Invasive aquatic species have covered 398 hectares of the Vaal River, leaving less than one hectare of visible water at one point.
The Vaal River has officially reopened after local authorities and community groups worked for months to clear the water of invasive plants.
Water lettuce and hyacinth took over the Vaal River reservoir late last year, Rand Water said on Monday of the iconic river that forms the border between Mpumalanga, Gauteng and North West in the north and the Free State in the south.
Invasive species covers 398 hectares of river, 'damaging tourism' Business report said.
Boating companies ceased operations as the river became unnavigable.
The tourism industry suffered as hotels, boutique hotels, guest houses, pubs, golf courses, boating and fishing clubs and even picnic areas were damaged.
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Vaal's area has shrunk to 'less than one hectare'
However, after a lot of work and R10 million spent by the Vaal hospitality industry, weed levels had dropped dramatically by September this year.
Leslie Hoy, Vaal River Project Manager, said: IOL Invasive species have reduced the water cover to less than one hectare.
“Eventually in the winter it became possible to see clear water and most of the reservoir was free of free-swimming invasive species,” he said.
“This was achieved through the support of various stakeholders, starting from the Vaal River Community, Rand Water, the Department of Water and Sanitation and others.
“The scourge of water lettuce and water hyacinth [was] “This is driven by persistently high levels of water pollution in the Vaal River catchment area,” Hoy said.
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The Department of Water and Sanitation and the Rhodes University Biological Control Centre have joined Rand Water's environmental division, Water Wise, Stonehaven on the Vaal on the weekend.
There, officials interacted with the public during a celebration of the flotilla event. It marked the reopening of the dam and the official start of the spring sailing season.