African Wildlife and Environment Issue 66

DESTINATION

DESTINATION

December 2007

July 2014

December 2007

was in 2003, since the wave climate would not have changed. It is a very wide beach of fine white sand, though at the back hummock dunes are visible with a cover of indigenous pioneer vegetation. To date, it is encouraging to note that the invasive Port Jackson is totally absent. However, this did not mean that the new mouth position was in any way permanent. Normal estuarine processes continued, and in particular sand from the sea again moved into the estuary on the tides. New flood tidal deltas formed in the estuary and channels changed. One consequence of this was that the major new channel started scouring out the western bank at the caravan park. The situation in July, 2014, is shown in Figure 7. Conclusions The events described over the nine years from 2005 to 2014 have been particularly dramatic, but are part of the natural variability of such an estuarine

system. Extreme events, here exemplified by floods, can occur at any stage, and their effect and impact will be dependent on conditions at the time. Nonetheless, it is important to realise that such changes inanestuary canhavesubstantial implications for infrastructure built around the estuary. In the Keurbooms system toilet/shower facilities, pathways and boardwalks were destroyed, a parking area and link road were washed away and at one stage more substantial infrastructure was threatened at Poortjies. Moreover, Lookout Beach is a prime tourist location, enjoyed by thousands of visitors every year. The fact that, over the years from 2006 to 2013 the beach was at first very limited and then totally non existent was a blow to tourism and tourist operators. It is a facility which visitors like to know is available so that they can plan their holidays.

At present the estuary is allowed to vary without any interventions, and indeed people living on its boundaries, the municipality, visitors and those whose livelihoods depend on its appropriate functioning wait for the next big event. It is a moot point whether management is possible, but there are actually techniques available which could limit the impact of major flood events. The Support of the Department of Environment Affairs (DEA) to the Nelson Mandela University (NMU) for the initial study that led on to the work in this report is acknowledged with thanks.

Figure 4. a) Erosion of the parking area precinct in spite of the deployment of gabions and sand bags. b) Destruction of toilet/shower facilities with erosion of the foredune.

Dr Eckart Schumann 083 299 2092 041 586 0632

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