C.A.P.E. Estuaries Programme DEVELOPMENT OF THE VERLORENVLEI ESTUARINE MANAGEMENT PLAN : ITUATION SSESSMENT S A (F INAL DRAFT )
October 2009 Report prepared for: Report prepared by: CapeNature CSIR West Coast District Municipality Natural Resources and the Department of Environmental Affairs Environment Department of Water Affairs Stellenbosch
This report was compiled by: CSIR Natural Resources and the Environment PO Box 320 Stellenbosch 7599 Tel:+27 21 888 2400 Fax:+27 21 888 2693 Email: [email protected] This report should be referenced as: CSIR (2009) Development of the Verlorenvlei estuarine management plan: Situation assessment. Report prepared for the C.A.P.E. Estuaries Programme. CSIR Report No (to be allocated) Stellenbosch. COPYRIGHT © CSIR 2009 This document is copyright under the Berne Convention. In terms of the Copyright Act, Act No. 98 of 1978, no part of this book/document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the CSIR. Cover Photos: P Huizinga and P Morant
Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Executive Summary Summary of Problems and Impacts Through stakeholder consultation, 16 key activities have been identified as threatening (or potentially threatening) to the ecosystem services provided by Verlorenvlei. These activities contribute to an array of problems and associated environmental impacts and socio economic consequences, when managed inappropriately, as illustrated in Table 7.1 and Table 7.2. From these tables it is clear that there are no one to one linkages between the activities, problems and impacts – several activities can contribute to one or more problems which, in turn, can contribute to more than one impact, and vice versa. The following section provides a brief description of these key activities and their related potential impacts on the Verlorenvlei: Veld fires in and around Verlorenvlei lead to soil erosion and increased sedimentation. This can be particularly problematic at Verlorenvlei as it has a constricted outlet that prevents sediment scouring during floods leading to an accumulation of sediments in the system. Road Infrastructure refers to the roads and embankments in the floodplain and the crossings and culverts that transverse it. The roads and embankments stabilize the course of the vlei and often create a different substrate character compared with the natural situation. The numerous crossings and culverts (e.g. road bridge to Elandsbay, crossings to Grootdrift and Redelinghuys, informal crossings near mouth and railway bridge) cutting across the system frequently restrict its flow, stabilizes its course and leads to increased reed growth. The construction of informal crossings near the mouth and at the railway bridge has led to the destruction of habitat and disturbance of bird life. Riparian Infrastructure refers to all infrastructure in the floodplain of the system. Of particular concern are the low lying properties near the mouth of the system, i.e. along the estuarine channel. There are numerous examples along the coast where this type of urban creep starts putting pressure on local authorities to manage the water level in a system artificially. An additional concern is the many fences that span the floodplain that restrict access and result in overgrazing in the areas where animals are kept. This causes changes in the species composition of the floodplain vegetation. In-stream infrastructure refers to jetties and pumphouses that could have a localized influence on circulation patterns in the vlei. Recreational activities include non consumptive activities such as boating and swimming that may have a limited localized disturbance impact on the birdlife. Windsurfing, however, results in a high disturbance impact on the avifauna. Open-cast Mining of tungsten and molybdenum of is being proposed in the upper catchment of Verlorenvlei at Metonshoek. This mining development is likely to need significant freshwater supplies, hold significant risk for the sense of place in the area and can potentially cause pollution of the freshwater supplies flowing into Verlorenvlei. Artificial breaching of the mouth is rumoured to be undertaken as a result of the backflooding of the floodplain (grazing land) in the upper vlei. Artificial breaching can lead to loss of water column habitat and a reduction in estuarine productivity. Agriculture: Crop production and l ivestock grazing in the catchment results in increased soil erosion and related sedimentation. This in turn is linked to increased
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Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment reed growth in the upper reaches and a decrease in water clarity. Crop production is also linked to agricultural return flow carrying leached fertilizer (nutrients) and agrochemicals, a decrease in freshwater input and loss of riparian habitat. Water abstraction refers to sumps, river, groundwater and direct abstraction which collectively cause a significant reduction in the inflow of freshwater to Verlorenvlei. This in turn has decreased the average water level in the vlei, prevented regular natural breachings of the mouth and increased isolation of the system from the sea. Reduced water levels and flushing in turn has led to increased reed growth and blooms (blue green algae or parrot’s feather). Alien vegetation infestation in the catchment of Verlorenvlei has contributed significantly to a decrease in surface and groundwater flow to the system. Wastewater disposal includes the disposal of non reticulated sewage, washings from fishing boat and discharging of wastewater from a local pig farm. In appropriate disposal of waste water leads to nutrient enrichment and microbial contamination. Solid waste disposal especially leachate and litter from the municipal waste dump, which is situated within a few hundred metres of the vlei, can lead to microbial contamination, toxic substances entering the system or enrichment. Solid litter can lead to the entrapment of biota and reduction in the aesthetic value of the vlei. Dumping of building rubble in unauthorized sites (e.g. on the “Island”) can lead to the loss of habitat and a decrease in aesthetic value. Agricultural return flow carrying leached fertilizers causes nutrient enrichment, which in turn leads to the blue green algal blooms or extensive growth of parrot’s feather. A relatively recent phenomenon is the occurrence of avian botulism in wading birds, also linked to poor water quality. Harvesting of reeds and sedges can lead to reduction in the abundance of plant species. While the burning of reeds and sedges can lead to an increase in sedimentation and changes in the nutrient cycle of the vlei. Gill netting refers to the targeting of indigenous estuarine dependant and associated fish species for local consumption. Gillnetting leads to recruitment failure of estuarine associated species (including over exploited species such as white steenbras) and results in a decrease of the system’s nursery value. It also may enable alien fish species to become established. Introduction of alien fish species has caused the displacement of indigenous species. Agriculture: Livestock grazing of riparian zone reduces the vegetation cover which, in turn, allows greater amounts of sediment to be washed into the vlei during heavy rains. In addition over grazing this will also lead to changes in the species composition/abundance of the vegetation around the system. Alien vegetation infestation in the floodplain leads to changes in the species composition (biodiversity loss) and reduction in water level.
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Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Table 1: An overview of key activities and linkages to potential environmental problems if managed inappropriately
PROBLEM
ACTIVITY regime CATEGORY Siltation Littering pollution Microbial Eutrophication contamination Toxicchemical Physicalhabitat biomass/species Suspendedsolids DirectAlteration of Alterationsalinity of alteration/destruction Alien vegetation infestation in flood plain Veld fires Road Infrastructure (including roads, crossings, culverts) Riparian Infrastructure (including fences, bird hides, low lying developments) In stream infrastructure (e.g. jetties, pumphouses) Recreational activities (boating, windsurfing, swimming) Mining (Tungsten/Molybdenum) Artificial breaching Land-useInfrastructure & Development Agriculture: Crop production & Livestock in catchment Water abstraction (river, groundwater, direct abstraction, sumps) Alien vegetation infestation in catchment causing flow reduction Wastewater disposal (non reticulated sewage, boat washing, effluent from pig farm (?)) Solid waste disposal (building rubble, leaches and litter from
WaterQuantity Quality & municipal dump) Agricultural return flow Harvesting and burning of reeds and sedges Gill netting of indigenous fish species Introduction of alien fish species Agriculture: Livestock grazing of LivingResources riparian zone
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Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Table 2: Environmental impacts and socio-economic consequences potentially associated with specific problems
PROBLEM
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES regime Siltation Littering Eutrophication Physical habitat biomass/species Direct Alteration of Alteration of salinity alteration/destruction High Suspended solids Toxic chemical pollution Microbial contamination
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
Modification/loss in species composition
Smothering of benthic communities
Entanglement of organisms (e.g. birds)
Chronic effects on biota
Mortality (acute effects) on biota Opportunistic/Nuisance/Harmful algal blooms Anoxic conditions
Pathogenic infections in biota
PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY
Human health and safety risks through recreational activities Human health risk through ingestion of contaminated seafood
FOOD SECURITY & POVERTY
Loss in quality of seafood products
Loss of fisheries resources and revenue
OTHER SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT
Loss of aesthetic value (e.g. for tourism) Loss of coastal real estate, public facilities and recreational potential
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Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Summary of Legislation and Responsibilities An array of existing Acts (both national and provincial) governs the activities identified as posing threats to the ecosystems services provided by Verlorenvlei. A summary of relevant Acts and responsible departments/authorities pertaining to the different activities is provided in Table 3.
