Thursday 5 November 2009

What happened at Kamfers Dam

I promised to post you Tania's update ...

Here you can read the one she posted to the members of Facebook group



Baby Flamingos in distress

There has been a rise in the water level at Kamfers Dam that has put the Flamingo breeding season in huge jeopardy. Many eggs and small chicks have been washed away while others have found higher ground and are fighting for survival. Kimberley could soon lose its world-famous Lesser Flamingo breeding island.

What happened?
With increased inflow of poorly-treated water from the Homevale Waste Water Treatment Plant, recent rains and limited evaporation, the island started flooding about a month ago. Over the past two days approx. 90 mm of rain and hail fell during heavy storms, and half of Kimberley’s storm water runoff has caused the water level at Kamfers Dam to rise very quickly.

This tragedy could have been prevented if the Municipality had anticipated the imminent collapse of its infrastructure several years ago, and planned for the city’s growth and increased production of waste water. Although the Sol Plaatje Municipality has slowly been doing repairs and intends to upgrade the sewerage works and divert some of the treated water to another locality, it does not seem as if it has the resources to do so.


You can help by signing our petition at
http://www.savetheflamingo.co.za./petition/
and/or make a donation at
http://www.savetheflamingo.co.za./donate.php
which will be used to try and keep the flamingos breeding at Kamfers Dam.
For more information go to
http://www.savetheflamingo.co.za./index.php



You can also read the article (press release) on Boma

http://www.africam.com/wildlife/floodflamcam

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