Beaches littered with plant debris
Dead tree trunks, branches and finer vegetation have washed ashore along the greater Mossel Bay coastline since the heavy rains earlier this month.
However, these will not be removed because they form part of a natural cycle, Mossel Bay Municipality noted in a statement.
The statement noted that debris flows with the river from as far as the catchment areas in the mountains. Intense rainfall, storms and flooding events can wash large amounts of debris into rivers from surrounding areas, including fallen trees, branches and other natural debris. Once debris enters rivers, it can be carried downstream by currents, especially during periods of high flow or flooding. Eventually, this riverborne debris can be transported into estuaries and coastal areas, where it may accumulate on beaches due to tidal action and wave dynamics, the municipality stated
Organic woody debris plays a crucial role in fluvial and coastal systems, influencing in-channel hydrology and sediment storage, and ultimately shaping the channel geometry and evolution it noted.
This debris is particularly important during storm events, elevating berm crests compared to beaches without wood accumulations, and steepening the beach face. In sandy beach settings, organic debris assumes a key role in post-storm beach recovery, with the debris being deposited during the same wave events that cause beach erosion.
In quieter periods, the woody material captures sand along the beach face, assisting in the reestablishment of foredune systems.
The municipality stated that natural objects such as sticks, stumps and sand washed up during storms will not be removed as they are part of natural movement, which further protects against coastal erosion. Only swimming beaches will be cleaned.
The municipality will, however, remove other unnatural waste, such as containers and tyres, that have been deposited in certain areas.
Mossel Bay Fire, Rescue and Disaster Management Services will reinstall buoy lines, where applicable, after an investigation is done to determine where the sandbanks have shifted, the municipality stated.