Greenville Rehabilitation Implementation
The Rehabilitation Implementation is guided by the Greenville Wetland Rehabilitation and Conservation Management Plan and implemented by Garden Cities NPC (RF) and VULA Environmental Services. The project commenced in 2017 and is currently in its maintenance phase.
Purpose & Aim
The aim of the Greenville Wetland Rehabilitation and Conservation Management Plan, and specifically for the Mosselbank valley-bottom wetland area, is to enhance (or at least maintain) the provision of ecosystem services by the river and associated wetlands, and to improve the biodiversity in this conservation-worthy area.
Project site
The project is in Greenville, Durbanville, Cape Town. The River rehabilitation project is divided into two phases. Phase I commenced in 2017 and maintenance of this phase was completed in September 2021 whereby the area will be maintained by the local municipality. Phase II commenced in 2021 is currently in the maintenance phase.
01
Project Preparation
With the inception of the project 2017, a Site Survey and Search and Rescue was conducted, the appropriate approvals obtained, local labour employed, and training provided. To the left is the Greenville VULA team who are also volunteers with the MRCT.
02
Earthworks
Great improvement has been made to the hydrological and ecological functioning of the Mosselbank River including the associated wetland areas within the system. After detail site analysis and design, earthworks were conducted to affect the required topographical and soil decompaction required. The flood attenuation and streamflow regulation properties of the site were greatly improved.
03
Vegetation Management
Agricultural weeds such as Rumex, Patterson’s curse and Russian tumble weed remain persistent on site. Woody alien (such as Acacia saligna) species presence remains low, and no older individuals are present on site with this species are only represented by seedlings germinating in localised areas. The major source of alien vegetation on site is from the vast seed reserve within the soil. The exhaustion of this alien seed reserve will require long term alien management to eradicate all alien species.
04
Revegetation
Revegetation efforts included the introduction of robust riparian species to ensure bank stability, even during summer months, when water availability decreases, and plant life dies back. The vegetation is vital in the mitigation of the sudden releases of high volumes of water upstream, that caused most of the erosion problems. Outside of the riverbanks, many indigenous taxa were reintroduced into the area following soil preparation and intensive alien clearing.
05
Maintenance
The approved restoration and management plan will not be a static document and will remain an important management tool. Continued onsite works conducted in the Mosselbank River includes hand weeding, litter runs, revegetation, seed collection and propagation.