THE drought had radically affected the Lake St Lucia System, which now has only 30% of its normal water surface.
This has resulted in water being pushed northwards in standing waves known as a ‘seiche’, exposing mud banks along the Narrows.
The present drought, along with the separation of the uMfolozi River from the system, has led to very low water levels and high salinities.
The effect was dramatically seen during a media tour of iSimangaliso Wetland Park on Tuesday.
Salinities have risen to levels between 60 and 100 parts per thousand (ppt) in the northern sections such as False Bay and 35 ppt in the southern regions.
These conditions are rapidly reaching the limits of tolerance for normal estuarine invertibrates.
Flamingoes, however, are one specie which can take advantage of these conditions.
iSimangaliso CEO Andrew Zaloumis says the present beach spillway linking the uMfolozi River to the St Lucia System has put the whole system in a much better position than the previous eight-year drought between 2002 and 2010.
The whole system, including the uMkhuze Section is being closely monitored.
