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HERPETOFAUNA ASSESSMENT Proposed Princess Vlei Circulatory Trail Grassy Park, Western Cape Province, South Africa

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HERPETOFAUNA ASSESSMENT Proposed Princess Vlei Circulatory Trail Grassy Park, Western Cape Province, South Africa HERPETOFAUNA ASSESSMENT Proposed Princess Vlei Circulatory Trail Grassy Park, Western Cape Province, South Africa Version 1: October 2019 Version 2: April 2020 For The EnvironmentalDRAFT Partnership Kakale Munamati [email protected] By Enviro-Insight Luke Verburgt (Pr. Sci. Nat.) [email protected] Alex Rebelo [email protected] 1 , TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Introduction and Project Purpose ........................................................................................................................................ 4 1.1 Study Area .................................................................................................................................................................. 4 1.2 Terms of Reference .................................................................................................................................................... 8 2 Methods ............................................................................................................................................................................... 9 2.1 Desktop Survey .......................................................................................................................................................... 9 2.1.1 GIS ......................................................................................................................................................................... 9 2.1.2 Herpetofauna Assessment ................................................................................................................................... 10 2.2 Impact Assessment .................................................................................................................................................. 11 3 Study Limitations ............................................................................................................................................................... 12 4 Results .............................................................................................................................................................................. 13 4.1 City of Cape Town Biodiversity Network (2017) ....................................................................................................... 13 4.2 Habitat Description & Current Impacts ...................................................................................................................... 14 4.3 Herpetofauna ............................................................................................................................................................ 16 4.3.1 Amphibians ........................................................................................................................................................... 16 4.3.2 Reptiles ................................................................................................................................................................ 21 4.4 Habitat Sensitivity ..................................................................................................................................................... 22 5 Impact Assessment ........................................................................................................................................................... 24 5.1 Potential Impacts on Herpetofauna, Management and Mitigation ............................................................................ 24 5.2 Monitoring ................................................................................................................................................................. 35 5.2.1 Roadkill monitoring ............................................................................................................................................... 35 5.2.2 Western Leopard Toad breeding sites and adult monitoring ................................................................................ 36 5.2.3 Western Leopard Toad tadpole survival ............................................................................................................... 36 DRAFT 6 Conclusion and Professional Opinion ................................................................................................................................ 37 6.1 Summary .................................................................................................................................................................. 37 7 References ........................................................................................................................................................................ 38 8 Appendix ........................................................................................................................................................................... 39 8.1 Appendix 1: Expected Herpetofauna species within the PAOI ................................................................................. 39 8.2 Appendix 2: Specialists Proof of Qualification and SHORT CV ................................................................................ 43 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1-1: The City of Cape Town Princess Vlei Conceptual Development Framework showing the location of the proposed development: Zones 2, 11 & 15 (as provided). ............................................................................................................................ 5 Figure 1-2: The proposed marketplace, picnic / braai facilities and parking in Zone 2 of the Princess Vlei Conceptual Development Framework on the Eastern shore of Princess Vlei (as provided). .......................................................................... 6 Figure 1-3: The proposed revamping of the Princess Vlei Eco Centre marketplace in Zone 11 of the Princess Vlei Conceptual Development Framework on the Western shore of Princess Vlei (as provided). ......................................................................... 7 Figure 1-4: The proposed Princess Vlei trail / walkway in Zone 15 of the Princess Vlei Conceptual Development Framework. Track widths are to scale.............................................................................................................................................................. 8 Figure 2-1: The Project Area of Influence (PAOI) applicable to herpetofauna for the proposed development. .......................... 10 Figure 4-1: The project footprint and PAOI in relation to the City of Cape Town Biodiversity Network (City of Cape Town, 2017). ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 14 Figure 4-2: The project footprint and PAOI in relation to habitats delineated using satellite imagery......................................... 15 2 , Figure 4-3: The location of Conservation Areas of specific importance to amphibian SCC in relation to the PAOI. .................. 17 Figure 4-4: Citizen Science distribution records for the Western Leopard Toad in relation to the proposed development footprint and PAOI. ..................................................................................................................................................................... 19 Figure 4-5: The known breeding locations for the Western Leopard Toad as provided by the CoCT/Western Leopard Toad Conservation Committee (WLT-CC) compiled on the 1st September 2001. .............................................................................. 20 Figure 4-6: Herpetological habitat sensitivity in relation to the project footprint and PAOI. ........................................................ 23 Figure 5-1: The project footprint and proposed changes (diversions and raised boardwalks) to minimise impacts to known Western Leopard Toad breeding sites. ...................................................................................................................................... 35 LIST OF TABLES Table 2-1: Impact Assessment Methodology ............................................................................................................................. 11 Table 4-1: Near Threatened amphibian species expected to occur within the PAOI. ................................................................ 21 Table 4-2: Near Threatened reptile species expected to occur within the PAOI. ....................................................................... 21 Table 5-1: Herpetofauna impact assessment. ............................................................................................................................ 24 DRAFT 3 , 1 INTRODUCTION AND PROJECT PURPOSE Enviro-Insight CC was commissioned by the Environmental Partnership to perform a Herpetofauna Assessment for the Princess Vlei circulatory trail, braai / picnic areas and Princess Vlei Eco Centre in Grassy Park, Western Cape Province, South Africa. The assessment presented in this report forms part of the Basic Assessment required to obtain Environmental Authorisation for the proposed development. 1.1 STUDY AREA The proposed development is situated in Zones 2, 11 and 15 of the City of Cape Town Princess Vlei Conceptual Development Framework. It is bound by the M5 to the east, residential suburb (Retreat) to the south, St Augustine Cricket Club grounds and residential suburb Southfield to the west/northwest and De Waal Road to the north (Figure 1-1). A parking area, jetty, marketplace and
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