Kamfers Dam
Encyclopedia
Kamfers Dam is a privately owned permanent water body of 400 ha, situated to the immediate north of Kimberley
, South Africa. The wetland was originally an ephemeral
pan
, often dry and dependent on rain water. In recent times its water level rose as it received constant runoff and treated water from the growing city of Kimberley.
The dam has become a major breeding site for Lesser Flamingo
s since construction of an artificial island
. The dam and surrounding 380ha wetland area are designated as a conservation zone in the city's draft spatial development plan
. As of 2008 though, pollution and rezoning of nearby land for the proposed Northgate development became a contentious issue, with conservationists raising alarm.
s (Cyclotella spp.), the main food sources for its plentiful Lesser Flamingo
s. The dam typically supports 20,000 Lesser Flamingos, but occasionally over 50,000 Lesser Flamingos are present, a large proportion of the subregion's total population. The birds are mobile and commute between the major feeding sites in southern Africa.
A submerged pump driven by solar panels
delivers water to four ponds where the flamingos can collect clay to build the nest turrets. A thousand artificial nest turrets were constructed in the hope that flamingos would settle on the island, and within weeks some 10,000 birds arrived. These birds departed for winter but a larger flock of some 20,000 returned in September 2007 and commenced breeding over the midsummer months, ignoring the man-made turrets and building their own.
The new breeding site is considered to be of special importance as the most important Lake Natron
is threatened by proposed soda ash
mining, while Etosha Pan is only productive once every 9 years. The island also offers unusual insight into Flamingo biology since typical breeding sites are much less accessible. Webcam
s are to be installed when the flamingos vacate the island, to facilitate observations and to increase public awareness.
As of 2008 conservationists
are at odds with city officials and developers due to pollution and plans for nearby residential and business development. Conservationists appealed to the public to oppose the developers and proposed a solution the pollution problem.
was noticed in the dam during February 2008, raising fears of an outbreak of toxic Microcystis
algae. Observed abnormalities
in some birds were ascribed to the poor water quality
. In June 2008 it was found that the sewage plant of the Homevale municipal works was ineffective and leaking sewage into the dam, in contravention of South African water legislation. City conservationists and engineers proposed a solution, solicited help from the public and raised general awareness. Discussions with the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality
were deadlocked on the issue.
The controversy escalated in August 2008 when the city of Kimberley suspended three officials of the Northern Cape
department of conservation and tourism, pending disciplinary hearings. By doing so the city also effectively sidelined these officials from discussions about the Northgate development's EIA
.
, Kamfers Dam was the scene of a skirmish on December 9, 1899. Subsequently a large Boer cannon was stationed at Kamfers Dam which started firing 96 lb. shells at the town on February 7, 1900. A number of cavalry sorties were made from Kimberley in attempts to capture it. The heavy gun and its crew however evaded capture after the relief of the siege, when its retreat was covered by Boer defensive positions at Dronfield.
Kimberley, Northern Cape
Kimberley is a city in South Africa, and the capital of the Northern Cape. It is located near the confluence of the Vaal and Orange Rivers. The town has considerable historical significance due its diamond mining past and siege during the Second Boer War...
, South Africa. The wetland was originally an ephemeral
Ephemeral
Ephemeral things are transitory, existing only briefly. Typically the term is used to describe objects found in nature, although it can describe a wide range of things....
pan
Salt pan (geology)
Natural salt pans are flat expanses of ground covered with salt and other minerals, usually shining white under the sun. They are found in deserts, and should not be confused with salt evaporation ponds.A salt pan is formed where water pools...
, often dry and dependent on rain water. In recent times its water level rose as it received constant runoff and treated water from the growing city of Kimberley.
The dam has become a major breeding site for Lesser Flamingo
Lesser Flamingo
The Lesser Flamingo is a species in the flamingo family of birds that resides in Africa and in southern Asia...
s since construction of an artificial island
Artificial island
An artificial island or man-made island is an island or archipelago that has been constructed by people rather than formed by natural means...
. The dam and surrounding 380ha wetland area are designated as a conservation zone in the city's draft spatial development plan
Spatial planning
Spatial planning refers to the methods used by the public sector to influence the distribution of people and activities in spaces of various scales. Discrete professional disciplines which involve spatial planning include land use planning, urban planning, regional planning, transport planning and...
. As of 2008 though, pollution and rezoning of nearby land for the proposed Northgate development became a contentious issue, with conservationists raising alarm.
Lesser Flamingos
The dam harbours high concentrations of blue-green algae (Spirulina spp) and diatomDiatom
Diatoms are a major group of algae, and are one of the most common types of phytoplankton. Most diatoms are unicellular, although they can exist as colonies in the shape of filaments or ribbons , fans , zigzags , or stellate colonies . Diatoms are producers within the food chain...
s (Cyclotella spp.), the main food sources for its plentiful Lesser Flamingo
Lesser Flamingo
The Lesser Flamingo is a species in the flamingo family of birds that resides in Africa and in southern Asia...
s. The dam typically supports 20,000 Lesser Flamingos, but occasionally over 50,000 Lesser Flamingos are present, a large proportion of the subregion's total population. The birds are mobile and commute between the major feeding sites in southern Africa.
