Author Topic: St Lucia/Maphelane (Read 131800 times)

uk145 · « **Reply #20 on:** February 26, 2017, 02:45:54 PM »

Hi guys,
Whats predictions on conditions this week.
Has alot of river/estuary water entered the ocean

sardinella · « **Reply #21 on:** February 26, 2017, 07:38:37 PM »

River and estuary closed to the sea

sardinella · « **Reply #22 on:** February 27, 2017, 07:59:53 AM »

Current high water levels in the lake.

CLS · « **Reply #23 on:** February 27, 2017, 08:15:02 AM »

That's great thanks for sharing.

dirkm · « **Reply #24 on:** February 27, 2017, 09:01:16 AM »

Returned from Vidal last week, the road to Mission was closed for construction.
Ask at park's main entrance gate if the road is open otherwise your entry fee will be wasted.

REEFMAN · « **Reply #25 on:** February 28, 2017, 07:38:37 AM »

A more updated pic?

sardinella · « **Reply #26 on:** February 28, 2017, 11:20:59 AM »

Now that's a nice pic!

Plugger · « **Reply #27 on:** February 28, 2017, 11:27:14 AM »

Crossed the Umfolozi yesterday on the way back from Moz, flowing strongly ! I was surprised to see lots of cattle in the ISimagoliso (?) reserve, inside the cattle grids. Didn't see a single animal though I wasn't really looking.

REEFMAN · « **Reply #28 on:** February 28, 2017, 05:06:07 PM »

Willie, do you know if there are any fish in the Umfolozi toward Maphelane yet? We used to catch grunter on dropshot there, but somehow doubt the estuary has been repopulated yet...

sardinella · « **Reply #29 on:** February 28, 2017, 06:48:02 PM »

No saltwater fish, most of fish died out and were netted out in the northern parts during the low water levels.
This is a whole ecosysytem that has turned fresh. An open mouth will only start the recovery. The system is chocked with sediment and an invasive reed species. All the vast shelfish beds and razorclams have died off. I dont think we still understand the full impact of the drought and the subsequent flooding of the lake system with fresh water.

sardinella · « **Reply #30 on:** February 28, 2017, 06:55:26 PM »

Photo of the lake bed I took in the northern region - Kwa Nibela

sardinella · « **Reply #31 on:** February 28, 2017, 06:56:47 PM »

Satelite image showing the scope of the drought

sardinella · « **Reply #32 on:** February 28, 2017, 07:02:00 PM »

The lake was a vast shallow food producing ecosytem that has to re establish itself, plankton and micro organisms, small invertabrates etc. No fish actually breeds in a system like this, but larva, small fish and adult fish enter these systems solely for the food resources.

CLS · « **Reply #33 on:** March 01, 2017, 08:12:15 AM »

What is the status now ??

sardinella · « **Reply #34 on:** March 01, 2017, 08:41:36 AM »

Right now it is a shallow slightly brackish freshwater system, fed mainly by the Mfolozi and Mkuzi rivers and smaller streams.

Half-Pint · « **Reply #35 on:** March 01, 2017, 10:02:06 AM »

Sardinella the previous reports from Isimangaliso indicated that the salinity levels had climbed extremely high? Are you saying that was not the case?

REEFMAN · « **Reply #36 on:** March 01, 2017, 10:07:28 AM »

That was before the drought Brad, before the entire lake (190 square kms) dried up by 99%. So until the estuary breaks through to the ocean, the system is practically freshwater...
Unless of course, you're referring to the salinity of the miles of sand...

sardinella · « **Reply #37 on:** March 01, 2017, 10:43:00 AM »

Plugger · « **Reply #38 on:** March 08, 2017, 06:52:23 PM »

Quote from: REEFMAN on February 28, 2017, 07:38:37 AM

A more updated pic?

Doesn't look like there's much beach around the big dune at Mapelane

Rory mundy · « **Reply #39 on:** March 08, 2017, 08:16:41 PM »

They not digging there