Groenvlei wetlands at risk

SEDGEFIELD NEWS - Growing concern over water scarcity and ecological degradation has intensified following approval of a water-use licence for a large avocado and macadamia farm near Groenvlei.

Residents and conservation groups warn that the development threatens already stressed groundwater reserves and sensitive wildlife corridors extending across Wilderness Heights.

Water resources under pressure
Knysna Municipality's manager of water and wastewater, Rhoydon Parry, confirmed that the Breede-Gouritz Catchment Management Agency oversees regional water allocation and licensing.

"Knysna currently abstracts up to 1Ml/day from the Sedgefield borehole wellfield, with continuous monitoring of flows, drawdown levels and water quality," explained Parry.

Although Knysna's Spatial Development Framework and Water Master Plan guide long-term planning - and the proposed Kruisvallei Dam is being explored as a short-term intervention - residents argue that Sedgefield is already facing a water crisis. They fear that further agricultural abstraction could tip the system into deeper scarcity.

Ecological concerns intensify
Environmental groups, including WaLEAF, warn that expanding water-hungry agriculture threatens the fragile Groenvlei wetland system and a vital biodiversity corridor linking the Outeniqua Mountains to Wilderness Heights.

While environmental approvals are required under Nema, activists argue that decision-making fails to consider cumulative impacts from multiple farms and the broader ecological vulnerability of the region.

Forestry, invasive species and regional pressures
A letter published online on the George Herald website on 30 September by Dr Arne Witt, who is affiliated with WaLEAF, highlights broader environmental risks, noting that commercial forestry has historically contributed to widespread pine invasions that significantly reduce streamflow.

Research indicates that invasive pines in fynbos increased by 33% between 2008 and 2023, with some catchments experiencing up to 55% declines in flows. Witt warns that reinstating or expanding such plantations - much like the expansion of irrigated orchards - further intensifies pressure on already scarce water resources.

Planning and governance gaps
Residents argue that the deeper crisis is one of governance. Dr Witt echoes this concern, stating that municipalities continue to facilitate new - and often illegal - developments without any coherent long-term strategy.

"It is development at any cost," he warns, "with no vision for how to deal with climate change, which will amplify the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events." He believes authorities must make "tough, potentially unpopular decisions" because the region cannot continue on its current trajectory.

Knysna Municipality has a draft Climate Change Adaptation Plan under review, but many feel regional planning remains fragmented, with limited enforcement and poor transparency around hydrological and ecological data.

A region at a crossroads
With worsening drought, declining groundwater and expanding high-demand agriculture, the Groenvlei and Sedgefield areas face a critical moment.

Conservationists stress that protecting Groenvlei Lake and its surrounding ecosystems is essential not only for biodiversity, but for the long-term water security of local communities.

Dr Arne Witt. Photo: George Herald