The Hartbeespoort Dam is the most significant dam in the economic hub of the Crocodile West Marico Water Management Area for domestic, agricultural, industrial and recreational purposes. The dam is in a hyper-eutrophic state, meaning it is trapped with excessive nutrients. For many years, the Crocodile River has been pouring an increasing load of phosphorus into Hartbeespoort Dam. This had led to high levels of nutrients and eutrophication of the water.