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Dear Zeekoevlei Resident

NOTICE RE: DRAWDOWN OF ZEEKOEVLEI NATURE RESERVE APRIL 2013 AND SHORE LINE MAINTENANCE
The management of False Bay Nature Reserve would like to announce that the Zeekoevlei weir will be opened on the morning of April 27th 2013 (Freedom Day) at 10:00 am for the annual draw down of the wet land. This intervention is carried out for ecological purposes, namely to allow the vlei to be drain 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 on Monday 1 July 2013 (the closing date flexible to accommodate a cold front and heavy rain that may be present at the time). During this drawdown period, no public are permitted to conduct any shore line maintenance activities at Zeekoevlei without obtaining an approved shoreline maintenance plan, developed in conjunction with the management of False Bay Nature Reserve. If you already have a valid reed maintenance plan then you do not have to go through this process until the expiry date of the maintenance plan. Any shore line maintenance activities carried out without the position of an approved maintenance plan or failure to comply with the conditions stated with in an approved plan could result in fines being issued to the land owner.

Shoreline maintenance refers to any alterations carried out along the shore line, 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. board walks, retaining walls, fishing plat forms etc.), or driving of vehicles in vlei (e.g. quad bikes, motorbikes, truck or any 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 exiting jetties around Zeekoevlei, but no further jetty construction will be permitted.

If you wish to obtain a shore line 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 victoria.day@capetown.gov.za a representative from False Bay Nature reserve will then assist you in developing a suitable shore line maintenance plan.

This year’s dead line for applications is 20 May 2013, after which no maintenance plans will be considered for the year. Shoreline maintenance for 2013 may then only be carried out between the 1st of June 2013 and the 30th of June 2013 after obtaining an approved shoreline maintenance plan. Approved shoreline maintenance plans are valid for 4 years after the approval date, but maintenance activities may only be carry out during the periods specified annual 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 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 the draw down period of June to July 2013 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 collect and such waste may not be placed with the reed piles.

During the 2013 draw down period, members of the local community will be employed to assist the staff of False Bay Nature Reserve with clearing litter form Zeekoevlei and in collecting correctly stacked reed piles from residents who have followed the instructions of their approved shore line maintenance plans.These workers will be easily identifiable as they will be wearing reflective vests while on duty.

Aquatic alien plans 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 of.
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 the reserve boundaries except under extenuating circumstances. 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 have been enquires made to the False Bay Nature Reserve if draw down could be shortened. This year’s draw down is going to be reduced by a month in order to allow the vlei to be full by the end of July. In the past draw down was lengthened to allow time for the removal of Water Hyacinth. If it is seen that this period of time is working and not having a negative effect on the water quality then draw down will be kept to this shortened period.
Please contact the False Bay Nature Reserve office at 021 396 4281 for any queries relates to drawdown of Zeekoevlei and matters related to shoreline maintenance.
Kind regards

The False Bay Nature Reserve Management Team