ALBERTON-The tranquil Jackson Dam in Brackenhurst could be lost for future generation if the council does not do the necessary environmental studies and intervention to preserve this family gathering place.
Councillor and environmentalist Jill Humphreys is of the opinion that the area could easily be developed into a proper wetland, which will stop the stream from overflowing into neighbouring gardens or stagnating in certain places.
The cement bridge, and a pile of sand that was brought in without the permission of the council and used to block up the one side of the dam, is causing the water to stagnate.
Jill says “It is now just a tub of water with artificial fish being dumped into it. With the correct development by environmental specialists to assist the Roads and Storm water division, the correct plantings will encourage amphibian life and increase the number of variations found in the area. A natural fluctuating system means that there should be a seasonal ebb and flow, and the water levels then regulate itself. The artificial blockage is doing the system a lot of harm in the long run.“
On the island in the middle and along the banks one sees black wattle and other invaders, which will overtake the other plant life and decrease biodiversity. As the dam is part of a protected ecosystem, these invaders should be removed.
The water should also be tested for cholera, but as this is expensive, council has not done so for years. Storm water often pushes out and then over sewage drains and leaks into dams like Jackson, which is frequented by many families and fishermen. In Jill’s opinion, mechanical solutions are not always the best, if nature is left to do its job, it does it well. She suspects that the reason for the overflowing of the neighbour’s houses is a pipe, which runs directly from neighbouring Rand Water into the stream, and this can cause flooding. The dam is created by storm water, but the mouth on the side of Hennie Alberts is too narrow and combined with the water from Rand Water this is becoming a nightmare for some Brackenhurst residents.
On the banks next to Rand Water, new trees that were planted last year with the 11 000 tree project stand drying in the sun. No compost or watering is visible, and the trees have not been pruned for a very long time.
What is now a mediocre dam, can be transformed into a bio-diverse wetland and a lovely inheritance for future generations.