Table 3: Summary of relevant legislation and responsible departments/authorities pertaining to identified activities in Verlorenvlei
RESPONSIBLE DEPARTMENT/ ACTIVITY RELEVANT LEGISLATION AUTHORITY CATEGORY Dept of Water Affairs (DWA) Nationla Water Act (NWA) 1998 Dept of Agriculture, Forestry Conservation of Agricultural Resources Alien infestation and Fisheries (DAFF) Act (CARA) 1983 Dept of Environmental Affairs Biodiversity Act 2004 (DEA) CARA 1983 DAFF Veld fires Biodiversity Act 2004 DEA Municipal systems Act 2000 Dept. Provincial and Local Road Infrastructure Government Integrated Development Plans (IDPs) Local Authorities Municipal Systems Act 2000 Dept. Provincial and Local Riparian Government Infrastructure IDPs Local Authorities DWA NWA 1998 DEA:MCM In stream Integrated Coastal Management Act Dept. Provincial and Local infrastructure (ICMA) 2008 Government/ Municipal Systems Act 2000 Local Authorities NWA 1998 DWA Recreational Marine Living Resources Act (MLRA) 1998 DEA: MCM activities Provincial Conservation Ordinances CapeNature Land-use & Infrastructure Development Mineral and Petroleum Resources Mining Dept of Mining (DM) Development Act 2002
Artificial breaching NWA 1998/ICMA 2008 DWA/DEA:MCM
Agriculture: Crop NWA 1998 DWA production and CARA 1983 DAFF livestock NWA 1998 DWA Water abstraction Water Services Act IDP Local Authorities NWA 1998/ Water Services Act DWA Wastewater ICMA 2008 DEA:MCM disposal IDP Local authority ICMA 2008/ NEMA 1998 DWA Solid waste disposal National Waste Management Bill Solid Waste Management By laws (?) Local Authorities Agricultural return NWA 1998 DWA Water Quantity & Quality flow CARA 1983 DAFF
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RESPONSIBLE DEPARTMENT/ ACTIVITY RELEVANT LEGISLATION AUTHORITY CATEGORY Harvesting and CARA 1983 DAFF burning of reeds MLRA 1998 DEA: MCM and sedges
MLRA 1998 DEA: MCM Gill netting Provincial Conservation Ordinances CapeNature Introduction of alien MLRA 1998 DEA: MCM fish species Provincial Conservation Ordinances CapeNature
Living Resources Agriculture: CARA 1983 DAFF Livestock grazing in MLRA 1998 DEA: MCM flood plain
Summary of Existing Reponses In many instances activities that pose a threat to the ecological and socio economic ecosystem services provided by Verlorenvlei are governed by specific legislation. Also, there are a number of existing management actions or responses aimed at mitigating or minimising such threats (Chapter 7). A summary of the estimated severity of the impacts, as well as the status of existing legislation and management initiatives pertaining to specific activities is provided in Table 4. Note that this is not an absolute rating but rather a qualitative evaluation to enable prioritization of management actions Table 4: Summary of (negative) impacts on Verlorenvlei (depicted as H= high ; M = medium ; L = low ) and the status of existing legislation and management initiatives ( G = good ; F = fair ; P = poor ) pertaining to identified activities
“IMPACT” “RESPONSE”
ACTIVITY CATEGORY Responses Ecological Legislation Management Impact Severity Impact Severity Socio-Economic
Agriculture: Crop production H L F F
Alien infestation M L F G
Veld fires L L G F
Road Infrastructure L L F F Development Riparian Infrastructure M L G F Land-use & Infrastructure In stream infrastructure L L F F
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“IMPACT” “RESPONSE”
ACTIVITY CATEGORY Responses Ecological Legislation Management Impact Severity Impact Severity Socio-Economic
Recreational activities L L F G
Mining (proposed) H H P F/P
Artificial breaching H L F P Solid waste disposal L L G P Water abstraction H H G P
Wastewater disposal (non reticulated sewage Water Quality M M F P
Quantity & & wash water from boats)
Harvesting and burning of reeds and sedges M L F P
Gill netting H M G F/P
Introduction of alien fish species H M G P Living Resources Agriculture: Livestock H L F P
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Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Bestuursopsomming Opsomming van Probleme en Impakte Deur middel van raadpleging, is 16 sleutelaktiwiteite geïdentifiseer as bedreigend (of potensieel bedreigend) tot die ekosisteemdienste wat deur Verlorenvlei verskaf word. Hierdie aktiwiteite dra by tot 'n verskeidenheid van die probleme en gepaardgaande omgewingimpak en sosio ekonomiese gevolge, as hulle ontoereikend bestuur word, soos geïllustreer in Tabel 1and Tabel 2. Van hierdie tabelle is dit duidelik dat daar geen een tot een verhouding tussen die aktiwiteite, probleme en invloede is nie verskeie aktiwiteite kan bydra tot een of meer probleem, wat weer kan bydra tot meer as een impak, en andersom. Hieronder volg in kort beskrywing van die sleutelaktiwiteite en hul verwante potensiële impakte op Verlorenvlei: Veldbrande in en rondom Verlorenvlei lei tot erosie en ‘n toename in sedimentasie. Dit is spesifiek problematies vir Verlorenvlei omdat dit ’n vernoude mond het wat sediment uitskuring tydens vloede verhoed en wat dan lei to akkumulasie van sediment in die stelsel. Padinfrastruktuur verwys na die paaie en keerwalle in die vloedvlakte en die kruisings en kasduikers (culverts) wat dwars oor die vlakte loop. Die paaie en keerwalle stabiliseer die loop van die vlei en skep dikwels 'n verskillende substraat karakter in vergelyking met die natuurlike toestand. Die talle kruisings en kasduikers (bv. die pad brug na Elandsbaai, die kruisings by Grootdrift en Redelinghuys en informele kruisings naby die mond en spoorbrug) sny oor die stelsel heen en belemmer dikwles die vloei, stabiliseer die lope en lei tot verhoogde rietgroei. Die bou van die informele kruisings naby die mond en by die spoorbrug, het gelei tot die vernietiging van die habitat en die ondergang van die voëllewe. Rivieroewerinfrastruktuur verwys na al die infrastruktuur lanfs die ower van die van die stelsel. Van besondere belang is die laagliggende eiendomme naby die monding, d.w.s. langs die riviermonding kanaal. Daar is talle voorbeelde langs die kus waar hierdie tipe van stedelike kruip druk begin plaas op plaaslike owerhede om die watervlak in 'n stelsel kunsmatig te bestuur. 'n Ekstra bekommernis is die klomp heinings wat oor die vloedvlakte gespan is wat toegang beperk en wat lei tot oorbeweiding in gebiede waar diere aangehou word. Dit veroorsaak veranderinge in die soort samestelling van die vloedvlakte plantegroei. Binne stroominfrastruktuur verwys na die vasmeerplekke en pompstasies wat 'n gelokaliseerde invloed op sirkulasiepatrone in die vlei kan hê. Ontspanningsaktiwiteite sluit in die nie verbruikende bedrywighede soos roei en swem wat 'n beperkte gelokaliseerde versteuring op die voëllewe kan hê. Seilplank actiwiteite, aan die ander kant, veroorsaak hoë versteuring van die voëllewe. Oopskag mynbou van wolfram en molibdeen word tans voorgestel vir ontginning in die bo opvangsgebied van Verlorenvlei by Metonshoek. Hierdie mynbou ontwikkeling gaan waarskynlik beduidende varswater voorrade benodig, ‘n beduidende risiko vir die gevoel van plek inhou en ook potensiële besoedeling van die varswater invloei in Verlorenvlei tot gevolg h ê. Kunsmatige oopmaak van die mond word vermoed as gevolg van die terugvloei in die vloedvlakte (weidingsgrond) in die boonste vlei. Kunsmatige oopmakings kan lei tot die verlies van waterkolom habitat en 'n verlaging in die produktiwiteit van die getyrivier. Landbou: Gewasproduksie en veeweiding in die opvanggebied veroorsaak verhoogde erosie en verwante sedimentasie. Hierdie toestand is weer gekoppel aan verhoogde rietgroei in die bolope en 'n afname in die waterdeursigtigheid. Gewasproduksie is ook
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Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment gekoppel aan landbouterugvloei wat kunsmis (voedingstowwe) en landbouchemikalieë dra, 'n afname in varswaterinloop en die verlies van rivieroewers habitat. Wateronttrekking verwys na seiferput , rivier , grondwater en direkte onttrekking van water wat gesamentlik 'n beduidende afname in die invloei van varswater na Verlorenvlei veroorsaak. Die onttrekkings lei weer daartoe dat die gemiddelde watervlak in die vlei daal, dit verhinder die gereelde natuurlike oopmakings van die mond en veroorsaak groter isolasie tussen die stelsel en die see. Verlaagde watervlakke en swak uitspoeling lei ook weer tot verhoogde riet en alge groei (blou groen alge of die plant Parrots’ feather). Uitheemse plantegroei infestasie in die opvangsgebied van Verlorenvlei het aansienlik bygedra tot 'n afname in oppervlak en grondwatervloei in die stelsel. Afvalwater sluit in die verwydering van ongekoppelde riool, waswater van vissersbote en moontlik afvalwater van 'n plaaslike varkplaas. Ongedoltreffended wegdoening van afvalwater lei tot voedingstof verryking en mikrobiese besmetting. Die vaste afval , veral syferwater en rommel uit die munisipale stortingsterrein, wat binne 'n paar honderd meter van die vlei geleë is, kan lei tot mikrobiese besmetting, toksiese stowwe of voedingstofverryking van die stelsel. Rommel kan lei tot die verstrengeling van biota en vermindering van die estetiese waarde van die vlei. Storting van bourommel in ongeoorloofde plekke (bv. op die "eiland") kan ook lei tot die verlies aan habitat en 'n afname in die estetiese waarde. Landbou terugvloei wat kunsmis dra, veroorsaak voedingstofverryking, wat weer lei tot die groei van blou groen alge of uitgebreide groei van die plant, Parrot’s feather. 'n Relatief onlangse verskynsel is die voorkoms van voël botulisme in waadvoëls, wat ook gekoppel word aan swak waterkwaliteit. Oes van riete en moerasgras kan lei tot 'n vermindering in die voorkoms van skekre plant spesies. Verbranding van riete en moerasgras kan ook lei tot 'n toename in sedimentasie en die veranderinge in die voedingstof siklus van die vlei. Kieuwnette verwys na die vangs van inheemse getyrivier afhanklike en getyrivier geassosieerde visspesies vir plaaslike verbruik. Kieuwnette belemmer ook beweging van getyrivier verwante spesies (insluitende oor ontginde spesies soos die wit steenbras) tussen die vlei en die see. Die gevolg is 'n afname van die stelsel se waarde as bewaringsplek vir klein vissies en ander organismes. Dit kan ook uitheemse visspesies in staat stel om te vestig. Invoer van uitheemse visspesies het die verplasing van die inheemse spesies veroorsaak. Landbou: Veeweiding op die rivieroewers verlaag die plantbedekking, wat weer kan veroorsaak dat groter volumes sediment in die vlei gewas word tydens swaar reën. Behalwe oorbeweiding lei dit ook tot veranderinge in die soort samestelling/hoeveelheid van die plantegroei rondom die stelsel. Uitheemse plantegroei infestasie in die vloedvlakte lei tot veranderinge in die soort samestelling (verlies aan biodiversiteit) en die verlaging in die watervlak.
