Dear Zeekoevlei resident

NOTICE RE: DRAWDOWN OF ZEEKOEVLEI (April 2015) AND SHORELINE MAINTENANCE

The management of False Bay Nature Reserve would like to inform residents that the Zeekoevlei weir will be opened on 27 April 2015 at 10:00 for the annual drawdown of the wetland. This intervention is carried out to allow the vlei to be drained of excess nutrients during the winter rainfall period. The lowered water levels also allow for easier access, to remove litter and excess reeds from the vlei.

The Zeekoevlei weir will be closed again on the 30 June 2015. However, this date is flexible to accommodate a potential cold front and heavy rain that may be present at the time.

Residents are reminded that, during the drawdown period, no shoreline maintenance activities may be conducted at Zeekoevlei without obtaining an approved shoreline maintenance plan, which needs to be developed in conjunction with the management of False Bay Nature Reserve. Any shoreline maintenance activities carried out without the possession of an approved maintenance plan or failure to comply with the conditions stated within an approved plan could result in fines being issued to the land owner.

If you already have a valid reed maintenance plan, then you are exempted from this process until the expiry date of the plan.

Shoreline maintenance refers to any alterations carried out along the shoreline, or within the Zeekoevlei wetland. This includes activities such as cutting or digging of reeds, removal or disturbance of soil or vegetation, use of machinery (e.g. bulldozers), planting of vegetation (indigenous or exotic species), any construction (e.g. boardwalks, retaining walls, fishing platforms etc.), or driving of vehicles (e.g. quad bikes, motorbikes, truck or any other motor vehicles) in the vlei.

No jetties may be constructed; nor existing jetties replaced. A jetty policy will be drawn up in the near future to address existing jetties around Zeekoevlei, but no further jetty construction will be permitted.

If you wish to obtain a shoreline maintenance plan to carry out any of the above-mentioned activities around your property, please contact the False Bay Nature Reserve office at 021 396 4283 or email Victoria.Day@capetown.gov.za, and a False Bay Nature Reserve representative will then assist you in developing a suitable plan.

This year’s deadline for applications is Friday 29 May 2015, after which no new maintenance plans will be considered for the Draw Down period. Shoreline maintenance for 2015 may then only be carried out between 1 May 2015 and 30 June 2015, after obtaining an approved shoreline maintenance plan. Approved shoreline maintenance plans are valid for two years after the approval date, but maintenance activities may only be carried out during the periods specified annually by way of public notice.

False Bay Nature Reserve staff will assist specifically with the collection of reeds removed from the properties of residents that have approved shoreline maintenance plans. If these residents require such assistance, reeds need to be bundled and placed neatly on the sidewalks of the relevant properties.

Any piles of reeds stacked outside the properties of residents without a shoreline maintenance plan, stacked on sidewalks in a haphazard manner, or placed on road verges/properties outside the shoreline maintenance period of May to June 2015, will not be collected by False Bay Nature Reserve. This may lead to a fine for dumping. General garden waste or other refuse will not be collected and such waste may not be placed with the reed piles.

During the 2015 drawdown period members of the local community will be employed to assist the staff of False Bay Nature Reserve with clearing litter from Zeekoevlei and collecting reed piles from residents who have approved shoreline maintenance plans. These will be collected by people wearing reflective vests.

Dogs must remain under the control of the dog owner at all times and must not be allowed to run in the wetland, disturbing the local fauna and flora.

Aquatic alien plants from within the wetland, such as wondering Jew (Commelina sp.) or Water Hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes) may be removed at any time, and special arrangement with False Bay Nature Reserve management may be made for the collection thereof.

Approved shoreline maintenance plans will inform residents about what activities are permitted on land abutting their properties and provide guidelines on how such activities may be conducted by the residents. In the case of reed or vegetation removal, the approved plans will define the ideal state to which reed beds and vegetation may be cleared, depending on the nature and structure of individual properties.

There has been a new erosion method that has been tested at Zeekoevlei and has proven to be quite successful. If you would like to enquire about this new method (check http://www.zeekoevlei.co.za/2013/06/finally-a-satisfactory-solution-to-shoreline-erosion/ ) or have any queries relating to the drawdown of Zeekoevlei and matters related to shoreline maintenance, please do not hesitate to contact the False Bay Nature Reserve office on 021 396 4283 or email Victoria.Day@capetown.gov.za.

Kind regards

The False Bay Nature Reserve Management Team

Environmental Resource Management Department

City of Cape Town