With the festive season behind us, we can be thankful for a relatively incident-free season. The KJRC River patrol officers, in collaboration with Kouga Law Enforcement and SAMSA, worked together at times to ensure all vessels using the Kromme River were legally compliant. This included the checking of skippers’ licences as well as all the safety equipment on board.
River users would have noticed far more channel-marking buoys placed in the River this past season. This ensured a safer navigable channel for holidaymakers and craft using the River for the first time.
Swimming Area
The swimming area cordoned off near the Pump House became a welcome attraction. It provided a safe area for swimmers and children to enjoy that part of the River and the adjacent beach area.
As no dredging is allowed until the Spit and Beach Project commences, the navigable channel under the bridge over the River remains very narrow. River users are requested to exercise extreme caution when navigating through there.
Very little illegal fishing (gill netting) etc. was reported. The abalone poachers seem to not use the River when there is so much activity.
The constantly changing conditions at the River Mouth made it particularly challenging to mark the safest boat passage from the River and/or Ski Canal to the sea. For that reason, the KJRC had three patrol officers on duty all the time, one of which was stationed at the River Mouth full time. The latter played a significant role in ensuring that jetskis adhered to the rules and regulations in this area.
Increased temperatures
Due to the increased seawater temperature, there has been a huge nutrient spike in the River over the last six weeks. This has caused an alarming growth of algae (Ulva algae) in the lower approximately 800 metres of the River. The algae will get trapped by the resident marine flora and eventually die off as the nutrient levels and the water temperature normalise. Unfortunately, the dead algaes change from green to white. It then resembles wet toilet paper, often leading to false reports of raw sewerage.
The school holidays in March are already approaching. During this period and over the Easter weekend in April, the KJRC will ensure that at least two River Police will be on duty to monitor and manage activity on the River.
Safe boating till next time.
Kromme Joint River Committee
Read also: You The Reader – Notes From The Editor
What exactly is ghe powers of the KJRC River Patrol Officers abd where is these promulgated.What is meant by Kouga Law Enforcement who exactly is this and under what authority do operate.. How do one become part of these iniatives and support them