Prior to the implementation of the present project, the Moddergat River was highly modified from its natural condition, which is thought to have been a wide, braided wetland-associated system, meandering through soft substrata. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the river and wetland swathe was diverted some distance to the west of its natural course and confined to a single channel. At the start of the project, the river in the study area (see Figure 9.2) was impacted by the following factors:
● encroachment of buildings and infilling into the floodplain
● extensive erosion,
● channelization, including straightening of the channel and steepening of banks