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Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Tabel 1: ‘n Oorsig van sleutelaktiwiteite en hulle verwante potensiële omgewingsprobleme indien aktiwiteite ondoetreffend bestuur word PROBLEEM
AKTIWITEIT Siltasie KATEGORIE regime Eutrofiëring vernietiging besoedeling Rommelstrooi Giftige chemiese biomassa / spesies Verandering van sout- Mikrobiese besmetting Direkte Verandering van Fisiese habitat wysigings/ Gesuspendeerde stowwe Oorname deur uitheemse indringerplante in die vloedvlakte Veldbrande Pad infrastruktuur (insluitend paaie, kruisings, kasduikers) Rivieroewer infrastruktuur (insluitend heinings, voëlskuiling, laagliggende ontwikkelinge) Binne stroom infrastruktuur (bv. vasmeerplekke en pomp stasies) Ontspanningsaktiwiteite (bootvaar, seilplank, swem) Mynbou (Wolfram / Molibdeen) Kunsmatige oopmakings van mond
Grondgebruik-en Infrastruktuurontwikkeling Landbou: Gewasproduksie & Vee in die opvangsgebied Wateronttrekking (rivier, grondwater, direkte abstraksie, seiferputte) Oorname deur uitheemse indringerplante in die opvangsgebied (veroorsaak vloei vermindering) Afvoer van afvalwater (ongekoppelde riool, boot waswater, afvalwater van vark plaas (?)) Vaste afval (bourommel, syferwater en Rommel van munisipale
Water Kwantiteil & Kwaliteit stortingsterrein)
Landbou terugvloei
Oesting en verbranding van riete en moerasgras Kieuwnette van inheemse visspesies
Invoer van uitheemse visspesies
Lewende bronne Landbou: Vee weiding op rivieroewers
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Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment
Tabel 2: Potensiële Omgewingsimpakte en sosio-ekonomiese gevolge wat verband hou met die spesifieke probleme
PROBLEEM
OMGEWINGSIMPAK EN SOSIO- EKONOMIESE GEVOLG Siltasie regime Eutrofiëring vernietiging besoedeling Rommelstrooi Giftige chemiese biomassa / spesies Verandering van sout- Mikrobiese besmetting Direkte Verandering van Fisiese habitat wysigings/ Gesuspendeerde stowwe
OMGEWINGSIMPAKTE
Verandering / verlies in die spesiessame stelling Versmoring van biota in sediment
Verstrengeling van organismes (bv. voëls)
Chroniese effekte op biota
Mortaliteit (akute effekte) op biota Opportunistiese / Lastige / Skadelike alge groei Anoksiese toestande
Patogeniese infeksies in biota
VOLKSGESONDHEID EN VEILIGHEID
Menslike gesondheid en veiligheidsrisiko’s as gevolg van ontspanningsaktiwiteite Menslike gesondheid risiko deur die inname van besmette seekos
VOEDSELSEKERHEID & ARMOEDE
Verlies in die kwaliteit van die seekos produkte Verlies van die vissery hulpbronne en inkomste
ANDER SOCIO-EKONOMIESE IMPAKTE
Verlies van estetiese waarde (bv. vir toerisme) Verlies van die kuseiendomwaarde, openbare fasiliteite en ontspannings geriewe potensiaal
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Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Opsomming van Wetgewing en Verantwoordelikhede ’n Verskeidenheid van bestaande wette (beide nasionaal en provinsiaal) beheer tans die geïdentifiseerde aktiwiteite wat’n bedreiging inhou vir die ekosisteemdienste wat deur Verlorenvlei verskaf word. 'n Opsomming van die relevante wette en verantwoordelike departemente/owerhede met betrekking tot die gelyste aktiwiteite word in Tabel 3 aangedui. Tabel 3: Opsomming van die relevante wetgewing en verantwoordelike departemente/owerhede met betrekking tot die geïdentifiseerde aktiwiteite in Verlorenvlei
VERANTWOORDELIKE AKTIWITEIT RELEVANTE WTGEWING DEPARTEMENT/OWERHEID KATEGORIE Nasionale Water Wet (NWW)1998 Dept Waterwese (DW) Oorname deur Bewaring van Landbou Hulpbronne Wet Dept Landbou, Bosbou & uitheemse (BLHW) 1983 Vissery (DLBV) indringerplante Dept Omgewingsake (DO) Biodiversiteit Wet 2004 BLHW 1983 DLBV Veldbrande Biodiversiteit Wet 2004 DO Munisipale Stelsels Wet 2000 Dept. Provinsiale en Plaaslike Regering Padinfrastruktuur Geintegreerde Ontwikkelingsplanne (GOPs) Plaaslike Owerhede Munisipale Stelsels Wet 2000 Dept. Provinsiale en Rivieroewerinfra GOPs Plaaslike Regering struktuur Plaaslike Owerhede NWW 1998 DW Geintegreerde Kusbestuur Wet (GKW) 2008 DO:MCM In stream Munisipale Stelsels Wet 2000 Dept. Provinsiale en infrastructure Plaaslike Regering Plaaslike Owerhede NWW 1998 DW Ontspannigsak Marine Hulpbronne Wet (MHW)1998 DO: MCM
Land-use & Infrastructure Development tiwiteite Provinsiale Bewaringsordonansies CapeNature Minerale en Petroleum Dept Mynwese (DM) Mynbou Hulpbronontwikkeling Wet 2002 Kunsmatige NWW 1998/GKW 2008 DW / DO:MCM oopmakinga Landbou: Gewas NWW 1998 DW produjksie en Vee BLHW 1983 DLBV NWW 1998 DW Water onttrekking Waterdienste Wet GOPs Plaaslike Owerhede NWW 1998/ Waterdienste Wet DW Afvoer van GKW 2008 DO:MCM Afvalwater GOPs Plaaslike Owerhede GKW 2008/ NEMA 1998 DW Vaste afval Nasionale Afvalbestuur Konsepwet Vaste afval bestuursverorderings Plaaslike Owerhede NWW 1998 DW Water Quantity & Quality Lanbou Terugvloei BLHW 1983 DLBV
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VERANTWOORDELIKE AKTIWITEIT RELEVANTE WTGEWING DEPARTEMENT/OWERHEID KATEGORIE Oesting en BLHW 1983 DLBV verbranding van MHW 1998 DO: MCM riete en moerasgras MHW 1998 DO: MCM Kieuwnette Provinsiale Bewaringsordonansies CapeNature Invoer van MHW 1998 DO: MCM uitheemse visspesies Provinsiale Bewaringsordonansies CapeNature
Living Resources Lanbou: Vee BLHW 1983 DLBV weiding in MHW 1998 DO: MCM vloedvlakte Opsomming van Huidinge Reaksie In baie gevalle word die aktiwiteite wat 'n bedreiging inhou vir die ekologiese en sosio ekonomiese dienste wat deur Verlorenvlei verskaf word, beheers deur spesifieke wetgewing. Verder is daar 'n aantal bestaande bestuursaksies of reaksies wat daarop gemik is om verligting of vermindering van sodanige bedreigings te bewerkstelling. 'n Opsomming van die beraamde intensiteit van die impakte van hierdie aktiwiteite, asook die status van die bestaande wetgewing en bestuur inisiatiewe wat betrekking het op die spesifieke aktiwiteite word in Tabel 4 aangedui. Let daarop dat hierdie nie 'n absolute waardering is nie, maar eerder' n kwalitatiewe evaluering om bestuursaksies te kan prioritiseer. Tabel 3:Opsomming van (negatiewe) impakte op Verlorenvlei (voorgestel as H= hoog ; M = medium ; L = laag ) en die stand met betrekking tot bestaande wetgewing en bestuursinitiatiewe ( G = goed ; M = middelmatig ; S = swak ) pertaining to identified activities
“IMPACT” “RESPONSE”
ACTIVITY CATEGORY Responses Ecological Legislation Management Impact Severity Impact Severity Socio-Economic
Agriculture: Crop production H L M M
Alien infestation M L M G
Veld fires L L G M
Road Infrastructure L L M M
Riparian Infrastructure M L G M
In stream infrastructure L L M M
Recreational activities L L M G Land-use & Infrastructure Development
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“IMPACT” “RESPONSE”
ACTIVITY CATEGORY Responses Ecological Legislation Management Impact Severity Impact Severity Socio-Economic
Mining (proposed) H H S M/S
Artificial breaching H L M S
Solid waste disposal L L G S
Water abstraction H H G S
Wastewater disposal (non reticulated sewage Water Quality M M M S
Quantity & & wash water from boats)
Harvesting and burning of reeds and sedges M L M S
Gill netting H M G M/S
Introduction of alien fish species H M G S
Living Resources Agriculture: Livestock H L M S
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Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Table of Contents Executive Summary...... i Bestuursopsomming ...... viii Table of Contents ...... xv Appendices...... xvii Figures...... xviii Tables...... xx Abbreviations and Acronyms ...... xxi Acknowledgements...... xxii Planned documents for this Project: ...... xxiii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION______1 1.1 Introduction ...... 2 1.2 Scope of Work ...... 3 1.3 Need for Estuarine Management ...... 4 1.4 Components of an EMP ...... 5 CHAPTER 2: VERLORENVLEI CATCHMENT______7 2.1 Geology and Geomorphology ...... 8 2.2 Soils...... 10 2.3 Climate and Runoff ...... 10 2.4 Historical Land use – Our archaeological heritage ...... 14 2.5 Land-use...... 15 CHAPTER 3: VERLORENVLEI ESTUARY ______19 2.6 Background...... 20 2.7 Abiotic Features ...... 21 2.8 Biotic Components...... 30 Verlorenvlei Health Status ...... 38 CHAPTER 4: ECOSYSTEM SERVICES ______40 3.1 Introduction ...... 41 3.2 Ecosystem Services...... 41 3.3 Total Economic Value ...... 42 3.4 Subsistence fisheries ...... 43 3.5 Raw Materials ...... 43 3.6 Grazing ...... 44 3.7 Carbon Sequestration ...... 44 3.8 Waste Treatment ...... 44 3.9 Nursery Value ...... 44 3.10 Export of Materials and Nutrients ...... 45
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Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment 3.11 Recreation and Tourism Value...... 45 3.12 Existence Value ...... 47 3.13 Summary ...... 47 3.14 Implications for Estuary Management ...... 48 CHAPTER 5: ACTIVITIES THREATENING ECOSYSTEM SERVICES IN AND AROUND VERLORENVLEI49 4.1 Environmental Hazards...... 50 4.2 Human Activities and Development...... 51 CHAPTER 6: ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION RELEVANT TO VERLORENVLEI______65 5.1 Background...... 66 5.2 International Conventions Relevant to Verlorenvlei ...... 66 5.3 National legislation...... 67 CHAPTER 7: EXISTING MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES OR PLANS ______74 6.1 Overview...... 75 6.2 Cederberg Municipality Integrated Development Plan...... 75 6.3 Cederberg Municipality Water Services Plan ...... 79 6.4 Olifants/Doorn Catchment Management Strategies ...... 80 6.5 South African Wetlands Conservation programme’s plan for Verlorenvlei...... 82 6.6 C.A.P.E. Estuaries Conservation Plan ...... 84 6.7 Working for Wetlands ...... 85 6.8 CapeNature and CAPE Stewardship Programme ...... 87 6.9 The Greater Cederberg Biodiversity Corridor – GCBC...... 88 6.10 Biodiversity and Potatoes...... 90 6.11 Biodiversity and Rooibos Initative...... 91 CHAPTER 8: SYNOPSIS OF CURRENT SITUATION IN VERLORENVLEI ______93 7.1 Summary of Problems and Impacts ...... 94 7.2 Summary of Legislation and Responsibilities ...... 98 7.3 Summary of Existing Reponses ...... 99 REFERENCES ______101
APPENDIX A: SUMMARY OF SECTIONS IN RELEVANT LEGISLATION PERTAINING TO ACTIVITIES AFFECTING ESTUARIES______105
APPENDIX B: DESKTOP HEALTH ASSESSMENT OF VERLORENVLEI ______110
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Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Appendices Appendix A Legislation governing specific activities occurring in and around Verlorenvlei
Appendix B Verlorenvlei Desktop Health Determination
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v ii Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Figures Figure 1.1: The generic framework for the development and implementation of EMPS ______6
Figure 2.1: Map of the geology of Verlorenvlei catchment ______9
Figure 2.2: Verlorenvlei catchment map ______11
Figure2.3: The mean annual precipitation and potential annual evaporation rate for Verlorenvlei Catchment______12
Figure 2.4: Groundwater recharge areas (Source: N Job) ______14
Figure 2.6: Aerial photograph of the active and inactive center pivot crop fields adjacent to Verlorenvlei (Source: CapeNature)______18
Figure 2.7 Locality map of Verlorenvlei ______20
Figure 2.8: Dried kelp wrack on inside of Verlorenvlei sand spit ______21
Figure 2.9: Mouth of Verlorenvlei, November 2008 ______22
Figure 2.10: The rocky sill causing a natural obstruction about 500 m from the mouth to tidal exchange____ 23
Figure 2.11: Railway bridge crossing ______23
Figure 2.12: Road bridge crossing bisecting the estuary from the lake______24
Figure 2.13: Summary of salinity data collected in Verlorenvlei during the 1978 to 2008______25
Figure 2.14: Monthly temperature ranges measured in Verlorenvlei (1978 2008)______25
Figure 2.15: Maximum and minimum pH levels recorded in Verlorenvlei (1978 2008) ______26
Figure 2.16: Maximum and minimum Secchi disc depth (ranges) recorded in Verlorenvlei (August 1979 and September 2002) as well as turbidity (dots) measured in the system in November 2008 ____ 27
Figure 2.17: Maximum and minimum Dissolved oxygen concentrations (ranges) recorded in Verlorenvlei (1978/9 and November 2008)______27
Figure 2.18: DIN (mainly present as total NH4 N) measured in Verlorenvlei in November 2008______29
Figure 2.19: Algal growth in Verlorenvlei estuary channel (Source: CapeNature) ______31
Figure 2.20: Wild flowers and wild fig tree occurring along the shores of Verlorenvlei ______32
Figure 2.21: Birds at Verlorenvlei ______37
Table 3.2: Summary of estimated annual value for Verlorenvlei Estuary in 2008 money terms (all amounts in R’000)______47
Figure 4.1: Cyanobacterial bloom observed in Verlorenvlei during the November 2008 field visit______51
Figure 4.2: Alien vegetation in the Verlorenvlei floodplain ______53
Figure 4.3: Location of the old causeways at the mouth and near the railway bridge (November 2008)___ 53
Figure 4.4: Road bridge crossing to Elands Bay showing increased reed growth above the bridge ______54
