“Conserving our Future”

12 April 2012
Dear Zeekoevlei Resident

NOTICE RE: DRAWDOWN OF ZEEKOEVLEI APRIL 2012 AND SHORELINE MAINTENANCE

The management of False Bay Nature Reserve would like to announce that the Zeekoevlei weir will be opened on the morning of 27 April 2012 (Freedom Day) at 10:00 for the annual drawdown of the wetland. This intervention is carried out for ecological purposes, namely 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 in early August 2012. During this drawdown period, no public are permitted to conduct any shoreline maintenance activities at Zeekoevlei without obtaining an approved shoreline maintenance plan, developed in conjunction with the management of False Bay Nature Reserve. Any shoreline maintenance activities carried out without the possession of an approved shoreline maintenance plan, or failure to comply with the conditions stated within an approved plan, could result in fines being issued to the landowner.

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 in the vlei (e.g. quadbikes, motorbikes, trucks or other motor vehicles).

No jetties may be constructed; neither may existing jetties be replaced. A jetty policy will be drawn up in the near future to address existing jetties around Zeekoevlei, but no further jetty constructions 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 4281, or at zeekoevleinature.reserve@capetown.gov.za A representative from False Bay Nature Reserve will then assist you in developing a suitable shoreline maintenance plan.

This year’s deadline for applications is 1 June 2012, after which no new maintenance plans will be considered for the year. Shoreline maintenance for 2012 may then only be carried out between 1 June and 31 July 2012 after obtaining an approved shoreline maintenance plan. Approved shoreline maintenance plans are valid for five years after the approval date, but maintenance activities may only be carried out during the period 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 who have approved reed 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, or stacked on sidewalks in a haphazard manner, or placed on road verges / properties outside of the drawdown period of June to July 2012 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 2012 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 in collecting correctly stacked reed piles from residents who have followed the instructions of their approved shoreline maintenance plans. These workers will be easily identifiable, as they will be wearing reflective vests while on duty.

Aquatic alien plants from within the wetland, such as wandering jew (Commelina species) or water hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes) may be removed at any time and special arrangement with False Bay Nature Reserve management may be made for collection thereof.

Approved shoreline maintenance plans will inform residents about what activities are permitted around their specific properties and provide guidelines on how such activities may be conducted by the residents. Permission will not be given for cement or concrete structures to be built within reserve boundaries except under extenuating circumstances. In the case of reed or vegetation removal, the approved plans will define the ideal state to which reedbeds and vegetation may be cleared, depending on the nature and structure of individual properties.

Please contact the False Bay Nature Reserve office at 021 396 4281 for any queries related to the drawdown of Zeekoevlei and matters related to shoreline maintenance.

Kind regards
The False Bay Nature Reserve Management Team