The Lonehill Dam, long a treasured natural landmark for Ward 94 residents, has endured a turbulent year of environmental challenges.

After battling a severe infestation of Kariba weed, followed almost immediately by the sudden spread of red fern, the dam is finally beginning to show signs of recovery.

Ward 94 councillor David Foley said that the collaborative clean-up efforts are paying off.

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“The local team, along with Braai Room employees, has been removing the floating remnants after the massive clean-up by the amphibious harvesters. It is looking a lot better, but it’s an ongoing project, ensuring both visitors and residents alike can enjoy a beautiful part of nature in Ward 94.”

The latest improvements follow months of intensive rehabilitation. Earlier this year, Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) undertook a nine-week effort to remove the Kariba weed, a fast-spreading invasive species that had choked the dam.

The operation cost an estimated R300 000, requiring 20 days of heavy equipment, complete with operators and fuel.

At the time, residents feared that the dam, once a peaceful escape for birdlife, walkers, and families, might not recover, especially when, no sooner had the Kariba weed been contained, another challenge appeared: The red fern.

This invasive aquatic plant quickly spread across the water’s surface, turning the once-green dam into a striking, but worrying, red. For many in Lonehill, the shift felt like one step forward, two steps back.

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Interventions were put in place to stabilise the ecosystem. Foley, alongside stakeholders such as Rob van der Pauw, introduced eco granules to restore the balance of nitrates in the water.

The goal was to make the dam’s conditions less favourable for invasive plants, while helping the natural ecosystem to rebound.
Foley said recent rainfall appears to have boosted those efforts.

“With the rains of the last two days, it has brought the whole ecosystem back to life again, with frogs being heard at night, which means the eco granules have worked and restored the balance of the nitrates in the water.”

According to Foley, a water sample, taken by Ian Ross from International Metal Processing (IMP), confirmed encouraging results. The dam’s water is now clear.

Foley said: “I am very happy with the current state of the dam.”

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