Eradication of invasive hyacinths at a standstill

[Nat Quinn]

Eradication of invasive hyacinths at a standstill

The creeping invasion of millions of hyacinth plants has left the delicate aquatic ecosystem of the Olifants River hanging in the balance.

 A recent photo of the hyacinths in the Olifants River.

Residents lucky enough to find homestead along the riverfront of the Olifants are growing increasingly more concerned over the lack of eradication efforts, while the invasive species has blanketed more than 80 hectares of the river system between the Rafiki bridge and Presidentsrus.

The ongoing invasion has been fought for several years, recently sparking panic in December after the National Sea Rescue Institution had to tow more than 30 boats out of the thick carpets of hyacinths covering Hartbeespoort Dam.

Locally, the plant has taken over the 22km stretch of the Olifants River, as well as Witbank Dam, now threatening to spill over into Loskop, while a budget approval from the Department of Environmental Affairs is being waited upon to have the plant eradicated.

The issue has led to the establishment of a long-term partnership between Environmental Affairs Working on Water and a privately-owned company, which has successfully removed large amounts of hyacinths from the Olifants River in the past, as well as eradicated other invasive species.

The agreement, however, was brought to a standstill after a renewal of the tender was being waited upon.

A reliable source believes that the hold-up is due to budget constraints, but the tender might be approved in the new financial year.

The source, however, stated that the situation is not being ignored by the department and that they are currently busy with the evaluation and adjudication process.

“Financial constraints serve as the main obstacle, and the department has many ongoing projects that need attention. It’s a case of prioritising certain projects according to available budget.”

Meanwhile, the hyacinths spread from the Olifants River to the inlet of Loskop Dam in January, resulting in clean-up efforts being spearheaded by former aquatic ecologist of the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency, Andre Hoffman, and regional ecologist of the MTPA, Jannie Coetzee.

More than seven 40kg bags of the plant were removed in January, and the situation is being narrowly monitored, with no reports of them making their way into the dam itself.

The plant is classified as an invasive species and robs the aquatic ecosystem of oxygen and sunlight, as well as threatening aquatic life. The plant seeds at a rapid rate, from which a mother plant with eight runners each is formed.

source:Eradication of invasive hyacinths at a standstill | Middelburg Observer (citizen.co.za)

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