Figure 4.5: Closure of informal road crossing near the Sishen Saldanha railway bridge ______55
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v iii Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Figure 4.6: Stone jetty used for direct abstraction of water from the Verlorenvlei ______55
Figure 4.7: Fences cutting through wetland vegetation in the upper Verlorenvlei ______56
Figure 4.8: Bird hide in upper Verlorenvlei ______56
Figure 4.9: Low lying developments neat the mouth of Verlorenvlei______57
Figure 4.10: Building rubble on Verlorenvlei floodplain ______59
Figure 4.11: Increased reed growth in upper Verlorenvlei ______60
Figure 4.12: Evidence of destruction of reeds beds by burning ______61
Figure 4.13: Gillnetting in upper vlei______63
Figure 4.14: Cattle grazing on saltmarsh vegetation in the middle Verlorenvlei______64
Figure 6.1: Employment by industry at Elands Bay and Lamberts Bay in 2001 (Census 2001) ______76
Figure 6.2: Education levels from Elands Bay and Lamberts Bay in 2001 (Census 2001)______76
Figure 6.3. Examples of the sectorial plans captured in the Cedeberg District municipality’s IDP ______78
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Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Tables Table 2.1: WR90 estimates for precipitation and surface run off per catchment (DWAF 2003) ______12
Table 2.2: Volume of groundwater abstracted per quaternary catchment for Verlorenvlei ______13
Table 2.3: The five major categories of fishes which utilize South African estuaries (After Whitfield 1994) ___ 33
Table 2.4: A list of all species recorded in Verlorenvlei by DWAF 2003 (a) by Harrison et al. 2000 (b), Sinclair et al. 1986 (c), Robertson 1980 (d) and Poggenpoel 1996 (e). The species are classified into five major categories of estuarine dependence as suggested by Whitfield 1994, Table 3.1. Introduced species indicated by an asterisk* ______34
Table 2.5: A list of carnivorous species recorded in Verlorenvlei ______38
Table 2.6: Provisional Present Ecological Health Status for the Verlorenvlei Estuary______39
Table 3.1: Ecosystem goods, services and attributes based on definitions by Costanza et al. (1997) that are likely to be provided by temperate South African estuaries (Turpie 2007) ______42
Table 4.1: Environmental hazards posing a potential threat to services provided by estuaries ______50
Table 6.1: Population statistics for Elands Bay and Lamberts Bay (combined) in 1996 and 2001 ______77
Table 6.2: Age group and gender statistics for Elands Bay and Lamberts Bay (combined) in 1996 and 2001 ______77
Table 6.3: Supporting programmes of South Africa’s Wetlands Conservation Programme ______82
Table 6.4: Summary of the recommended extent of protection required for the estuaries in the temperate regions of South Africa (Turpie and Clarke 2007)______85
Table 7.1: An overview of key activities and linkages to potential environmental problems if managed inappropriately ______96
Table 7.2: Environmental impacts and socio economic consequences potentially associated with specific problems______97
Table 7.3: Summary of relevant legislation and responsible departments/authorities pertaining to identified activities in Verlorenvlei______98
Table 7.4: Summary of (negative) impacts on Verlorenvlei (depicted as H= high; M = medium; L = low) and the status of existing legislation and management initiatives (G = good; F = Fair; P = poor) pertaining to identified activities ______100
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Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Abbreviations and Acronyms C.A.P.E. Cape Action Plan for the People and the Environment CapeNature Western Cape Nature Conservation Board CFR Cape Floristic Region CMA Catchment Management Agency CMS Catchment Management Strategies DEAT Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism DWAF Department of Water Affairs and Forestry EFR Ecological Flow Requirement EMP Estuarine Management Plan GEF Global Environmental Facility ICM Integrated Catchment Management ICZM Integrated Coastal Zone Management IDP Integrated Development Plan LUM Land Use Management MAP Management Action Plans MCM Branch: Marine and Coastal Management, Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism MLRA Marine Living Resources Act (No. 18 of 1998) NEMA National Environmental Management Act (No. 107 of 1998) NEMP National Estuarine Management Protocol NGO Non governmental Organisation NWA National Water Act (No. 36 of 1998) NWRS National Water Resources Strategies RDM Resource Directed Measures RQO Resource Quality Objectives SDF Spatial Development Framework WSDP Water Services Development Plan WUA Water User Association
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Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Acknowledgements
Project Team L van Niekerk (Project Leader and Main author) with contributions from: S Taljaard – Water Quality and Estuarine management JK Turpie – Resource Economics SJ Lamberth – Estuarine ecology and fish P Morant – Estuarine ecology, report review P Huizinga – Physical dynamics J de Wet – Resource Economics C Petersen – GIS and spatial data J Burger – Biodiversity and existing management initiatives N Job – Spatial data S Sono – Existing management initiatives C.A.P.E. Estuaries Task Team: A Matoti – Marine and Coastal Management, Department of Environmental Affairs P de Villiers – C.A.P.E. Estuaries Coordinator Key Stakeholders: J Burger – CapeNature C Malherbe – West Coast District Municipality N Jobb – Working for Wetlands
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x ii Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment
Planned documents for this Project: Development of the Estuarine Management Plan for Verlorenvlei: 1 Situation Assessment (this document) Development of the Estuarine Management Plan for Verlorenvlei: 2 Draft Estuarine Management Plan
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1.
Chapter 1: Introduction
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1.1 Introduction The C.A.P.E. Estuaries Programme was developed to ensure the conservation and sustainable utilisation of the estuarine biodiversity in the Cape Floristic Region (CFR). The Programme follows a strategic, integrated approach to estuarine management. Cooperative governance is seen as a key requirement for the success of the project. The proposed National Estuarine Management Protocol (NEMP) (as proposed in the National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Act (No. 24 of 2008)) is the recommended approach for establishing broad alignment on a national and regional scale. To pilot test the strategic concept, the C.A.P.E. Estuaries Programme was designed in accordance with the guidelines of the proposed NEMP. The comprehensive C.A.P.E. Estuaries Programme will be the first of its kind in South Africa, perhaps internationally, and will be a test case for the incorporation of strategic decision making into estuarine management. The C.A.P.E. Estuaries Programme will take a phased approach. Phase I (2005 to 2009) will focus on the design and testing of the process delineated by the proposed NEMP in a number of pilot estuaries in the CFR. It is proposed that Phase II (2009 to 2014) will extend the Programme to include the more complex estuaries (from a management perspective) in the region. The purpose of this study is to develop an Estuarine Management Plan (EMP) for Verlorenvlei to futher test and help refine the proposed framework for a generic estuarine management plan for in the estuaries of the CFR. The Verlorenvlei EMP, including all its supporting documentation, should be viewed as a “living” document to which stakeholders are continuously contributing and refining through implementation. Guiding the process is the strategic vision for estuaries in the CFR: Our estuaries are beautiful, rich in plants and animals, they attract visitors, sustain our livelihoods and uplift our spirits. This vision translates into a formal statement that reads as follows: The estuaries of the Cape Floral Region sustain our spiritual and economic well-being through their biophysical attributes and production of goods and services, which are made possible by the maintenance of their biodiversity and ecosystem functions (integrity). This formal vision highlights the following aspects of our estuaries, which we value and which we need to enhance and manage: The contribution of our estuaries to our spiritual well being; The role that our estuaries play in our economic welfare; Our dependency on the goods and services that our estuaries provide; The importance of the biophysical attributes of our estuaries; and The value of maintaining the biodiversity and ecosystem function of our estuaries so that we can derive these benefits from our systems.
Page 2 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment The formal vision was developed to highlight to the scientists and managers the aspects of the estuaries of the CFR that are deemed important and to communicate this to the larger scientific community and funding bodies. The key aspects highlighted in the strategic vision for the CFR estuaries should be foremost in the minds of the stakeholders (local communities, authorities, town planners etc.) that are tasked with drafting the Verlorenvlei EMP.
1.2 Scope of Work The objective of this project is the development of an EMP for the Verlorenvlei Estuary in the CFR following the C.A.P.E. Estuaries Programme generic framework guidelines (Van Niekerk and Taljaard 2007). The project is to explore the strengths and weakness of the proposed framework and develop innovative approaches to overcome unforeseen constraints where reality differs from the ideal world. Ultimately the project must provide a practical, implementable Estuary Management Plan for the Verlorenvlei Estuary. The Terms of Reference for the development of the EMP required that the following aspects be addressed: Field visit to assess the current status and health of Verlorenvlei; Preparation of a Situation Assessment; Setting the Vision, Objectives, Management Strategies and Management Action Plans for the Verlorenvlei Estuary (including an Estuarine Zonation Plan); and Design a monitoring and evaluation programme. Outputs were based on existing scientific information and consultation with experts. To encapsulate site specific issues a local stakeholder workshop will be conducted. The level of detail provided by the authorities and local stakeholders would be very dependent on their interest in, and commitment to, the Verlorenvlei EMP. The lack of scientific information on the system is an important constraint to the effective design and implementation of an Estuary Management Plan for Verlorenvlei. No comprehensive Ecological Water Requirement study has been undertaken, i.e. following the accepted Estuarine Resource Directed Measures methodology (Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF)). There has been, however, a study focused on groundwater in the environs of Verlorenvlei which treated the system purely as a freshwater wetland and largely disregarded its estuarine flow requirements. Estuaries differ from wetlands in that they not only receive freshwater input (be it surface water or groundwater) but also rely on interaction with the marine environment for effective ecosystem functioning. The more the freshwater inflow to a temporarily open/closed estuary is reduced, the less interaction with the marine environment occurs. This emphasis on mouth conditions and changes in salinity regime is not a requirement of the wetland Resource Directed Measures methodology. As the information on the Verlorenvlei Estuary is patchy and incomplete this situation was remedied, at least sufficiently to enable the preparation of the management plan, by means of a field reconnaissance visit to (re)familiarize the project team with the Verlorenvlei system. This was augmented by a small specialists workshop to summarize the available information on the biophysical functioning of the system and to evaluate the present health status of the estuary. In addition, recommendations to improve or maintain its present condition will be made.
Page 3 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Using available information and the insights developed during the site visit and workshop a Situation Assessment of the present state of the Verlorenvlei Estuary was prepared. The Situation Assessment is to serve as a discussion document for setting the vision and objectives, and determining the management strategies and estuarine zonation plan for input to an EMP. The situation assessment will include a summary of the: Legal requirements relevant to Verlorenvlei Estuary; The biophysical environment; Requirements stipulated in existing management strategies; the socio economic environment; Conservation planning or Ramsar management strategies; Exploitation of living resources (fishing); and Provide detail on gaps in the knowledgebase and future research needs.
