Race to save the Florida Lake

Water levels at the Florida Lake have fallen to alarming levels in the past few months.

The Roodepoort Record has received complaints from several community members including members of the Florida Lake Specimen Angling Club, the Florida Lake Yacht Club, and others, all claiming that the fall in water levels is due to damage to the dam wall.

A visit to the dam wall with Florida South Residents Association chairperson Rodney Churchyard not only confirmed the low water level but revealed water flowing out underneath the dam wall under such pressure that it forms what looks like small water fountains on the other side of the wall.

During a visit to the Florida Yacht Club, it was clear that their activities are completely stifled by the low water levels as their launching pads, usually submerged, are completely dry.

According to club member Nichol Hakkesteeg, the water level is the lowest he has ever seen.

“There are usually seasonal changes in the water level,” he says. “But this is by far lower than anything we’ve ever experienced before. I’ve visited the dam on most days for the past few weeks, and by my calculations, the water level is receding by about a foot (30cm) per week.

“We are, at this point, unable to launch any boats in the dam because the water has receded to such an extent that doing so would likely damage our boats.”

Hakkesteeg is concerned about the fast-approaching rainy season, saying that, while it may help with water levels, chances are that the dam wall could further deteriorate.

“Should water levels rise, the added pressure on the dam wall could result in further erosion, which would likely spell trouble for areas downstream.”

The Record posed questions to Johannesburg City Parks and Zoos (JCPZ) spokesperson Jenny Moodley, who says that, since Florida Lake is not a registered dam, it is viewed as a stormwater catchment, which would fall under the ambit of Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA).

JRA’s head of infrastructure planning Musa Mkhacane, confirmed that Florida Lake does not meet the risk criteria for a registered dam.

“Notwithstanding this fact, the JRA does assist in the management of unregistered dams when budgets are available,” he says, adding that it is not as high up on the priority list as it does not meet the risk criteria regulated by the Department of Water and Sanitation.

“We had budget available to do the planning and design phases of Florida Lake for now and so we initiated the structural assessments, geotechnical and environmental assessment which are critical to design a sustainable solution.”

Mkhacane explains that this is why it was necessary to drill core samples to determine the cause of the problem and recommend a design that is sustainable for the long term and that at the same time is feasible for the City.

“The JRA follows the Engineering Council of South Africa’s professional guidelines for design and construction, which can take time and seem like deliberate delays to the general public, but it is not. We are currently in the concept design stage.”

Mkhacane cautions that there are currently no funds committed for the construction of the recommended designs once they are completed, but adds that the JRA and JCPZ will engage on how to collaborate in their efforts to rehabilitate the structure and environment.