REFERENCE: Beavers at Roadford Reservoir and other ideas by South West Water.

The apathy concerning the beavers, the 86 room hotel and their affect on the area concerns me, mainly because no mention has appeared in the 'Post', nor any letters in a regional daily even though this paper carried a full page of propaganda on beavers and their assumed benefits to the area surrounding the reservoir on Saturday, January 31. It did not name the contributor, but indicated that South West Water and Mr Gow, of Derek Gow Agencies, near Lifton, were probably the culprits.

They claim it will improve the quality of the water by beaver dams and the felling of trees close to the reservoir, ie within 10 to 30 yards of the water's edge. Yet there is no news of the male beaver that escaped to Gunnislake.

Roadford's water supply (provided by Devon County Council) over a three year period, including one very wet year, was averaged at 4,320 million gallons per day. This was the river 'Wolf' and the 'Moorsmill Brook'. Roadford's capacity is 8,120 million gallons.

It's very relevant and important to realise these were pre-construction, plan­ning amounts. The whole capacity calculated as the top two thirds drinking water, the bottom one third dirty water. By the time the dam was nearing completion, an 'anti-stratification' system had been incorporated, this rendered virtually the whole of the reservoir at its draw off tower, drinkable.

Plymouth.