1.3 Need for Estuarine Management Local and international experience indicates that the most fundamental pitfall in achieving sustainable use and biodiversity protection is the fragmentation of the responsibility of estuarine management among the different national, provincial and local government agencies (Van Niekerk & Taljaard 2003). Although the value of estuaries is often reflected in the activities that they support, inappropriate management and control can result in a net loss of value to society (Turpie and Clark 2007). Estuaries constitute the interface between land and sea. They form, therefore, a critical node to be considered in the overall planning process. This implies that conservation, resource utilisation, development and water resources planning must take cognisance of the needs of estauries to ensure a sustainable future for all who depend on their goods and services. The National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Act (No. 24 of 2008) explicitly states the requirement for a NEMP, and individual EMPs for every South African Estuary. Furthermore, for the effective implementation of an EMP at the local level, it must be incorporated officially into district and/or local Integrated Development Plans (IDPs) and Spatial Development Frameworks (SDFs), a requirement under the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act (No. 32 of 2000). For example, the Integrated Environmental Programme developed as part of the West Coast District Municipality IDPs provides an avenue for the inclusion of the Verlorenvlei EMP in the larger planning framework for the region. Another possible route for providing an EMP with legal status is through the water resource classification process under the National Water Act. This may, however, hold only for priority estuaries in South Africa, as this is currently the focus of the Department of Water Affairs Water Resources Classification process.
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1.4 Components of an EMP The following key components need to be addressed as part of an EMP ( Figure 1.1): Situation Assessment and Evaluation ; The setting of a Vision and Strategic objectives; The evaluation of Management Strategies to achieve the vision and objectives; The preparation of an Estuarine Zonation Plan and the establishment of Operational Objectives ; The identification of Management Action Plans (MAPs); The Implementation of the MAPs; and Monitoring . Situation Assessment and Evaluation: In the initial stages of developing individual EMPs, it is important to conduct a Situation Assessment and Evaluation based mainly on available information. The Situation Assessment and Evaluation should be undertaken ideally in consultation with a qualified team of social and natural (estuarine) scientists. Vision and Strategic Objectives: The Situation Assessment and Evaluation provide the basis for setting a realistic and achievable vision and strategic objectives for a particular system. It also provides a means to ensure that stakeholder expectations are aligned with the limitations, opportunities and constraints of the ecological and socio economic environments early in the process, i.e. unrealistic expectations are not raised. Management Strategies: Once the Vision and Strategic Objectives have been developed for a particular estuary, they need to be evaluated against existing management strategies as well as the local ecological and socio economic opportunities and constraints. The Vision and Strategic Objectives are achieved through a range of broad Management Strategies, which should be prioritised so that limited financial and human resources are utilised effectively. Estuarine Zonation Plan (EZP) and Operational Objectives: Once there is agreement on the Management Strategies these need to be translated into an EZP and Operational Objectives. An EZP needs to demarcate aspects such as the geographical boundaries of the estuary, conservation areas, important biophysical features; and areas in which recreational and industrial activities take place. Operational objectives specify the standards, target values or thresholds of potential concerns relevant to the various activities. The EZP and Operational Objectives, become the “Blueprint” for a particular estuary against which all developments and activities should be tested for compliance. Management Action Plans (MAPS): A full range of management actions should be identified to enable the achievement of the Operational Objectives. Implementation: Implementation of the MAPs varies from system to system depending on site specific activities and developments. It is important that management actions are executed within established legal, policy and/or best practice frameworks.
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Figure 1.1: The generic framework for the development and implementation of EMPS Monitoring: The sustainable management of estuaries only can be achieved by being based on appropriate and reliable quantitative data. The collection, processing and interpretation of such data are, however, time consuming and costly and often require considerable scientific expertise. The long term monitoring of estuaries is site specific and depends on the type of activities and developments occurring within, and around, the system as well as the site specific physical, biogeochemical and ecological characteristics and their variability. Long term monitoring is a dynamic, iterative process that needs to be adjusted continuously, without compromising its scientific integrity, to incorporate new knowledge, thereby supporting the principle of adaptive management.
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2.
Chapter 2: Verlorenvlei Catchment
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2.1 Geology and Geomorphology The surface geology of the Verlorenvlei catchment consists of rocks of the about Table Mountain Group (30 %); Tertiary to recent sands (40%); and exposed, fine grained rocks of the Malmesbury Group (30%)(Sinclair et al 1986). Malmesbury Group
The Malmesbury Group (Proterozoic) has been subdivided on lithological grounds into three groups, calcareous, quartzose and phyllite with greywacke. The calcareous group comprises pure limestone, dolomitic limestone and dolomite. Carbonaceous patches and calcareous rocks grade into quartz rich varieties. The quartzose group consist of quartzite, schist, conglomerate, arkose and grit with inter bedded phylilite and greywacke layers. The remaining group contains greywacke and blue black phylite in varying proportions. Klipheuwel Formation
The Klipheuwel Formation (Proterozoic) comprises the following: purple to reddish brown sandy micaceous shale which is mostly poorly bedded and grades into mudstone; alternating beds of sandstone, shaly sandstone and sandy shale with colours ranging from buff to purple and red; white and brightly coloured sandstone and grit with minor conglomerate and shale layers. The arencaeous strata are commonly cross bedded, quite often feldspathic, and much softer than the Table Mountain Group sandstone. The maximum thickness exposed on the eastern boundary of this area amounts to about 375m. Table Mountain Group
The lower portion of the Table Mountain Group (Upper Silurian Lower Devonian) is found throughout the area. The basal portion of the series is characterised by numerous thick but lenticular conglomerate bands, the pebbles of which consist predomanntly of vein quartz. The major constituent of the group is medium to coarse grained, white to reddish brown sandstone, which is thickly bedded, and commonly cross bedded. Fine grained shaly sandstone is confined to the lower shale band. Tertiary to Recent Deposits
White to slightly reddish sandy soil found over large areas was formed at more than one period and at different altitudes. It originated mainly from the underlying unconsolidated to partly consolidated sand and clay, and to a lesser extent from the Table Mountain Group, the coastal dunes, and fluviatile deposits of past and present drainage systems. Rubble and debris are found in numerous places at the foot of cliffs and along small streams that flow down hillsides after heavy downpours. The river is flanked by strips of alluvium, part of it being black and rich in plant material. Several patches of driftsand and bare dunes away from the coast originated mostly from
Page 8 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment mismanagement of the veld. A large dune field occurs to the north of the river mouth and the town of Elandsbaai.
Figure 2.1 Map of the geology of Verlorenvlei catchment 'Heuweltjies' or Hummocks
The phenomenon of 'heuweltjies' occurs on the Verlorenvlei area, and is easily detectable from the ground and in aerial photographs. They include calcareous layers and a higher clay content in the soil derived from old termitaria. The activity of mole rats may also contribute to the formation of 'heuweltjies'. Geology adjacent to Verlorenvlei
Extensive low lying sand flats (Tertiary to Recent) occur to the north and east of the lake and slope gently up to a series of low hills of the Table Mountain Group which form the catchment boundary in this area. On the southern side, the lake lies against the base of a continuous range of low sandstone hills averaging some 120m
Page 9 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment above sea level, with Muishoekberg (300m) forming the only prominent peak. A fairly level plateau of Tertiary to Recent sands lies behind these hills. Outcrops of shales of the Klipheuwel Formation occur at a few places at the base of the hills on the southern side of the lake. The vlei, the hills on its south bank, and the 'krantzline' are all orientated in a NW/SE direction. These features follow the direction of the geological faults running through the area. The Table Mountain Group lies horizontally over large areas, but is also folded into broad open anticlines and synclines with axes striking north or northwest. Along Verlorenvlei itself are two minor folds formed along axes striking northeast (Sinclair et al 1986).
2.2 Soils The Verlorenvlei catchment is classified as a zone of littoral sands (arenosols), or of aeolian origin (Von Harmse 1978). Salient feature of these soils is their low reserve of weatherable minerals, and the low silt/clay ratio. The coastal lowlands consist of sands and conglomerates of Tertiary to Recent origins (Taylor 1987), with low water retaining capacity, being either acid and relatively infertile or, nearer the coast, alkaline with a distinct horizon of lime accumulation. The 'heuweltjies' or hillocks have higher clay content than the surrounding soils. The general Verlorenvlei area is characterized by a fine sandy soil. On the southern shore, extending from Elandsbaai to Redelinghuys, are isolated sections classified as rock and undifferentiated lithosols. Rubble and debris are found in numerous places at the foot of cliffs and along small streams that flow down hillsides after heavy downpours. The river is flanked by strips of alluvium, part of it being black and rich in plant material. Several patches of drift sand and bare dunes away from the coast originated mostly from mismanagement of the veld. A large dune field occurs to the north of the estuary mouth and the town of Elandsbaai.
2.3 Climate and Runoff Catchment
The catchment of Verlorenvlei is about 87km long in a north west/south east direction and up to 43km wide. Its surface area is estimated by Noble and Hemens (1987) to be 1 890km 2, or 198 000 ha. The catchment is bounded by the Swartberg and Olifantsrivierberge in the east and by the Piketberg in the south, and includes the Eendekuil basin, a low lying area lying between the Olifantsrivierberge and the Piketberg. The Verlorenvlei system comprises several rivers and four quaternary catchments (G30B, G30C, G30D and G30E) draining the low relief, sandy coastal plain, with most of the water originating in the eastern edges of the Cape Folde Belt in the upper reaches of the river (DWAF 2003).
Page 10 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment At the outlet of catchment G30E the Kruis River is gauged (the only gauging point in the entire G30 catchment) and immediately thereafter confluences with the Bergvallei River, and further downstream with the Krom Antonies and the Hol Rivers, and with the Wittevallei at Redelinghuys. These tributaries make a considerable contribution of good quality water to the lower river (G30D). The upper catchments of all of these rivers have been severely impacted by farming, as will be apparent from the pivot irrigation analysis. Ploughing in certain reaches of the Bergvallei has been extended right through the river bed. Downstream of G30E the river flows through a wide sandy and flat valley, and in which the river displays a high degree of braiding and wetland characteristics at intervals. The Verlorenvlei wetland system begins upstream of Redelinghuys and extends downstream into the extensive reedbeds which continue for much of the length of the vlei to the ocean (DWAF 2003).
Figure 2.2 Verlorenvlei catchment map Climate
Verlorenvlei has a mild Mediterranean climate with predominantly sunny days throughout the year. The area has an average annual rainfall of less than 300mm of which 80% falls in the winter period (April to September) and very little in summer (Table 2.1 and Figure 2.3). Single very rare heavy showers can account for as much as the normal annual precipitation. Hail is seldom reported in this region.
