DRAWDOWN OF ZEEKOEVLEI

Zeekoevlei is a large (258 hectare), shallow, freshwater lake (vlei) located in Cape Town. Staff from the False Bay Nature Reserve and community groups recently conducted the annual drawdown of the Zeekoevlei weir.

The lowering of the six sluice gates allows the vlei to drain more than half of its water, which assists to improve the overall water quality and health of the wetland. It allows the vlei to be flushed of pollutants and clean-up work to be undertaken by the reserve staff and volunteer groups.

“This drawdown will flush the vlei of pollutants that have built up in the system over the past 12 months. This is done on Freedom Day after the first rains, at the end of autumn. The lower water levels w ill make it easier for our crews to do manual clean-up, with the removal of litter and water hyacinth. They will get started with this work once e nough water has drained from the vlei,” says Alderman Eddie Andrews, deputy mayor and MMC: Spatial Planning and Environment, City of Cape Town.

The sluice gates usually remain open until mid-July, after several cold fronts have moved through Cape Town and flushed the system. The Spatial Planning and Environment Directorate has budgeted R49 m illion over the next three financial years for the lowering of the Zee koevlei weir to allow for a greater drawdown of water to assist in impr oving water quality.