Harties Dam

[Ian]

I have never seen it this bad... taken on Saturday morning 15 November 08.

and to think people pay big bucks to live there

[Big-D]

I have not seen it like that either - That high I mean , it looks nicer low level early in the morning

[Thatchman]

Ja is looks terrible. I also took one on Sunday morning. Check the blokes fishing in that muck

[johnsa]

What we see on this pic that is so bad?

I have never seen it this bad... taken on Saturday morning 15 November 08.

and to think people pay big bucks to live there

[Ian]

[quote="johnsa"]What we see on this pic that is so bad?



Do you like that green stuff ?

[johnsa]

Dat zijn algen toch?

[johnsa]

It depends on the reason they make co2 and can be very nutritious for fish depending on the kind of algae and fish....

[kloot piloot]

Ian, You have PM.

[kloot piloot]

johnsa, what you see there is POISON. Here are a couple of extracts from an editorial of the local newspaper. It is outright scary !

"Hope for the Dam
The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) in an effort to send out a message of hope, invited members of the media to a technical briefing session last week where the remediation project and its different components were amongst others presented.
Petrus Venter, Deputy Regional Director; Water Resource Management in the Northwest discussed the present state of the Hartbeespoort Dam which has for a number of years already experienced unacceptable high levels of algal blooms. This has according to the Department had a negative affect on the water quality in the Dam, the water usage from the dam, the aquatic ecosystem and the environment.

“A large number of projects have been undertaken in the past to investigate and address the problem, with little success. Some of the actions that took place include the establishment of the Hartbeespoort Water Action Group (HWAG) in 2001 and toxic algal cleanups in 2001 and 2003.

Venter gave a brief background on the problems experienced and these can be summarized as follows:
* The dam is in a hypertoxic state, about 50% of the water originates from urban return flows,
* recreational activities on and around the dam are severely impeded,
* Excessive growth of algae and water hyacinths are taking place,
* Drinking water treatment is increasingly becoming problematic,
* Fish population in the dam is imbalanced, and
* Downstream users are adversely effected by periodically released poor quality water.
The focus activities in the program addresses incoming water from the Crocodile River and suggests treatment to reduce the phosphate load; building of a pre impoundment wall to retain sediment and treated phosphate; removal, treatment and disposal of sediments; management of permanent wetlands and establishing a litter trap.

Upstream catchment focuses include education and awareness, establishment of an integrated monitoring program and updating of phosphate loading for diffuse sources.

Venter said he believed that they had the ability to make a difference through creating awareness. He concluded and said that the Dam was in quite a good state at the moment but warned people to stay away from toxic algae which is expected to be around again during the hot summer months."

And the summer has barely started and already it looks like it does !

[RV4ker (RIP)]

You flying too high. If you go really low down the green becomes a lovely velvet and looks MUCH better....

I used to fall plenty when waterski'ing at the VAAL. I have only fallen 1ce in Harties and I almost walked on water back to the boat...

[The Agent]

They dont neeed a creepy they need a moer of a lawn mower.

[johnsa]

Still its nice to live there especially at the old cosmos, good people good atmosphere and not far from fourways and most people have there own swimming pool

[grosvenor]

The Google view, the dam is greener than the surrounding countryside

harties.jpg (78.89 KiB) Viewed 3015 times

[Low Level]

The first time I'd tried to fiend Harties on Google, it took me about ten minutes. I just couldn't see it. I eventually followed the road from Pretroria to the dam, and then saw why I couldn't see it.

Being colourblind also did't help.


Bronkies did look a bit better on Saturday.

Over Bronkies1.JPG (61.62 KiB) Viewed 2966 times

[johnsa]

Who is flying that little plane? or is it something else the white spot.