Page 11 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Table 2.1: WR90 estimates for precipitation and surface run-off per catchment (DWAF 2003)
Catchment Catchment Area CMAP(mm) MAR (x10 3 m 3) (hectares) G30B 65,843.15 393.60 28.7 G30C 35,119.78 409.52 32.2 G30D 53,445.21 384.31 22.3 G30E 35,199.88 248.55 5.4
Figure 2.3 The mean annual precipitation and potential annual evaporation rate for Verlorenvlei Catchment Runoff
Noble and Hemens (1978) estimates the mean annul runoff at 102 x10 6 m 3. The Sandveld Reserve Study revised this estimate down to 89 x10 6 m 3 based on the WR90 model defaults. This doe not take into account any direct contributions of groundwater into the system. No more detailed quantitative data are available (in spite of the Sandveld Reserve study). It is very important that the both the natural and present day inflow to the system be quantified. Groundwater
Groundwater provides an important source of freshwater to Verlorenvlei. Fresh groundwater (EC 30 70 mS/m) contributes to the river/wetland from the north. Two specific areas have very fresh groundwater (EC 10 mS/m) and the exact source of this water is unknown, but is suspected to be deep groundwater flow from recharged groundwater up in the higher lying areas. The groundwater towards the south of the Verlorevlei has an EC of between 100 and 200 mS/m. It is unknown if this
Page 12 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment water contributes to the water balance of the Verlorevlei river. An estimated 12000 m3d 1 groundwater is contributed to the Verlorevlei G30E catchment (DWAF 2003). The volume of groundwater abstracted for irrigation purposes was calculated for 1998, based on summer and winter Landsat5 images (DWAF 2003). The RDM study assumed that 95% of all irrigation water was abstracted from groundwater, with the remainder being abstracted from surface water. In summer an average irrigation rate is 1000mm/ha/season. In winter this rate reduces to 600 mm/ha/season. There are typically two potato growing seasons per year. The satellite image classification involved a the identification of centre pivot circles and then classifying them as: unvegetated (dry), cover crop or intensively irrigated. Table 2.2 below shows the volume of groundwater abstracted per quaternary catchment for Verlorenvlei. A calculation was also carried out to indicate the relative volume of groundwater abstracted per unit area for each catchment. Table 2.2: Volume of groundwater abstracted per quaternary catchment for Verlorenvlei
Total Summer Winter Total Catchment Abstraction/ Catchment (Mm 3/yea (m 3/year) (m 3/year) (m 3/year) Area (ha) Area ratio r) G30B 380000 114000 494000 0.49 65843 8 G30C 2135935 640780 2776715 2.78 35120 79 G30D 3080323 924097 4004420 4.00 53445 75 G30E 2228894 668668 2897563 2.90 35200 82 Groundwater recharge in the Verlorenvlei area is mainly controlled by rainfall, which in its turn is controlled by topography. The higher lying areas of the catchments (G30E) therefore are regarded as the main recharge areas ( Figure 2.4). The upper catchment receives about 500mm rainfall of which 130mm are expected to reach the groundwater (28% RE). The recharge zone at the foot of the mountains is expected to receive between 250 and 300mm rainfall with about 15mm reaching the groundwater (5% RE). The rest of the catchment receives about 200mm rainfall of which not more than 2mm replenishes the groundwater (1% RE). Figure 2.4 shows the spatial distribution of key recharge areas in the Verlorenvlei catchment. The Resource Quality Objectives stipulated for the Sandveld Reserve study recommended that no additional users of the ground or surface water be permitted. It was further recommended that the lawfulness of the users in these areas be evaluated and illegal use of water should be stopped. A monitoring network to evaluate the seasonal impact of abstraction is in place and will assist in future to better quantify the impacts of the users of the resources (DWAF 2003).
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Figure 2.4: Groundwater recharge areas (Source: N Job)
2.4 Historical Land use – Our Archaeological Heritage There are a number of important archaeological sites in the Elands bay area near Verlorenvlei. The exact location of most of these sites is not published to protect them from vandalism. Sinclair et al ( 1986) list some important cave and open archaeological sites worthy of protection and further research: Baboon Point, including the Elands Bay Cave. The Diepkloof/Witklip/Grootdrift complex, including caves and rock art. Two series of shell middens, one extending along the coast southwards from the mouth of the vlei and the other northwards. The archeological sites near Verlorenvlei provide a record of prehistoric settlements in the area. Elands Bay Cave is one of the most significant archaeological sites in southern Africa. The archaeological sequence goes back at least as far as the Pleistocene (10 000 BP). Excavations at Elands Bay Cave (and other sites close by) are providing important data on palaeo environmental changes such as the rise and fall in sea level over the past 10 000 years. Today the site is near the sea, but about 18 000 years ago the sea was about 40km away. The area between the cave and the sea was a marshy plain which attracted many animals, in particular megafauna. The remains of these extinct animals have been excavated by University of Cape Town archaeologists, who have also found numerous human burials from a more recent archaeological period inside and in front of the cave.
Page 14 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment The site has also provided insights into the subsistence patterns and settlement arrangements of the hunter gatherers and pastoral people during the Holocene period. About 2000 years ago, the arrival in the area of pastoral peoples, with their different lifestyles and large herds of domesticated animals, affected the traditional hunter gatherer way of life (Sinclair et al 1986). At least 90 rock art sites are present occur near Verlorenvlei, most of them in the Table Mountain Group outcrops along the southern shore of the vlei. Analyses of the art show that this was an important area for both the hunter gatherers and the herding peoples. Naturalistic images of animals and humans are found throughout Southern Africa, but elements such as handprints are mostly limited in their distribution to the Western and Southern Cape. Handprints are especially common around Verlorenvlei which was a major focal point for prehistoric and early historic hunting and herding people. For example at Elands Cave, apart from the remains of a large painting of an eland and a fat tailed sheep, the rock surface is covered with many red handprints, most of which are what are known as "decorated handprints". Handprints are among the most appealing but enigmatic images in rock art. Ethnographic accounts point to the perception that paint was considered to be supernaturally powerful. Eland blood, which was very potent, was sometimes used as a binder for the paint. In order to enter the spirit world that lay behind the rock surface, shamans needed to harness supernatural power. Touching the rock with a supernaturally powerful substance was probably tantamount to entering the spirit world While the cave sites are difficult to protect because of their visibility the open middens are vulnerable to agricultural activities, collection of shells for lime making and vehicles on the beaches. The significant amount of artefacts found in the Verlorenvlei area suggest that man has been in this area more or less continuously for the last 100 000 years. There are few area in sub Saharan Africa which hold the same potential for significant archaeological reconstruction of the human race. Sinclair et al (1986) proposed a broad conservation area to protect the known and unknown archaeological sites for future research.
2.5 Land-use Natural
As Verlorenvlei is a proclaimed a Ramsar site (No. 525) the vlei itself is owned by the state. The southern shores of the vlei is also relatively natural, with some grazing by goats and cattle. Figure 2.5 provides an indication of the spatial distribution of the areas in which natural and near natural land cover still occur. From this it is quite clear that the upper catchment is much more heavily cultivated in comparison with the less disturbed lower parts of the catchment.
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Important fishing grounds are present along the coast in the vicinity of Elandsbaai and there area few small fish processing factories at Baboon Point. These factories are mostly concerned with processing rock lobster although a small amount of fish processing does occur?. Urban
The small village of Elandsbaai lies along the coast near the mouth of Verolrenvlei. There has been a increase in residential development around the vlei in recent times. This trend is likely to continue as one of the major constraints to development in the past was the very bad gravel road between Elandsbaai and Piketberg to the east and Dwarskersbos to the south.
Figure 2.5: Land use in the catchment of Verlorenvlei
Page 16 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Agricultural
The area surrounding Verlorenvlei is privately owned and farm boundaries extend to the 50 year flood line. Fields have been established along part of the lake margins and extend below the high water mark in places. Extensive ploughing has been undertaken in the surrounding area particularly on the hills south of Verlorenvlei. The greater part of the Verlorenvlei wetlands are used as natural veld grazing for sheep and cattle and water is pumped for irrigation purposes. Since the mid 1980s centre pivot irrigation has become the major agricultural activity in the catchment following the introduction of electricity by Eskom (Figure 2.6). The center pivot boom relies on electric power to drive the system in its circular motion. Most of the indigenous vegetation being cleared for center pivots in the surveyed region is Strandveld veld type (DWAF 2003). This is described as an open semisucculent scrub of fynbos form, intermediate between Coastal Fynbos and Succulent Karroo. The majority of the center pivot systems in the area are used for the irrigation of potatoes, with approximately 70 % used for seed potato cultivation. One of the most notable features of center pivot irrigation in these sandy areas is the small percentage of circular fields, which are supporting an actively growing crop at any given time. The motivation for this practice is the disease fee conditions required for seed potato production. Until 1991 the rule was that seed potato producers were not allowed to cultivate seed potatoes on the same land for two years following the cultivation of a seed crop (DWAF 2003). However, since the beginning of 1992 the Potato Board has increased this fallow period to three years. Because farmers usually operate a single boom that is moved from field to field, more land is needed to be cleared today to ensure the same yield as was obtained prior to 1992 (DWAF 2003). It was estimated that in 2002 approximately 7500 ha was the total area under cultivation, with 2500 ha being for seed potato and 5000 ha table potato (DWAF 2003). For example, a farmer wanting to cultivate 20 hectares of seed potatoes would need to clear four 20 ha circles (80 ha) and would cultivate one circle per year, moving the center pivot to the appropriate field each year. The Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act (Act 43 of 1983) recommends that land owners should protect cultivated land against excessive soil loss as a result of wind erosion during periods that they are not cultivated. This can be achieved by means of: erecting wind rows, crop rotation systems, cover crops and leaving crop residues on the land following the harvest. However, as some potato pests utilise groundcover plants as additional host plants, thereby prolonging the pest presence in the fields, many circles are left completely bare. The reason for this is that addition cover crops such as oats, rye and triticale often require irrigation, at least until establishment. This, in turn, requires the presence of a center pivot which the farmer would be unwilling to move to water an “unproductive” crop (DWAF 2003). The exception is an economically more attractive crop such as watermelons cultivated as an in between crop. The agricultural extension officers advise that the seeds of a cover crop be sown and watered to ensure plant establishment before the irrigation boom is removed from the field (DWAF 2003). As centre pivot fields are left bare between crops it greatly increases the amount of sediment entering the rivers of the Verlorenvlei catchment which ultimately ends up in the upper vlei. This in turn is
Page 17 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment considered to be one of the major reasons for the increased Typha (bull rush) growth in the upper Verlorenvlei.
Figure 2.6: Aerial photograph of the active and inactive center-pivot crop fields adjacent to Verlorenvlei (Source: CapeNature)
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Chapter 3: Verlorenvlei Estuary
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2.6 Background Verlorenvlei extends between the West Coast villages of Elandsbay and Redelinghuys and open into Elands Bay approximately 25 km north of Lambert's Bay, the nearest town. Verlorenvlei (32˚24’S 018˚26’E) is one of the largest estuarine lakes in South Africa and is one of the country’s few coastal freshwater lakes.
Figure 2.7Locality map of Verlorenvlei
Page 20 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment 2.7 Abiotic Features Physical
The wetlands of the Verlorenvlei system is between 1 and 5 m above mean sea level. Its surface area is estimated to be 1 890 km 2, or 198 000 ha ( http://www.ramsar.org/index_list.htm ). The average depth of open water area of the lake is between 2 and 3 metres with maximum depth of 5 metres (Robertson 1980). A small estuarine channel about 2.6 km connects the lake to the sea. The entire channel is very shallow (about 0,5m deep), tending to inhibit free water exchange. During the dry summer months the mouth is usually closed by a sandbar overlying a rocky sill and the estuarine channel may be reduced to a few series of stagnant saline pools. The bar is formed by wave action and a south going longshore current in combination with frequent onshore winds. When good rains provide sufficient water the lake and estuary fills and the bar is overtopped. The outflowing water scours the sandbar away thus permitting some tidal interaction. Tidal exchange continues until the velocity of the outflowing water decrease sufficiently so as to allow the accretion of sand to form a new bar at the mouth. During storms and high spring tides the sea washes over the sandbar ( Figure 2.8). Sea water is reported to penetrate as far as Verloren Farm (Robertson 1980).
