THE invasive hyacinth has continued to clog up the Dusi route and the race’s organisers and environmentalists are in the process of clearing as much of it as possible before the three-day race gets underway on 16 February.
The race organisers, the Dusi Umgeni Conservation Trust (DUCT) and their partners have their work cut out for them as improved water flow and soaring temperatures have led to a dramatic expansion of the water-dwelling plant.
Hyacinth and water lettuce is incredibly mobile which adds to the issue of containment and DUCT’s service provider Bart Fokkens has teams along the entire FNB Dusi route managing the situation. “It has been tough for us this year because when we took a break during December and the hyacinth really bloomed,” said Bart. He sai his team has been hard at work cleanring the plant but without a helicopter, it has been difficult to kill large patches.
“We have been getting help from Umgeni Water and the Department of Water Affairs, which has made it easier to contain however we are going to have to do a lot more work in the build-up to Dusi.”
Organisers and DUCT realise that hyacinth is going to be a major problem come the FNB Dusi, and with all hands on deck in the build up to the race winning the war is going to be a difficult task. “We have never had to worry about this area in the past but we have a blockage at Inanda Dam,” said a concerned Bart.
With such a large section of water to cover, the teams will have their work cut out for them in the next three weeks as they try and destroy as much of the hyacinth as possible.
