Restoration of Lake St Lucia, the largest estuary in South Africa: historical perceptions, exploitation, management and recent policies

Abstract

Restoration of estuarine function to the Lake St Lucia system, the largest estuary in South Africa, was initiated in 2010. Significant change began with the reversal of a mouth management policy that was adopted in 1952 and maintained for the next 60 years, focusing on the separation of a major tributary, the uMfolozi River, from the rest of the estuary. This represented the loss of an essential source of fresh water, as well as the natural driving force in the breaching of the sand bar that develops across the mouth during low river flow periods. The desiccation of the estuary between 2003 and 2012 was unprecedented despite historical dry cycles during the past century. The devastating regional and national effects of this situation were instrumental in driving a reconsideration of the historic management policy. This paper focuses on the interactions between people and the estuary over the past century, management policies and actions, and the catastrophic loss of the largest estuary on the subcontinent. This was followed by a reassessment of management policies based on intensive studies and workshops, examining alternatives to historic policies, and extensive consultations with a plethora of interest groups that culminated in changing policy and the implementation of restoration actions.