Figure 2.8: Dried kelp wrack on inside of Verlorenvlei sand spit There are four major obstructions to tidal exchange in the lower vlei: the mouth; a rocky sill (that used to be a causeway); a cuaseway below the railway bridge and the road crossing to Elands Bay. In addition to the constrictions in the estuary there are also two causeways in the upper vlei at Grootddrift and Redelinghuys that also pose a constraint to circulation.
Page 21 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Mouth: The rocky barrier at the mouth (~1 m MSL) is covered by a 1 to 2 m thick sand layer. Since mean high tide is about 0.8 m MSL, overwash from the sea can only occur during high spring tides and storm surges ( Figure 2.9). Evidence of overwash is clearly to be seen as dried kelp wracks on the sand spit near the mouth or decaying pieces of kelp in the lower mouth area (Sinclair et al 1986). During the November 2008 field visit the mouth of the Verlorenvlei was open, but perched, with fresh water running strongly out to sea on the ebb tide and entering the estuary in a very limited manner on the flood tide, i.e. the mouth acted as a natural constriction to tidal flows.
Figure 2.9: Mouth of Verlorenvlei, November 2008
Rocky sill 500m from the mouth: The concrete causeway that used to run across the estuary channel, was recently removed and the underlying bed rock exposed ( Figure 2.10 ). This allows for free outflow of water from the vlei, but still acts as a natural obstruction to normal tidal flows. Seawater is only expected to penetrate beyond this point during high spring tides and storm surges. Although this rocky sill represents a hydraulic constriction to tidal flows it is now deep enough to allow for the recruitment of invertebrates and fish into the system. This was demonstrated during the November 2008 field visit by the presence of the first recoded juvenile steenbras in Verlorenvlei since the 1970s.The Working for Wetlands programme should be commended for the removal of this constriction as it has greatly assisted in enhancing the ecological value of the vlei.
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Figure 2.10: The rocky sill causing a natural obstruction about 500 m from the mouth to tidal exchange Railway bridge crossing : The railway bridge crossing obstruction is situated about 1 km from the mouth and use to form part of the maintenance road that runs along the Sishen/Saldanha railway line ( Figure 2.11 ). The road is raised 1 m above the river bed on a crude rubble and clay causeway. This obstruction prevents a free connection to the vlei and reduces the nursery function of the system. It is strongly recommended that the Working for Wetlands programme assit with the removal of this constriction. About 3 000 m 3 of rubble and earth needs to be removed to restore this section of the channel obstruction to a more natural state.
Figure 2.11: Railway bridge crossing Road crossing: The main road to Elands Bay from Dwarskersbos crosses the uppermost narrow section of the estuary channel (2.6 km upstream of the mouth) via a 180 m –long embankment about 2 m above the lake bed level ( Figure 2.12 ). Only about 20 % of the embankment is open, with large box culverts which allow flow to pass through (Sinclair et al 1986). Although this constriction does not pose a
Page 23 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment major constraint to flow under normal conditions, it does prevent normal circulation and has contributed to the substantial vegetation growth in the lower vlei. The culverts also are a constriction under flood conditions and contribute to backflooding of adjacent land.
Figure 2.12: Road bridge crossing bisecting the estuary from the lake
Grootdrift causeway: The causeway at Grootdrift hinders the natural meandering of the channel and flow in the upper vlei. The causeway only allows limited flow through 5 box culverts and 3 pipe culverts. The result is a more stagnant conditions and a related increase in sedimentation and vegetation growth. It is very important that an effort be made to increase the flow through the causeway. Redelinghuys causeway: Similar to the Grootdrift causeway the Redelinghuys causeway also restricts flow and reduce free moement of the upper channels, resulting in sedimentation and increased vegetation growth in upper Verlorenvlei. Again, every effort should be made to increase the flow through the causeway. Water Quality
Salinity. Salinity data on Verlorenvlei is summarised in Figure 3.2 (Robertson, 1980; Grindley et al, 1980; DWAF 2003; this study). Verlorenvlei normally functions as a freshwater system: the mouth is perched and only allows occasional seawater inflow during high spring tides and stormy conditions at sea. When water levels in the vlei are high, there is a continuous discharge to the sea maintaining freshwater dominated conditions as was observed in September 1985, September 2002 and November 2008 (Figure 3.2). When the water level in the vlei drops, the outflow to the sea no longer occurs creating a stagnant water body in the lower reaches. During these low water levels the shallower areas downstream of the road crossing – can become more saline, even hypersaline when interchanges of fresh water between the larger vlei and this shallow regions are no longer sufficient to counterbalance salt build up associated with occasional overwash and evaporation. Such conditions were evident in 1978/79 (Figure 2.13 ) when a drought resulted in a marked drop in water levels and when the old causeway and railway service road were still present, preventing proper exchange between the shallower area and the larger estuary.
Page 24 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment 100 1978/79 range Sep-85 Sep-02 Nov-08 80
60 40
Salinity (ppt) 20 0 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 Distance from mouth (km)
Grootdrift Redelinghuis Railway bridge Railway Old causeway crossing Road Figure 2.13: Summary of salinity data collected in Verlorenvlei during the 1978 to 2008 Temperature. Temperature data for Verlorenvlei are summarised in Figure 2.14, depicting monthly temperature ranges measured in the estuary and lake over the period 1978 to 2008 (Robertson, 1980; Grindley et al, 1980; DWAF 2003; this study). 40 30 C) 0 20 Temperature ( 10 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Figure 2.14: Monthly temperature ranges measured in Verlorenvlei (1978 - 2008) The temperature regime in Verlorenvlei shows a clear seasonal pattern, with summer temperatures being markedly higher than those in winter. The temperature within the system also shows diurnal variation, depending on the time of day and the prevailing air temperature, as reflected in the wide range of temperature recorded within months. For example, during warmer months, the morning the water temperature can be relatively low (below 20 0C), but can reach 30 oC at mid day as the air temperature rises, especially in the shallower areas that are protected from wind mixing.
Page 25 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment pH. A summary of the pH data collected in Verlorenvlei over the period 1978 to 2008 is provided in Figure 2.15 (Robertson, 1980; Grindley et al, 1980; DWAF 2003; this study). 14 12 10 8 pH 6 4
2 0 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 Distance from mouth (km)
Grootdrift Redelinghuis Railway Railway bridge causeway Old crossing Road Figure 2.15: Maximum and minimum pH levels recorded in Verlorenvlei (1978 - 2008) The data indicate that the pH levels in the system generally ranges between 6 and 8. Some higher values were recorded in the shallower areas downstream of the road crossing, and in particular, in the deeper, open areas of the lake were pH levels increased to 9.6. Robertson (1980) attributed the higher pH in the system, compared with river inflow at Redelinghuys, to increased alkalinity as a result of direct groundwater seepage into the systems and/or evaporation. However, high photosynthetic activity, as often occurs in the system, can also result in an increase in pH associated with the rapid abstraction of CO 2 from surface waters during photosynthesis (Oyieke & Kokwaro, 1993). Turbidity/Transparency. The available data on water transparency in Verlorenvlei were obtained in 1979 and 2002 using a Secchi disc (Grindley et al, 1980; DWAF 2003). The ranges measured along the estuary during these surveys are illustrated in Figure 2.16 . The results show a tendency for transparency to be less in the lake and in the shallow reaches below the road crossing, compared with the upper reaches (e.g. above Grootdrift). Lower transparency in the lake and shallower areas are probably linked to high water column primary productivity, as well as re suspension of bottom material (wind mixing), particularly in the shallower areas. Turbidity levels in surface waters, recorded in November 2008 refected a similar pattern, where turbidity in the basin were higher (~70NTU) campared with the upper reaches at Grootdrift (30 NTU). At the time a cyanobacterial (blue green algal) bloom was present in the basin area.
Page 26 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment 1.0 100
0.8 80 Turbidity (NTU) 0.6 60 0.4 40 Secchi disc depth (m) 0.2 20 0.0 0 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 Distance from mouth (km)
Grootdrift Redelinghuis Railway bridge Railway Old causeway crossing Road Figure 2.16: Maximum and minimum Secchi disc depth (ranges) recorded in Verlorenvlei (August 1979 and September 2002) as well as turbidity (dots) measured in the system in November 2008 Dissolved oxygen. Dissolved oxygen concentration data for Verlorenvlei during 1978/79 and 2008 are summarised in Figure 2.17 (Robertson, 1980; Grindley, et al., 1980; this study). 14 12 10 8 6 4 Dissolved Oxygen (mg/l) 2 0 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 Distance from mouth (km) Grootdrift
Redelinghuis Railway bridge Railway Old causeway crossing Road Figure 2.17: Maximum and minimum Dissolved oxygen concentrations (ranges) recorded in Verlorenvlei (1978/9 and November 2008) The data show that Verlorenvlei is generally well oxygenated with concentrations generally above 4 mg/l. The lake is not subject to strong vertical stratification. Prevailing wind turbulence is sufficient to create a well mixed, aerated water column despite the high organic loading.
Page 27 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Lower oxygen consentrations measured at the railway bridge were associated with deeper bottom waters. This area is more protected from wind compared with the larger basin of the lake, resulting in less efficient mixing of the water column. Robertson (1980) attributed the lower oxygen concentrations occasionally recorded in the upper reaches (Grootdrift) to the high oxygen demand of the shallow, muddy area. High oxygen values (reflecting supersaturation), particular in the deeper basin area, are attributed to the high photosynthetic activity characteristic of this part of the system. In 1978/9 the high levels were linked to the extensive growth of the submerged macrophyte, Myriophyllum spicatum , (Robertson, 1980) and in November 2008 an extensive cyanobacterial (blue green algal) bloom contributed to the supersaturated conditions. Inorganic nutrients . In its pristine condition Verlorenvlei probably existed as an oligotrophic water body, where nutrient inputs (in particular N) would have been lower compared to the present situation. As a result primary producers in the system were most likely dominated by macrophytes, and possibly benthic microalgae, but extensive water column primary production (phytoplankton blooms) or exceptionally dense submerged macrophyte beds would not have been the norm. Considering the extensive agricultural activities in the catchment under the present situation, river inflow is expected to be a source of inorganic nutrients to the system. This is supported by the marked increase in reed and sedge growth in the system over the years. However, despite this marked increase in primary production, the system is often still classified as being oligotrohic, based on the relatively low nutrient concentrations that are typically measured in the water column (e.g. Robertson, 1980). However, the concentration of inorganic nutrients (e.g. DIN and DIP) in the water column reflects the net effect of the rate at which these nutrients are taken up by primary producers and the rate at which they are regenerated or replaced. For example, a low nutrient concentration could indicate that a particular nutrient is not present in significant amounts, therefore limiting primary production (i.e. oligotrophic), but equally it could simply be the net result of a very rapid uptake by primary producers or loss to the atmosphere (e.g. through denitrification) or slow remineralisation rates (ANZECC 2000). This is important to consider in the interpretation of nutrient measurements. Considering the high primary production in Verlorenvlei, rapid uptake by primary producers is most likely the reason for the low inorganic nutrient concentrations typically observed in the system. Whilst the reeds and sedges in the upper reaches are effective filters of inorganic nutrients from the catchment through rapid uptake, this significant increase growth has most likely created an important secondary source of inorganic nutrients (N) to the estuary, namely in situ remineralisation (i.e. the bacterial breakdown of organic matter into inorganic N and P). Where a significant proportion of water column DIN is present as the reduced NH 4 N species (and not as NO3 N) it is usually indicative of significant contributions from remineralisation (It could also be indicative of sewage enrichment, but this is not considered a significant issue in Verlorenvlei).