Construction of island
The dam has become an important breeding site for Lesser Flamingos since an artificial S-shaped breeding island was constructed in September 2006. Ornithologist Mark D. Anderson enlisted the help of a local company Ekapa Mining, who moved 26,000 tons of material to create the island. All was delivered along a narrow 200m causeway, and deposited in an S-shape to create two bays.Photovoltaic module
A solar panel is a packaged, connected assembly of solar cells, also known as photovoltaic cells...
delivers water to four ponds where the flamingos can collect clay to build the nest turrets. A thousand artificial nest turrets were constructed in the hope that flamingos would settle on the island, and within weeks some 10,000 birds arrived. These birds departed for winter but a larger flock of some 20,000 returned in September 2007 and commenced breeding over the midsummer months, ignoring the man-made turrets and building their own.
Conservation value
In the summer season of 2007/8 almost two thousand pairs of Lesser Flamingo bred on the island, producing an estimated 9,000 chicks. The breeding success is expected to reverse the recent negative population trend in the southern population. This breeding colony became the first for the species in South Africa, the fourth in Africa and one of 6 in the world.The new breeding site is considered to be of special importance as the most important Lake Natron
Lake Natron
Lake Natron is a salt lake located in northern Tanzania, close to the Kenyan border, in the eastern branch of Africa's Great Rift Valley. The lake is fed by the Ewaso Ng'iro River but also by mineral-rich hot springs and is quite shallow, less than three meters deep, and varies in width depending...
is threatened by proposed soda ash
Sodium carbonate
Sodium carbonate , Na2CO3 is a sodium salt of carbonic acid. It most commonly occurs as a crystalline heptahydrate, which readily effloresces to form a white powder, the monohydrate. Sodium carbonate is domestically well-known for its everyday use as a water softener. It can be extracted from the...
mining, while Etosha Pan is only productive once every 9 years. The island also offers unusual insight into Flamingo biology since typical breeding sites are much less accessible. Webcam
Webcam
A webcam is a video camera that feeds its images in real time to a computer or computer network, often via USB, ethernet, or Wi-Fi.Their most popular use is the establishment of video links, permitting computers to act as videophones or videoconference stations. This common use as a video camera...
s are to be installed when the flamingos vacate the island, to facilitate observations and to increase public awareness.
Conservation controversies
Conservation movement
The conservation movement, also known as nature conservation, is a political, environmental and a social movement that seeks to protect natural resources including animal, fungus and plant species as well as their habitat for the future....
are at odds with city officials and developers due to pollution and plans for nearby residential and business development. Conservationists appealed to the public to oppose the developers and proposed a solution the pollution problem.
Pollution
Severe algal bloomAlgal bloom
An algal bloom is a rapid increase or accumulation in the population of algae in an aquatic system. Algal blooms may occur in freshwater as well as marine environments. Typically, only one or a small number of phytoplankton species are involved, and some blooms may be recognized by discoloration...
was noticed in the dam during February 2008, raising fears of an outbreak of toxic Microcystis
Microcystis
Microcystis is the genus of freshwater cyanobacteria which includes the harmful algal bloom Microcystis aeruginosa.-Etymology:The generic moniker Microcystis derives from the Greek mikros + kystis...
algae. Observed abnormalities
Lesion
A lesion is any abnormality in the tissue of an organism , usually caused by disease or trauma. Lesion is derived from the Latin word laesio which means injury.- Types :...
in some birds were ascribed to the poor water quality
Water quality
Water quality is the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water. It is a measure of the condition of water relative to the requirements of one or more biotic species and or to any human need or purpose. It is most frequently used by reference to a set of standards against which...
. In June 2008 it was found that the sewage plant of the Homevale municipal works was ineffective and leaking sewage into the dam, in contravention of South African water legislation. City conservationists and engineers proposed a solution, solicited help from the public and raised general awareness. Discussions with the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality
Sol Plaatje Local Municipality
The Sol Plaatje Local Municipality is a local municipality in the Frances Baard District Municipality district of the Northern Cape province, South Africa. It includes the diamond mining city of Kimberley.- Reference :...
were deadlocked on the issue.
Northgate development
A contentious rezoning of adjacent land, predicted to increase pollution and disturbance, was once again opposed by conservationists and the like-minded public. The proposed developments along the shore of the dam would include both residential and business properties.The controversy escalated in August 2008 when the city of Kimberley suspended three officials of the Northern Cape
Northern Cape
The Northern Cape is the largest and most sparsely populated province of South Africa. It was created in 1994 when the Cape Province was split up. Its capital is Kimberley. It includes the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park, part of an international park shared with Botswana...
department of conservation and tourism, pending disciplinary hearings. By doing so the city also effectively sidelined these officials from discussions about the Northgate development's EIA
Environmental impact assessment
An environmental impact assessment is an assessment of the possible positive or negative impact that a proposed project may have on the environment, together consisting of the natural, social and economic aspects....
.
History note
During the Siege of KimberleySiege of Kimberley
The Siege of Kimberley took place during the Second Boer War at Kimberley, Cape Colony , when Boer forces from the Orange Free State and the Transvaal besieged the diamond mining town. The Boers moved quickly to try to capture the British enclave when war broke out between the British and the two...
, Kamfers Dam was the scene of a skirmish on December 9, 1899. Subsequently a large Boer cannon was stationed at Kamfers Dam which started firing 96 lb. shells at the town on February 7, 1900. A number of cavalry sorties were made from Kimberley in attempts to capture it. The heavy gun and its crew however evaded capture after the relief of the siege, when its retreat was covered by Boer defensive positions at Dronfield.