Conceptualising Long-Term Monitoring to Capture Environmental, Agricultural and Socio-Economic Impacts of the Mzimvubu Water Project in the Tsitsa River
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CONCEPTUALISING LONG-TERM MONITORING TO CAPTURE ENVIRONMENTAL, AGRICULTURAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF THE MZIMVUBU WATER PROJECT IN THE TSITSA RIVER Report to the WATER RESEARCH COMMISSION by JJ van Tol, W Akpan, D Lange, C Bokuva, G Kanuka, S Ngesi, KM Rowntree, G Bradley & A Maroyi University of Fort Hare WRC Report No. KV 328/1/14 ISBN 978-1-4312-0527-1 April 2014 Obtainable from Water Research Commission Private Bag X03 Gezina, 0031 [email protected] or download from www.wrc.org.za The publication of this report emanates from a project entitled Conceptualising long-term monitoring to capture environmental, agricultural and socio-economic impacts of the Mzimvubu Water Project in the Tsitsa River (WRC Project No. K8/1027). DISCLAIMER This report has been reviewed by the Water Research Commission (WRC) and approved for publication. Approval does not signify that the contents necessarily reflect the views and policies of the WRC, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use. © Water Research Commission ii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Ntabelanga valley is deemed the appropriate site for building a large, multipurpose storage dam in the Mzimvubu basin. This study was conducted to conceptualise a long- term monitoring project to capture the impact of the proposed dam on environmental, socio-economic and agricultural aspects. The study firstly described the current situation in the Ntabelanga valley whereupon suggested monitoring aspects/actions were identified. Long-term climatic data shows the distinct seasonal distribution of rainfall. Long-term streamflow data illustrates that the Tsitsa River is prone to extremely high peakflows and also that baseflow in this river seldom cease. In general the soils bordering the proposed dam site are unsuitable for crop production and irrigation due to their high susceptibility to erosion. Areas with deep sandy soils in A- and E-land types were identified; these soils have the potential to be developed intensively. The extent of erosion in the study area, especially land type Db344, is extreme. Wetlands and a natural forest in the study area were identified; however a number of smaller wetlands, not delineated, exist in the area. Environmental aspects that will be impacted by the dam include streamflow regimes, streamflow volumes, water pollution, dissolved oxygen levels, sediment and nutrient loads, groundwater quality and quantity, changes in stream morphology, aquatic biodiversity and abundance and riparian vegetation. All of these aspects will be subjected to long-term monitoring. Preliminary sociological data reveal a deep-lying narrative and vision of the “good life” in the study area. Though evidently submerged under the gloom of poverty, hidden by barren hills, and somewhat eclipsed by a deep distrust of government, such a narrative and vision, nonetheless, exists. The respondents’ sophisticated articulation of the choices the dam project opens up, and of their readiness to take advantage of the project to attain self-reliance and improve their lives, is a strong case for a long-term scientific project that monitors the socio-economic impact of the dam. This is despite the fears also expressed about the potential socio-ecological risks that the dam poses at the local level. Hopes and fears of the kinds expressed by respondents are powerful ingredients for constructing a robust ‘social sustainability matrix’ that will boost the overall understanding of the long- term local impact of the dam. The hopes and fears of communities affected by the dam should be captured and related to actual changes in the socio-economic situation. A number of socio-economic aspects that should be subjected to long-term monitoring were identified namely, increased occupational and entrepreneurial opportunities, enhanced household incomes and skills development, impacts on sociocultural and capital resources. The agricultural data indicate that the main activities, livestock, crop and vegetable production, used to provide enough income to sustain members of the two communities in the past. However, presently this is not the case anymore and agriculture is a rather supplementary activity. All main activities contribute to food security and additional small income, but the lack of sophisticated production inputs, such as quality seeds, fertilizer, the absence of crop rotations and mulching, and the dependency on unsteady rains, prevent agriculture from playing a more important role in the livelihoods of the two communities. In regard to a long-term monitoring project, the building of the dam iii and with it, the consistent availability of water for agricultural production, may indeed provide the opportunity for increasing agriculture’s importance in terms of contribution to livelihoods, and through this, improve the lives of community members. Consequently, it would be interesting to monitor how the communities might take advantage of the dam. Rejuvenation of the agricultural sector in the study area is one of the main motivations behind the Mzimvubu water project. The impact of the dam on agricultural practices should be quantified. This will include measurement of yields; areas cultivated and used for grazing; crop diversity; ratios between irrigation and rain-fed agriculture; ratios between livestock and crop production and household income from agriculture. In this interdisciplinary project the interactive relationships between different disciplines will be integral to the proposal for long-term monitoring. These intersections were identified and should be quantified in the long-term. The report ends with a section on priority monitoring actions, i.e. aspects that should be monitored continuously, followed by a proposed timeline of monitoring actions. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors would like to thank the Research Manager, Mr W Nomquphu of WRC Project K8/1027 for the assistance and the constructive discussions during the duration of the project. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................... III ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ..................................................................................... IV TABLE OF CONTENTS......................................................................................... V LIST OF FIGURES .............................................................................................. VII LIST OF TABLES................................................................................................ VIII LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................................ VIII 1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................... 1 2 STUDY AREA AND A DESCRIPTION ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS .................................................................................................... 3 2.1 The Ntabelanga Study Area .................................................................... 3 2.2 Description of Environmental Situation.................................................... 7 2.2.1 Methodology ............................................................................. 7 2.2.2 Climatic Information ........................................................................ 9 2.2.3 Streamflow in the Tsitsa River ...................................................... 11 2.2.4 Soils ........................................................................... 14 2.2.5 Wetlands and Natural Forests ...................................................... 23 3 SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND AGRICULTURAL STATUS QUO ................... 25 3.1 A Sociological Appraisal: The Status Quo ............................................. 25 3.1.1 Methodology ........................................................................... 25 3.1.2 Results ........................................................................... 27 3.1.3 Discussion ........................................................................... 32 3.2 Current Agricultural Situation ................................................................ 32 3.2.1 Introduction ........................................................................... 32 3.2.2 Present Dominant Agricultural Practices ...................................... 33 3.3 Conclusion regarding the Status Quo.................................................... 36 4 PROPOSED MONITORING OF ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS ............. 37 4.1 Water Quantity ...................................................................................... 37 4.1.1 Streamflow Regimes .................................................................... 37 4.1.2 Evaporation from the Dam ............................................................ 38 4.1.3 Groundwater Levels ..................................................................... 38 4.2 Water Quality ......................................................................................... 41 4.2.1 Water Temperature ...................................................................... 41 4.2.2 Dissolved Oxygen ......................................................................... 42 4.2.3 Water Pollution ........................................................................... 42 4.2.4 Groundwater Quality ..................................................................... 44 4.3 Sediment Loads .................................................................................... 44 4.4 Morphological Effects ...........................................................................