Beachwood Mangroves closed due to flooding
Beachwood Mangroves Nature Reserve at least a metre underwater after water build-up.
MUNICIPAL workers have cleared the uMngeni River mouth at Blue Lagoon, allowing water from the river to flow back into the sea. While local fishermen expressed their frustration at the blockage, the build-up of water has flooded parts of the Windsor Golf Course as well as the Beachwood Mangroves Nature Reserve.
This has forced the closure of the reserve as well as the cancellation of all tours to the reserve for the next two weeks as a major clean-up operation has been scheduled.
Basil Pather, conservation manager at the Beachwood Nature Reserve, said he has to paddle to his office every morning, which is situated about three kilometres in from the mouth.
“The water is about a metre high – the last time we had this was in 2007. Even the gazebo section of the reserve near the newly-built education centre wasn’t spared, and is also currently flooded. We’ve had to cancel all visits scheduled for the next two weeks.
“Once the water subsides there is going to be a lot of rubbish we are going to have to clean up. The flooding has also dislodged some sections of timber along the reserve’s boardwalks,” he said.
