AMID worsening drought in the Eastern Cape, the roll-out of a new alien invasive plant clearing project in the Kouga and Kromme River systems near Kareedouw and Joubertina is set to substantially increase the water flow to three of Port Elizabeth\u2019s supply dams while bringing much-needed job creation to the Langkloof region.<\/p>\n
Implemented by Gamtoos Irrigation Board on behalf of the Department of Environmental Affairs, the one-year National Resource Management project has employed 61 contractors and 800 workers to clear 950 densely populated hectares along the Diep River and its tributaries.<\/p>\n
According to Gamtoos Irrigation Board\u2019s Area Manager, Edwill Moore, eradicating these alien invasive species will bring some relief to the drought-stricken region by increasing the flow of water into the Impofu Dam, as well as the Kouga and Churchill dams downstream.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis on-going drought has placed enormous pressure on our storage dams. Alien invasive trees \u2013 in this case, mainly black wattle \u2013 consume huge amounts of water, which would otherwise flow into these dams,\u201d said Moore. \u201cClearing alien invasive plant species is one of the most cost-effective ways of increasing our water supply.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kouga Dam, a major supply dam in the region, currently stands at 31% full, while extraction from the Impofu Dam, which is the second biggest, has been halted after its water level dropped to a critical 17.5%.<\/p>\n
He said the contractors and their teams of 12 previously unemployed workers had been appointed from the local communities of Misgund, Louterwater, Krakeel, Joubertina and Kareedouw.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe advertised for contractors in the Kou-Kamma municipal area. A community liaison committee \u2013 consisting of five ward councillors and two ward committee members per ward \u2013 assisted in shortlisting a pool of potential contractors.\u201d<\/p>\n
Moore said the successful bidders were then asked to appoint their own teams \u2013 on the condition that the workers had to be drawn from the unemployment lists in the five wards. \u201cEach team comprises three chainsaw operators to fell the trees along the riverbanks and three herbicide applicators to ensure that the stumps don\u2019t grow back, assisted by two general workers. There are also two health and safety reps to maintain a safe working environment and a pair of first aiders in case of an injury on duty.\u201d<\/p>\n
In addition to specialist training, Moore said all participants received general life skills training such as HIV\/Aids counselling and substance abuse counselling.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
AMID worsening drought in the Eastern Cape, the roll-out of a new alien invasive plant clearing project in the Kouga and Kromme River systems near Kareedouw and Joubertina is set to substantially increase the water flow to three of Port Elizabeth\u2019s 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