Milestone in Cape Town: Phase 1 of Silvermine Wetland dredging wraps up

The City of Cape Town’s Water And Sanitation Directorate has completed phase one of its Silvermine Wetland dredging initiative.

Phase two will begin in the new year, once the Western Leopard Toad (WLT) breeding season has come to an end.

Work began on this project in April with the aim to improve inland water quality, one of the City’s main water goals and objectives, which forms part of the ongoing river maintenance and programs.

During phase one, teams cleared reeds and other invasive plants on the boundary of the wetlands and the boundary of the coffer dam; exposing all stormwater infrastructure including gabions and headwalls.

The machine work followed shortly afterwards to dredge the area (remove silt, alien vegetation and reeds) from 10m below the cable bridge, down towards the first WLT pond.

The next phase of the project is expected to start at the end of January 2024, once it is safe for the endangered WLT and their offspring.