Paardevlei dam is a 3.7 mile (8,500-step) route located near Somerset West, Western Cape, South Africa. This route has an elevation gain of about 150.9 ft and is rated as easy.

The natural history of Paardevlei indicates that the vlei was a shallow, seasonal pan. Over many decades it was, however, managed as a deepwater permanent reservoir, filled with nutrient rich water and used to supply water to the former industrial plant on the site. Today is has been rehabilitated to resemble more closely its natural condition and its outlet structures are designed to accommodate and control water levels during the wet and dry seasons. This means that the vlei can both provide a habitat type that is critically threatened in the Western Cape, and play a role in managing storm water from nearby developments as well as upstream.



The vlei margins have been reshaped and its seasonally wetted area covers approximately 40 hectares. The existing hard edges of the vlei have been softened with the planting of indigenous seasonal vegetation and developments have been set back from the open water system and wetland edge by a broad vegetated buffer area. Several bird islands and varied habitats have been created within the vlei to encourage the establishment of a natural, healthy habitat for biodiversity conversation.

The alien trees removed have been used to create bird breeding habitats and chipped to construct pathways. The highly invasive Kikuyu grass has also been removed from the site, which is managed on an ongoing basis. Special care has been taken to preserve trees identified with historical significance."

Please visit     https://www.friendsofpaardevleidam.co.za


See more of my video clips on my YT channel at:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChLj4JQJePMHCXGdUCR353A

Very nicely done.    Interesting background story on this location.

Amazing footage, Droff! Thanks for sharing this with us. Take care always!

nicely done!

wow,   we have a somerset here too.   Nicely done.    

DowntownRDB Posted at 8-8 03:23
Very nicely done.    Interesting background story on this location.

Thank you DownTown
PS
Did you pick up on the malapropism? They said conversation instead of conservation

DJI Paladin Posted at 8-8 21:37
Amazing footage, Droff! Thanks for sharing this with us. Take care always!

My pleasure Pal

MM Pilot Posted at 8-8 22:00
nicely done!

Thank you MM

DAFlys Posted at 8-9 00:37
wow,   we have a somerset here too.   Nicely done.

Hey, I don't want to brag but ours was named after Lord Charles Somerset, who was a (British ) governor here in the early days.

"Lord Charles Henry Somerset PC, born in Badminton, England, was a British soldier, politician and colonial administrator. He was governor of the Cape Colony, South Africa, from 1814 to 1826"

I surmise he may 'ave been a bit of a shuttlecock - being from Badminton.

We have a somerset east as well but that is far away from here  - other side of the net - so to speak you know.

Nice info and video!

Droffarc Posted at 8-9 04:26
Hey, I don't want to brag but ours was named after Lord Charles Somerset, who was a (British ) governor here in the early days.

"Lord Charles Henry Somerset PC, born in Badminton, England, was a British soldier, politician and colonial administrator. He was governor of the Cape Colony, South Africa, from 1814 to 1826"

Amazing how England seeded the world and not always in a good way.

Montfrooij Posted at 8-9 06:11
Nice info and video!

Thank you sir

Droffarc Posted at 8-9 12:42
Thank you sir

You're welcome!

Droffarc Posted at 8-9 04:16
Thank you DownTown
PS
Did you pick up on the malapropism? They said conversation instead of conservation

You're very welcome.  

I did catch the malapropism.  "Several bird islands and varied habitats have been created within the vlei to encourage the establishment of a natural, healthy habitat for biodiversity conversation."

Droffarc Posted at 8-9 04:18
Thank you MM

cheers!

Stunning images!

NeonOrange Posted at 8-10 12:50
Stunning images!

Thank you NeonOrange