I have a passion for water, perhaps because I grew up in Namibia with its water scarcity.   I experienced the shortage of water, and I know what thirst is. Apart from the Creation itself, life and man-kind, water is God’s most precious gift. Without water no life is possible. Water is the back-bone of our country, our agriculture, industry, and particularly Treeferns Trout Lodge. Furthermore, because we care for our environment we have to conserve our water resources. If everyone does his and her share, and perhaps a little more, we will succeed in our efforts.

The Working for Water Programme (WfW),  launched in 1995  by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, spearheads the fight against alien invasive vegetation. Yearly millions of Rands’ damage  are caused by these species, and particularly pose a serious threat to the water resources of the country. They divert an enormous volume of water from more productive and essential uses like human consumption, agriculture, industry,  recreation, and more specifically the fishing industry. At Vlakfontein black wattle are the  main alien invaders.

This picture shows the invasion of  rock by black wattle.

Since 1995 the Programme has cleared more than a million hectares of invasive plants, and not only conserved water but also created training and work for thousands of jobless people through the so-called RDP scheme. A project was also carried out at Vlakfontein where mechanical ( felling of trees), and chemical (applying of herbicides) methods were used.  A follow-up project is presently being conducted by our-selves. The plants are cut, and the stumps treated with herbicide.

See also on this web site “Our water source”.

Acknowledgement : ” Working For Water Webpage“,  10 February 2009, Department of Water Affairs and Forestry. (Google search)

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The reason for the springs on Vlakfontein can be found in the geology described under the category “Geology” on this web site.

There are several sandstone outcrop on the farm. Sandstone is an excellent aquafer or water cover. The high rainfall in this area results in a relative shallow water table (underground water level). The faults on the farm act as conduits for water to flow underground, and faults are exactly what geologists look for when searching for a site to drill for water. The spring beyond the chalets is caused by the underground water hitting a water barrier, usually dolerite dykes or intrusive rocks, which is the opposite of a water carrier. The underground water is forced to the surface in the form of a spring. Spring water is usually crystal clear because the sandstone acts as a filter, clearing the water of minerals and also polutants.

                                                     Eye of the spring

Trout like cold, clear, fresh water, but need supplementary feeding close to a spring. The water is usually depleted of natural food, but downstream all types of natural life will eventually be introduced. The locality as well as the geology and quality of water make a team effort  ideally suited for trout fishing.

                      Guests are also treated to hand-bottled natural springwater.