educate yourselves as to the real habits and character of Beavers
You never no you might even discover they can actually help improve wetland biodiversity and reduce "floodrisk?
Is it not our responsiblity to at least "try" to retain or return our Native fauna ?????????????”
by Melanie, Northlew
Thursday, January 01 2009, 11:10PM
“I find it quite funny that a few people feel they can dictate the future of the Devon countryside. Even more bizarre, considering that local people, like my family and I, haven¿t even had a look-in. Surely there should be some kind of discussion on this issue? I mean, if communities can get involved and have their say on housing proposals that are going to directly affect our environment, then surely something as significant as the reintroduction of beavers (bound to affect the surrounding habitat) should first be granted permission from Devon¿s inhabitants before it goes ahead?
I agree whole-heartedly with the comment made ¿ how can we be confident that a species, one that hasn¿t been present in this area for over 800 years, is going to work in harmony with the environment? Isn¿t it a bit risky to use Devon as a guinea-pig for a project that we cannot be sure of the consequences? Beavers may well build dams that could support some species, but at the expense of existing wildlife? Acres of land may be lost through flooding; trees will be torn down left, right and centre; the countryside will become a stomping ground for beaver-watchers.
Beavers shouldn¿t be allowed to roam free and upset the natural balance of Devon. Like so much in our society today, we are losing our autonomy and our freedom to be responsible for our own lives. I for one, believe that it is worth fighting for our voice to be heard.”
by Justin, Cornwall
Thursday, January 01 2009, 4:02PM
“This is just ridiculous,what happen's IF the beaver population can't be controled by those people introducing a foreign species into are enviroment???. This sounds like another man made disaster in the making. Surely their could be a better answer than this.”