Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
particularly large flood destroyed many orchards along the river banks, causing
severe erosion. After this, many farmers turned to pasture, dairy and meat pro-
duction. This is also when Black Wattle appeared for the first time along a stretch
of the Kromme River. From 1931 to 1934, good rainfall years ensured Black
Wattle establishment. After the war ended in 1942, agricultural pressure increased.
After orchards were swept away again in flood in 1965, the farmers raised the
banks of the river in an attempt to contain future floods. This caused significant
channel erosion. By 1986, more than half of the valley floor had been converted to
agriculture and Black Wattle had formed dense stands on the floodplains. In 1996
Working for Water began clearing the Black Wattle, revealing the extent of the
damage to the wetlands. In 2000 Working for Wetlands began building a series of
weirs to prevent headcuts from eroding further upstream.
Diary Extract: C. J. F. Bunbury 30 March 1838
Langkloof
''The country was extremely arid except along the course of the little streams, and on the
hills near the younger Kamper's residence the bushes had been burnt to a considerable
extent, a practise general in this country and advantageous to the cattle but very provoking
to the botanist''. (Skead 2009 )
Fig. 16.8 An aerial photograph taken from a helicopter of the main floodplain of the Kromme
River after a large flood event. The floodplain was once covered by large palmiet wetlands,
specially adapted withstand the force of the flood waters. The removal of the palmiet wetlands
has destabilized the system, causing massive headcuts which lower the water table and reduce the
agricultural potential of the land
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