GREAT BRAK RIVER NEWS - “The Great Brak River estuary has degraded over time and is now under pressure as a result of too little clean, fresh water reaching the mouth,” says Cobus Meiring of the Southern Cape Landowners Initiative (SCLI).
Meiring notes: “The regular die-off of fish species in the river and estuary is an indicator that all is not well in the Great Brak aquatic system. This unfortunate situation may have detrimental consequences, not only for all aquatic species dependent on the wellbeing of the river and estuary but also for the human population that uses the river for several purposes.”
Estuaries along the South African coast are vital nurseries for fish stocks and the Great Brak River and estuary is a particularly ecologically sensitive system.
As much as nature is resilient, it is also highly exposed to the impact and threats brought about by human intervention, and if not managed well, it is quite possible that the Great Brak ecosystem will become completely stagnant and dysfunctional, and eventually unable to sustain aquatic life, Meiring says
There are several factors that are negatively influencing the river system, but the primary problems include reduced run-off from the catchment due to drought and a possible change in climate, severe invasive alien plants in the watercourse, too many dams and over-extraction of fresh water for various uses, including agriculture and human consumption.
Collaborative effort
“In a collaborative effort, the Breede-Gouritz Catchment Management Agency (BGCMA), Table Mountain Fund, Garden Route District Municipality and the Southern Cape Landowners' Initiative (SCLI) are joining forces and resources in an effort to improve the ecological wellbeing of the river and estuary,” says Meiring.
As a first step, landowners will be informed of the pending situation. Areas upstream of the estuary – that are particularly badly affected by invasive plant growth – will be mapped and earmarked for clearing.
Ultimately, measures will be put in place in order to measure the flow of water into the estuary and to determine where the state of the Great Brak River can be improved over time.
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