PHOTOS: The shocking effect of the drought on Lake St Lucia
"Where has all the water gone?" is the question Di Macpherson asked on her recent trip to the Western Shores of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. She documented the ravaging effects of the worst drought in living memory.
As we drove through the Western Shore section of the Park, the question I kept asking in shock was: "Where is all the water?" The effects of one of the worst droughts in living memory are ominously present.
Rainfall levels are at their lowest in 65 years in this area, and it's most evident when you catch sight of Lake St Lucia. Glimmering water has been replaced by desert-coloured sand. It's the exposed water bed.
At the moment, according to iSimangaliso CEO Andrew Zaloumis, only some 30% of the Lake’s surface area has water.
The Lake system has compartmentalised. Thousands of fish and marine species have died.
Here are some photos showing the deteriorating situation.
Above, Lake Bhangazi may look lovely in this photo, but levels are extremely low. The grassed-area you can see in the photo should be completely submerged by water.
Above, this Lake St Lucia jetty at Catalina Bay hasn't been surrounded by water in several months. The sandy area should be covered in water.
Above, the same jetty in July 2015. You can see the water is still not touching the jetty walkway, but it's far closer than the photo above it, taken in February 2016.
Above, in even more stark contrast, this is the same section of the Lake in January 2014. This photo was taken from the Catalina Bay viewing deck. No sand bed is exposed at all.
Above, the Catalina viewing deck as seen from the Lake. Andrew Zaloumis took us onto the sand bed to witness first-hand the effects of the drought. The vast expanse was dotted with dead fish and thousands of shells, which had once been homes to molluscs, long dried up or eaten by birds.
Above, in the far distance a hippo grazed on whatever grass was near the edge of the Lake. "The health of Africa’s largest estuary, Lake St Lucia, impacts locally, nationally and globally on bio-diversity and is material to the viability of local and national economic activities," says Zaloumis.
Above, the Park CEO inspects the effects of the drought on the Lake.
Above, our final view of the Catalina Bay area. Let's hope and pray that there is enough rainfall to fill it up once again. And that this comes soon.
*** Last week iSimangaliso announced it had signed an historic R10-million contract to restore Lake St Lucia. It's the culmination of five years’ work by iSimangaliso and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife. Cyclone Engineering will be removing some 100 000 m3 of dredge spoil (sand, silt and vegetation) that was placed in the natural course of the uMfolozi River impeding its flow into Lake St Lucia.
"This marks the beginning of nature’s renewal and a return to wholeness for the Lake St Lucia system,” said Zaloumis.
With the support of the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and World Bank, a further R20 million has been allocated by iSimangaliso to continue the work of restoring Africa’s largest estuarine system.