3.2 THE GAMTOOS RIVER VALLEY

The Gamtoos River is one of two major rivers running through the Kouga Region, the other being the Van Stadens River further east. The Kouga Dam on the Gamtoos River is the main source of domestic and agricultural water supply in the area.

Wide, fertile flood plains occur on low-lying land, with less fertile land on the steeper slopes. The towns of Hankey and Patensie are the main settlements and citrus fruit grown in the area is the main form of export, with other crops including tobacco, potatoes, vegetables, chicory and avocadoes.

The average rainfall in the valley is 400mm p.a. The temperature range is moderate and predominant winds are from the south-west and south-east. The steeper slopes and mountainous areas north of the Gamtoos Valley consist of succulents, thicket and grassy fynbos.

The Gamtoos River Mouth area is a Coastal Nature Reserve which comprises approximately 1 000 ha of dune forest, coastal thicket, fynbos, wetlands and dune fields. Small buck as well as abundant marine and birdlife are found here. There are Khoisan shell middens in the Reserve, which are protected.

The Loerie Nature Reserve and the Baviaans Mega Reserve form part of the Gamtoos Valley region. Over a thousand plant species and nearly 300 bird species are found here, making it a place of great ecological importance. (see fig. 3)