Hello Everyone,
We thank all who joined us for our annual general meeting which was held at Die Oog on Saturday 16 March 2024. It was a lovely day and we enjoyed sitting under the trees discussing issues and progress relating to Die Oog and the greater Cape Town area. Children were selling homemade treats, as well as our beautifully illustrated cards which promote the endemic Western Leopard Toads, Cape Weaver and the Cape Chameleon.
We had to say a sad goodbye to Avrill, our secretary, and Patrick, our treasurer, who made such valuable contributions to FODO for a number of years. We would like to thank Joe Baretta for stepping in to join the committee as Treasurer.
Topics discussed included the Chairman’s address, an update regarding the FODO financial report, water levels, fire breaks, gate and fence care, garden and weed maintenance, dam cleaning, tree cutting, other general maintenance, and the importance of ongoing collaboration between the residents of the area, the committee and the City of Cape Town.
A highlight of the event was our guest speaker, Prof. Kevin Winter, who shared fascinating insights into the challenges of urban water management, water science and all the fantastic work that is being done to monitor and manage inland and coastal water bodies in and around the City.
Our guest speaker, Prof. Kevin Winter, sharing fascinating insights into the challenges of urban water management.
Overall water quality at Die Oog is considered adequate for aquatic and bird life.
Water quality at Die Oog
Water quality at Die Oog, and all inland water bodies is monitored by the City Council on a monthly basis. While levels of Chlorophyll, nutrients, pH and dissolved oxygen vary from the drier summer months to the wetter winter months, overall water quality at Die Oog is considered adequate for aquatic and bird life.
The highest E.coli levels noted during 2024 were recorded early in May, reaching 770 CFU | MPN/100ml. This is considered acceptable as anything under 1000 CFU | MPN/100ml is low adverse health risk. This is good news, considering that the occasional sewer overflow issue in the neighbourhood caused E.coli levels to peak above 2000-4000 1000 CFU | MPN/100ml on several occasions during 2021 and 2022.
A tribute to Professor Davey
The FODO committee also paid tribute to Professor Davey and showed our deep appreciation for his contributions and care for this beautiful wetland sanctuary. A plaque has been mounted in his honour on the sign board as you enter through the gate to the Die Oog.
A plaque was mounted to pay tribute to Prof. Davey.
PLEASE NOTE: Our bank details have changed
Please note the new bank details on our website and update your records. The old bank account will remain active for a little while longer while we transition to the new account.
Exceptional rains since July
Up until mid-July, rainfall appeared to be a similar trend to what we experienced during the worst years of the drought (chart below shows accumulated rainfall measured in Newlands, with 2024 in red, compared to 2015 and 2017 – worst drought years when dams dried up). While water levels dropped significantly during the hot dry summer months earlier this year, the dam at Die Oog did not dry up completely, thanks to higher-than-average rainfall during 2023 (shown in blue on the chart below).
Interestingly, a series of severe cold front storms since the weekend of 6 July 2024 have significantly changed the trajectory of this year’s rainfall curve.
Analyses of rainfall data from South African Weather Service stations reveals Cape Town’s rainfall for the month of July to be the highest on record since July 1956, exceeded the long-term average for July three times. The dam at Die Oog has filled up to an exceptional level.
The chart below is from the Newlands rainfall monitoring station
High water level near the top of the dam wall | Keryn Tsimitakopoulos, 18 August 2024
Family of Egyptian geese | Anne Shaw, 12 August 2024
Monitoring bird and aquatic life with healthy water levels
The Egyptian Geese have done a great job in raising 11 goslings through the July storms. An impressive feat as it appears that all hatchlings survived. Another Egyptian goose family has just had 12 hatchlings which are still very small. The Coot family had two chicks at the start of the winter rainy season.
Visitors to Die Oog
A large Spur winged Goose was spotted visiting Die Oog early August, and we were pleased to see the Yellow Billed Ducks returning to Die Oog for the occasional visit. The Cape Weavers are already very busy building nests their nests over the water. The Western Leopard Toad breeding season is approaching. Expect to see migratory notices from around end August into Early September.
Security and maintenance
An important aspect of our role as Friends of Die Oog (FODO) is to engage with the city council and relevant organisations like WESSA for the overall maintenance and improvement of our beautiful City.
Our gardener, David, comes once every two weeks to help maintain the garden areas and remove weeds. The City Council is tasked with clearing of plant overgrowth, mowing the general lawn areas and maintaining the fire breaks between Die Oog, the wetland area, and surrounding residential areas.
A team from the City Council were onsite for 3 days during the first week of July, removing algae and weed growth. They have, however, not been able to return to Die Oog since the heavy rainfall kicked in the weekend of 6 July.
The invasive Kariba Weed is still growing in patches in the water at Die Oog. This is a concern, as it can spread rapidly if nutrient levels are raised in the water column, covering the surface and limiting sunlight and hindering oxygen levels in the water below.
Waiting for the Western Leopard Toads
It’s that time of year again! Please drive with care on the roads around these wetland areas, especially at night when they are most active.
Friends of Die Oog Cards
Please reach out to us (admin@dieoog.org.za cc ajmkhodge@yebo.co.za) if you’d like to purchase a pack of custom-made cards featuring endemic fauna residing at Die Oog. They were beautifully designed and painted by Michelle Liebenberg. The proceeds net of the artist’s charges are used for maintenance and care of Die Oog.
Please support die Oog by ordering some notelets
R60 for a set of 3 with envelopes
Many hands make light work
We rely heavily on subscriptions and donations, so please feel free to extend an invite to family and friends who may join as well. Annual family membership is only R100. Any additional donations go a far way to help us cover the rising costs of maintenance and to cover the cost of a gardener at Die Oog once every 2 weeks.
Please remember to put your email address as payment reference or email us at admin@dieoog.org.za to ensure we are able to update our records.
PLEASE NOTE
Gate times are daily from 6:30am to 6:30pm.
If you are unsure of your current membership status please email us at admin@dieoog.org.za. Please click on this link for membership renewal or donations or to update your beneficiary details.
Please email us at admin@dieoog.org.za for any questions or if you’d like a copy of the minutes of the AGM or the financial report.
Best Regards
Keryn Tsimitakopoulos
Committee member of Friends of Die Oog
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