Reports have just reached us that the Beaver Company, engaged in the 'conservation' of rare flora and fauna at the British Waterways reservoir, high above Cairnbaan in the Knapdale Forest, Mid Argyll, have breached the dam releasing many thousands of litre of water onto, and flooding, the newly built residential area of Cairnbaan.
The Main contractors for the project, Scottish Wildlife Trust and the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, who have admitted that they know little about the local environment, declined further comment.
No, the above is not a true report but the probability of the happening is extremely high and has not even been thought of by the perpetrators of this latest scheme to introduce an alien species, the European Beaver, to Argyll. Having experienced serious flooding, due to nothing more than normal rainfall, no resident living below this small area of many lochans would wish to be at the mercy of any 'water manager' other than that under the direct control of British Waterways, Crinan Canal Authority.
Peter Slann
Knapdale
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4 comments:
Rubbish.Why would a beaver punch a hole through a canal wall?They(beavers) like to hold back water not get washed away in a torrent of water.Holland has reintroduced beavers and from memory its a country covered in a canals.I haven't read recently that all the canals in Holland are burst as a result of beaver activity and that the country has disappeared!
I agree very much with the previous commentator, but have these remarks to add.
It is true that beavers burrow into banks, so the spectre of the flooding of houses at Cairnbaan, resulting from a breaching of the reservoir's dam, is a possibility, but it is more likely that the beavers will look after the dam and hold back the flood, particularly if they have a lodge on the reservoir. There is an artificial pond here on my estate, which is closed by a dam. It has been maintained by beavers for the last five years without any hint of undermining - very much the contrary, in fact.
It isn't just the flooding potential that is my concern, but also the destruction of existing habitat and plant life.
In one of the lochans above a canal is a rare waterlily, as has been pointed out before, it will be an extinct one as beavers LOVE waterlily root.
"On their first night they kept themselves busy by building an underground burrow that included several chambers for sleeping, eating (larder) plus drying off. You may ask why we know that? The wardens actually fell through the top of the lodge when checking the pen in the first couple of days. They now have two (at least) living burrows, one on the front pond and one on the back pond with an extensive tunnel system."
This quote was taken from the Autumn Watch website - it could easily be located alongside the Crinan Canal bank.
Consider the economic impact to the local area should a party of tourists (or indeed locals) fall through such a hole creating weakened walls in the canal causing it to be closed for repair which would take some considerable time.
Introducing Beaver to this area by selfish, minded blinkered people who do not live in the area is very thoughtless, downright irresponsible and potentially extremely dangerous.
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