Residents association launches a war against weed in a local dam

Approximately 80% of the Kariba weed that covered the surface of Lonehill Dam has been removed.

The Lonehill Residents Association (LRA) with the help from Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo recently resumed the massive task to remove the alien invasive Kariba weed and the myriphyllum aquaticum in Lonehill Dam.

Environment manager at LRA Nadeem Abrahams said the dam is home to thousands of species

and explained, “We started the rehabilitation project in June 2020 with the support from Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo. Our long-term goal is to permanently eradicate the alien invasive aquatic weeds and reeds in and around the dam.

“We have always advised that this would not be a quick-fix plan and numerous studies and experiments have proven success while using this method.”

He said when they started the dam rehabilitation project, 90% of the dam’s surface was covered with Kariba weed. “With the help of the biocontrol agents and the manual removal of the weeds we have successfully managed to remove approximately 80% of the Kariba weed which is more than we had hoped to achieve from then up until now.

“We still have a way to go in order to eradicate the remainder of the weeds and the new ones that have surfaced after lying beneath the once dominant Kariba weed.”

He added, “We are very grateful to the Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo for their support and guidance with this project and to the Department of Environmental Affairs for providing us with biological control agents to assist us in the fight against these alien invasive weeds.

“Although the process is very slow, we are pleased to report that so far it is working.”