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Ecological Basic Assessment Report ECOLOGICAL BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT THE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED KRUISVALLEI HYDROELECTRIC POWER GENERATION SCHEME IN THE ASH RIVER, FREE STATE PROVINCE February 2018 Prepared by: Prepared for: Gerhard Botha (Pri Sci Nat: Ecology & Botany) Savannah Environmental (Pty) Ltd 1st Floor, Block 2, 5 Woodlands Drive Office Park PO Box 12500, Brandhof, 9324 Cnr Woodlands Drive & Western Service Road Cell: 084 207 3454 Woodmead Email: [email protected] KRUISVALLLEI HYDROELECTRIC POWER GENERATION SCHEME, CLARENS ECOLOGICAL BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT FEBRUARY 2018 TABLE OF CONTENTS Declaration of Consultant’s Independence .................................................... iii 1 Introduction ........................................................................................ 1 1.1 Project Background ........................................................................ 1 1.2 Proposed Activity ........................................................................... 2 1.3 Location ........................................................................................ 3 1.4 Terms of reference ......................................................................... 4 1.5 Conditions of this report ................................................................. 4 1.6 Limitations and Assumptions of the Study Approach ........................... 5 1.2.1. General assumptions ................................................................. 5 1.2.2. Limitations ............................................................................... 5 1.7 Relevant legislation and guidelines ................................................... 5 2 Study Area .......................................................................................... 6 2.1 Climate and rainfall ........................................................................ 6 2.2 Physiography and soils ................................................................... 9 3 Methodology ...................................................................................... 11 3.1 Data scouring and review .............................................................. 11 3.2 Site Visit ..................................................................................... 12 3.3 Criteria used to assess sites .......................................................... 13 3.4 Assessment of impacts ................................................................. 15 4 Description of the affected environment ................................................ 17 4.1 Broad-Scale Vegetation Patterns .................................................... 17 4.2 Free State Biodiversity Plan (2015) ................................................ 22 4.3 Fine-Scale Habitats ...................................................................... 26 4.4 Species of Conservation Importance ............................................... 46 4.5 Alien Plants, Invasive Alien Plant Species and Weeds ........................ 47 4.7 Site Sensitivity Assessment ........................................................... 53 5 Impact Assessment ............................................................................ 58 5.1 Identification of Potential Impacts .................................................. 58 Assumptions ......................................................................................... 58 5.2 Assessment of Impacts ................................................................. 63 6 Discussion and Conclusion ................................................................... 79 7 References ........................................................................................ 86 8 Appendices: ...................................................................................... 89 Ecological Basic Assessment Report Page i KRUISVALLLEI HYDROELECTRIC POWER GENERATION SCHEME, CLARENS ECOLOGICAL BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT FEBRUARY 2018 Appendix 1. Listed Plant Species ............................................................ 89 Appendix 2. List of potential mammal species that may occur within the study area 95 Appendix 3. List of potential reptile species that may occur within the study area 100 Appendix 4. Faunal and Floral Walk-Through Survey for the proposed Kruisvallei Hydroelectric 22kV Overhead Power Line ............................................... 103 FIGURES Figure 1: Climate graph of Clarens. .............................................................. 7 Figure 2: Location Map for the Kruisvallei Hydroelectric Power Generation Scheme (as provided by Savannah Environmental). ........................... 8 Figure 3: Schematic representation of the South African Red List categories. Taken from http://redlist.sanbi.org/redcat.php ............................... 22 Figure 4: Vegetation types of study area and surrounding environment according to Mucina and Rutherford (2006). .................................................. 24 Figure 5: Free State Critical Biodiversity Map. .............................................. 25 Figure 6: The different habitat units identified during the site visit in and around the proposed hydroelectric facilities ............................................... 41 Figure 7: The different habitat units identified during the site visit in and around the proposed Middle Kruisvallei Hydroelectric Facility. ...................... 42 Figure 8: The different habitat units identified during the site visit in and around the proposed Lower Kruisvallei Hydroelectric Facility. ....................... 43 Figure 9: The general cumulative state/condition of habitats with the footprint area for Lower Kruisvallei Hydroelectric Power Plant. ....................... 46 Figure 10: The general cumulative state/condition of habitats with the footprint area for Lower Kruisvallei Hydroelectric Power Plant. ....................... 46 Figure 11: Ecological Sensitivity Map of the proposed hydroelectric facilities ... 55 Figure 12: Ecological Sensitivity Map of the proposed Middle Kruisvallei Hydroelectric facility. ................................................................... 56 Figure 13: Ecological Sensitivity Map of the proposed Lower Kruisvallei Hydroelectric facility. ................................................................... 57 Ecological Basic Assessment Report Page ii KRUISVALLLEI HYDROELECTRIC POWER GENERATION SCHEME, CLARENS ECOLOGICAL BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT FEBRUARY 2018 DECLARATION OF CONSULTANT’S INDEPENDENCE I, Gerhard Botha, as the appointed specialist hereby declare that I: » act/ed as the independent specialist in this application; » regard the information contained in this report as it relates to my specialist input/study to be true and correct, and » do not have and will not have any financial interest in the undertaking of the activity, other than remuneration for work performed in terms of the NEMA, the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2014 and any specific environmental management Act; » have and will not have no vested interest in the proposed activity proceeding; » have disclosed, to the applicant, EAP and competent authority, any material information that have or may have the potential to influence the decision of the competent authority or the objectivity of any report, plan or document required in terms of the NEMA, the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2014 and any specific environmental management Act; » am fully aware of and meet the responsibilities in terms of NEMA, the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2014 (specifically in terms of regulation 13 of GN No. R. 326) and any specific environmental management Act, and that failure to comply with these requirements may constitute and result in disqualification; » have provided the competent authority with access to all information at my disposal regarding the application, whether such information is favourable to the applicant or not; and » am aware that a false declaration is an offence in terms of regulation 48 of GN No. R. 326. Gerhard Botha Pr.Sci.Nat 400502/14 (Botanical and Ecological Science) February 2018 Ecological Basic Assessment Report Page iii KRUISVALLLEI HYDROELECTRIC POWER GENERATION SCHEME, CLARENS ECOLOGICAL BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT FEBRUARY 2018 THE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED KRUISVALLEI HYDROELECTRIC POWER GENERATION SCHEME IN THE ASH RIVER, FREE STATE PROVINCE ECOLOGICAL BASIC ASSESSMENT 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Project Background The Kruisvallei Hydroelectric Power Generation Scheme will utilise water of the Ash River to generate electricity. The proposed project entails the development of the Kruisvallei Hydroelectric Power Generation Scheme, which was previously approved by DEA. The total generating capacity for the Kruisvallei Hydroelectric Power Generation Scheme will be 4.7MW. The Lower Kruisvallei Scheme will have a development footprint of approximately 8.98ha in extent. The Middle Kruisvallei Scheme will have a development footprint of approximately 20.40ha in extent. The Kruisvallei Hydroelectric Power Generation Scheme will maximise electricity production by utilising water which is flowing from a higher elevation to a lower elevation. The flow rate of the Ash River depends on the release of water from the Lesotho Highlands Water Project as well as local runoff, especially during periods of heavy rainfall. The flow rate of the Ash River is approximately 15 – 37m³. The Lower Kruisvallei Scheme is situated directly downstream of the Weir 34 (existing DWS weir). Middle Kruisvallei Scheme is situated directly downstream of the
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