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Boaters hamper dam remediation
Work on the Harties, metsi a me (my water)
programme?s fishing project is continuously being hampered by the
boating public who disregard the floating buoys and cause damage to
the fishing lines and nets. This happens despite the fact that the
fishing demarcation area is clearly marked with floating orange
buoys and notices on the dam.
The fishing project is an important component of the programme and
has as its objective to restore the trophic balance in the dam by
reducing the dominant fish species over a three year period. This
incorporates the restructuring of the coarse fish population by
large-scale catch and removal operations. These include catfish, the
common carp and the canary kurper. This will shift the fish
community structure to again favour the Mozambique tilapia, also
known as the blue kurper and yellow fish.
For the safe use of the dam certain areas have been demarcated as
?limited restriction of access? and others as ?no go? areas
indicated by means of advisory buoys and floating booms. No vessels
or craft, except those working on the programme, are allowed in
these areas.
In an attempt to inform the public over 10 000 pamphlets were
distributed over the week-end to estate and marina club managers for
dissemination to their property owners and visitors. The pamphlet
provides information of the safety measures that should be adhered
to, a map of the dam that clearly illustrates the areas that should
be avoided as well as marker buoys and their respective meanings.
The public is urged to take note of these measures and to assist the
Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) with its remediation
efforts on the dam.
Other projects within the Harties, metsi a me programme which are
making progress include the biomass removal (algae and hyacinth),
floating wetlands and the shoreline rehabilitation. Approximately 60
cubic meters of algae was pumped during the month of September with
hyacinth removal figures amounting to 150 cubic meters at the dam
wall and another 750 cubic meters around the dam for the same
period. This is being used to produce high quality organic compost
using vermiculture (earthworms). Approximately 2 tons of debris was
also removed.
To date experiments have been conducted with different types of
floating wetland structures while attempts have been made to get
indigenous plants to establish themselves in these islands. With
regards to the shoreline rehabilitation the areas for the vegetation
have been selected, studies have been conducted to identify the
plant types which will be suitable and acceptable for shoreline
rehabilitation and planting will commence soon.
For further information on the programme please visit the Department
of Water Affairs and Forestry?s website at www.dwaf.gov.za/harties.
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16 October 2008 |