Jennie Dallas: The Klip River

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Cleaning up the Klip RiverCleaning up the Klip RiverGauteng Canoe Union

We in Johannesburg, South Africa, live in an urban environment.

As river racing canoeists, we desperately search for rivers to enjoy but our choices and options are limited. Within reach for regular weekend races, we have the following river available to our calendar:

Klip River in Meyerton, 45 minutes drive from Johannesburg – this little stream has a number of rapids on, some man made obstacles such as home made weirs, and bridges that have been washed away and broken. The river has been polluted for many years by mine dumping, farmers dumping agricultural as well as animal waste, local sewerage contractors dumping waste into the river instead of hauling to the treatment works.

Cleaning up the Klip RiverCleaning up the Klip RiverGauteng Canoe Union

One of the biggest dangers and problems we experience on the Klip River is the non indigenous trees planted in the past 150 years of colonial settlement. Since the miners arrived in the Savannah grasslands of the Witwatersrand region which includes Johannesburg/Pretoria and Vereeniging (The VAAL Triangle area), trees were planted for the support structures as lumber, but colonials also planted trees from home in this treeless savannah grasslands area, growing Johannesburg and surrounding towns into the worlds biggest manmade urban forest.

The trees from England (Willows and Oak) in the dry Highveld climate, and Scandinavian Pines, Jacaranda from goodness knows where, massive Gum trees from Australia, etc are not solid in the soil of this environment and fall over easily after the wild electric storms, where the Highveld region where we live has the worlds highest lightning strikes.

Cleaning up the Klip RiverCleaning up the Klip RiverGauteng Canoe Union

The trees congest the river so badly that for many years, residents in the little town of Meyerton did not even know they HAD a river running through the town…..the flow was so covered and camouflaged by trees in some areas, and polluted pockets of stagnant water from overflowing sewers and leaking sewerage manholes as a result of lack of constant and regular municipal service.

During the past 15 years, the canoeists of the Gauteng Canoe Union have worked hard, using chain saws, hand saws, borrowed equipment from supportive companies such as cranes and backactors from Esor Franki and removed thousands of tons of tree debris from the river…..too late for many bridges which have been broken and damaged as a result of flooding with huge trees washed down the narrow river.

When hyacinth started flourishing on the river, canoeists took boats, and manually removed the weed, for ongoing periods of weeks, and we monitor and check regularly to ensure no further break outs of Hyacinth on the river…..

Cleaning up the Klip RiverCleaning up the Klip RiverGauteng Canoe Union

Local canoeists work with the local water environment companies Rand Water and the local Municipalities at Midvaal to ensure better control of pollution, servicing and treatment of leaking sewerage pipes and manholes, and constant monitoring of the pollution into the rivers and reporting of any problems.

As a result, the river flows much more cleanly, faster flow, less blockages in floods. Local residents at Henley have also got involved and have river clean up projects to remove dead tree debris which congests the river……

Gauteng Canoe Union clubs hosts regular river races and learning trips for canoeists on the river teaching them river skills, safety on rivers, and even young children enjoy the river and rapids safely and without risk of infection.

Cleaning up the Klip RiverCleaning up the Klip RiverGauteng Canoe Union

We will celebrate the healthier recovery of the Klip river on International Day of Action for Rivers with a South African traditional BRAAI (barbecue) and beer as we plan our next trips, tree clearing, and races on the river.

Sunday 17 March will see us escorting learners and beginners ON the river enjoying the faster flow and cleaner currents, checking for pollution, monitoring for leaks, teaching enjoyment and skills.