Aerial view of the Klein River Estuary mouth taken on the 23rd December 1938

There are stories told of fisherman and property owners digging the mouth of the lagoon open, from both sides at the same time and seeing who could open the lagoon first!

It is said that the traditional artisan fisherman from Gansbaai would dig the channel on the Eastern side, from where they had ready access on the Eastern side of the lagoon mouth. The White holiday property owners would dig on the western side when their houses were threatened with innundation from the rising waters of the lagoon..

 Poor estuary, no wonder its in such a mess!

Klein River estuary breaching disaster

The Klein River Estuary Forum (KREF) has perpetuated the folly of breaching the Hermanus lagoon, once again to the east of the berm, rerouting the river out of its historic course, thus isolating once again the chronic sewage pollution against the camp site (see pictures)

Ignoring anecdotal records KREF replaced them with a 'scientific' hypothesis to the contrary of the historic evidence. It has been recorded that in the early 60's the mayor of Hermanus at the time, requested that the river be breached to the East of the berm to allow for more recreational beach use for the camp site visitors. A damning inditement of human intervention, to the detriment of the environment and the health of the Hermanus population.

The westerly moving channel can still be see in the center of picture

Notice the isolation of the cess pools in front of camp site

Encouraging a build up of dangerous pathogens

It has come to light that the Blue Flag status of Grotto beach has compromised the ecology of the Klein river estuary. This has been done by lobbying for a eastern breach to prevent high levels of pollution being wash into the sea from the camp site sewerage spillage.