Page 28 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Inorganic nutrient data – dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), dissolved inorganic phosphate (DIP) and dissolved reactive silicate (DRS) – were collected from Verlorenvlei during a once off field survey in November 2008. The DIP and DRS concentrations collected from the seven stations along the system did not show any significant trends with average concentrations of 133 and 3327 g/l, respectively. The DIP concentrations were difficult to interpret, (i.e. whether these were representative of actual contribution from the catchment and/or remineralisation or reflected the net effect of rate of uptake versus rate of supply. The high DRS concentrations were expected in this freshwater dominated system, as such high levels are typical of terrestrial [fluvial] run off (Eagle and Bartlett, 1984). In terms of the DIN, nitrogen was presently mainly as total NH 4 N, with NO 3 N and NO 2 N below the detection limit (25 g/l) throughout (indicative of in situ remineralisation being a significant source of DIN). DIN concentrations measured at the various stations are depicted in Figure 2.18. 300
250 High DIN concentrations in shallow low er reaches 200 150 100
DIN concentration (ug/l) 50 Detection limit 0 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 Distance from mouth (km)
Grootdrift Redelinghuis Railway bridge Railway Old causeway crossing Road
Figure 2.18: DIN (mainly present as total NH 4-N) measured in Verlorenvlei in November 2008 In the lake and upper estuary, although DIN concentrations were low (almost depleted) an extensive cyanobacterial bloom was present (confirmed by Marine and Coastal Management in November 2008). In contrast, DIN concentrations in the shallows nearer the mouth had significantly elevated DIN concentrations (mainly NH 4 N), but less intense algal blooms (based on visual observations). These results support the earlier hypothesis that the low nutrient concentrations (in particular DIN) measured in Verlorenvlei are not indicative of oligotrophic conditions, but rather the result of rapid primary production uptake, i.e. the uptake rate exceeds the supply rate. This difference is probably related to differences in the water residence time (water moving faster in the shallows near the mouth compared with basin not allowing optimal production rates) or differences in remineralisation rates (e.g. remineralisation is more effective in the shallows compared with the lake).
Page 29 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Toxic substances . No measured data were available to assess the presence and extent of toxic substances (e.g. trace metals, hydrocarbons, pesticides) in Verlorenvlei. Although it is not expected that toxic substances typical of urban development (e.g. trace metals and hydrocarbons) be present in the system in significant quantities (i.e. no large urban developments in the area and surrounds), extensive agricultural activities in the catchment and along the banks of the lake may have resulted in some accumulation of pesticides and herbicides. The extent however will have to be confirmed through studies of the sediments and biota.
2.8 Biotic Components Vegetation
Algae . Sinclair et al (1986) report that alga blooms, including cyanobacterial such as Microcystis aeruginosa occur in spring. The Sandveld RDM Study also found that the phytoplankton assemblage was representative of an eutrophic system notwithstanding the fact that the lake was phosphorus imited during the assessment period. The microalgal assemblage mainly comprised cyanobacterial of the genera Anabaena, Lyngbya, Anabaenopsis, Merismopedia, Microcystis with minor contributions from chloro ( Scenedesmus ) and bacillariophytes ( Cyclotella , Nitschia ). The algal assemblage was indicative of an elevation in trophic status that has been in place for some time and probably reflects eutrophication associated damage to the lower levels of the foodweb (e.g. depauperate zooplankton and coarse fish dominance) (DWAF 2003). A similar cyanobacterial bloom was observed in the lower and middle Verlorenvlei in November 2008. While certain species of cyanobacterial are toxic to animal life, not reports of this have been recorded at Verlorenvlei. Large masses of filamentous green algae, including Chaetmorpha and Cladophora , are common in the channel ( Figure 2.19 ), particularly between the railway bridge and the lower causeway, where the water is often stagnant and hypersaline (Sinclair et al 1986). Aquatic vegetation. Verlorenvlei exhibits a transition from salt tolerant species near the mouth to freshwater species further inland. More salt tolerant species include: Sarcocornia natalensis, Scirpus maritimus and Juncus kraussi. Extensive beds of emergent aquatic macrophytes occur along the margins of the vlei with Phragmites australis , Typha latifolia and sedges as dominants. Downstream of Redelinghuys there are fairly wide and open wetlands with patches of mixed sedges and reed communities along the course of the Verlorenvlei River over a distance of 11km. Dense reedbeds are present in the upper part of the lake (Sinclair et al 1986). There has been a substantial increase in Typha and Phragmites growth especially in the lower and upper reaches of Verlorenvlei since the 1930s.
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Figure 2.19: Algal growth in Verlorenvlei estuary channel (Source: CapeNature) During the late 1980s Myriophyllum spicatum , a submerged macrophyte, dominated large areas of the lake where the water is less than 2m deep (Sinclair et al 1986). This submerged macrophyte was not a present during the 2003 Sandveld study nor during the 2008 field visit (personal observation). The reason for the switch between macrophytes and microalgal blooms was not clear and is something that needs further investigation. The water lily, ( Nymphaea capensis ), a species which is becoming rare in South Africa as a result of wetland destruction, occurs in small numbers in the system. Terrestrial Vegetation . The Verlorenvlei wetland is of significant botanical importance, because of its position at the transition between the karroid and fynbos vegetation types ( Figure 2.20 ). The region therefore, has a high diversity typical of an ecotone area (Sinclair et al 1986). The vegetation types are: Seaward dune strandveld; Shrubby strandveld; Restoid strandveld; Saltpan vegetation; Lowland fynbos; Dry mountain fynbos; Mountain fynbos; Karroid scrubland; and Wetland vegetation. The site also supports notable rare plant species, such as Ferraria foliosa, F. densepunctulata, Cerycium venom (presumed extinct) and Cullumia floccosa (Sinclair et al 1986).
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Figure 2.20: Wild flowers and wild fig tree occurring along the shores of Verlorenvlei Invertebrates
Zooplankton. The zooplakton of the vlei includes estuarine and freshwater elements (Grindley 1979 and Robertson 1980). The most abundant organisms were Copepods, of which the estuarine species Pseudodiaptomus hessei and the freshwater species Diaptomus purcelli were dominant. Various harpacticoid species and the syslopoids (Mesocyclops sp.), Leptocyclops sublaevis and Hemicyclops sp. were less abundant. Large numbers of nauplius larvae and copepodite stages of Copepods were also present (Sinclair et al 1986). The freshwater cladoceran Leydigia propinqua was absent at the mouth but occurred throughout the vlei. Four species of freshwater Ostracods were present. Zonocypris tuberosa and Gypridopsis gregaria occurred at the mouth as well as throughout the vlei, while Eucypris purcelli , Isopris priomena and Paracypretta rubra were only recorded in the vlei (Sinclair et al 1986). Zoea and mysis larvae of Decapoda were present in the vlei. The amphipod Afrochiltonia subtenuis was present at the mouth, Small numbers of Chelicerata, fish larvae and fish eggs (Diameter 0,25mm) were also present. Detritus was present in all samples and some diatoms were recorded (Sinclair et al 1986). Insects. A variety of insect larvae were obtained in the plankton samples, including chironomids and other Diptera, Ephemeroptera, Coleoptera and Hemiptera. The following insects and larvae were recorded by Robertson (1980) as common at Verlorenvlei during 1979 to 1980: Sigara contortuplicata, Tendipes sp., Tachnura senegalensis, Anisops gracilis, Micronecta scutellaris, Hudrophyllida sp., Nychia limpida, Mesogomphus cognatus , egg jelly, chironomids (adult) and Dutiscid (beetle larvae) (Sinclair et al 1986). Other Invertebrates. Specimens of the mollusc Trigonephrus globulus (Mull) were collected the on northern bank of Verlorenvlei during 1986. Found along the Cape west coast, up to the Orange River, this species digs down into the sand during the dry summer, and emerges onto the surface when rain falls. The crab Potamonautes periatus was found along the southern shore of the coastal lake in 1985 (Sinclair et al 1986).
Page 32 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Fish
A total of 14 fish species from 9 families has been recorded from Verlorenvlei and a further two expected to occur (Harrison et al. 2000, Sinclair et al. 1986, Robertson 1980, Poggenpoel 1996, DWAF 2003). Four (25 %) of these are entirely dependent on estuaries to complete their lifecycles. One, the estuarine round herring Gilchristella aestuaria , breeds and spends its entire lifecycle in the estuarine environment whereas three, the white steenbras Lithognathus lithognathus , flathead mullet Mugil cephalus and freshwater mullet Myxus capensis are dependent on estuaries as nursery areas for at least their first year of life. In addition, Myxus capensis and to a lesser extent, Mugil cephalus are facultative catadromous species that require estuaries as transit routes between the marine and freshwater environment. A further three (19 %) species namely the harder Liza richardsonii , white stumpnose Rhabdosargus globiceps and Knysna sand goby Psammogobius knysnaensis are at least partially dependent on estuaries. In all, 44 % of the fish species recorded, or expected to occur, in Verlorenvlei can be regarded as either partially or completely dependent on estuaries for their survival. All 9 (66 %) of the remaining species are euryhaline freshwater species whose penetration into estuaries is determined by salinity tolerance. Three of these, the Cape galaxias Galaxias Zebratus , Cape kurper Sandelia capensis and Berg river Redfin Pseudobarbus bergi are endemic to the southwestern Cape. Six, the Mozambique Tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus , carp Cyprinus carpio , banded tilapia Tilapia sparrmanii , smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu , largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides and tench Tinca tinca are introduced species. Table 2.3: The five major categories of fishes which utilize South African estuaries (After Whitfield 1994)
Categories Description of categories I Estuarine species which breed in southern African estuaries. Further divided into: Ia. Resident species which have not been recorded spawning in the marine or freshwater environment Ib. Resident species which also have marine or freshwater breeding populations. II Euryhaline marine species which usually breed at sea with the juveniles showing varying degrees of dependence on southern African estuaries. Further divided into: IIa. Juveniles dependent on estuaries as nursery areas. IIb. Juveniles occur mainly in estuaries but are also found at sea. IIc. Juveniles occur in estuaries but are usually more abundant at sea III Marine species which occur in estuaries in small numbers but are not dependent on these systems IV Euryhaline freshwater species, whose penetration into estuaries is determined by salinity tolerance. Includes some species which may breed in both freshwater and estuarine systems. V Catadromous species which use estuaries as transit routes between the marine and freshwater environments. Further divided into: Va. Obligate catadromous species which require a freshwater phase in their development Vb. Facultative catadromous species which do not require a freshwater phase in their development
Page 33 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Table 2.4: A list of all species recorded in Verlorenvlei by DWAF 2003 (a) by Harrison et al. 2000 (b), Sinclair et al. 1986 (c), Robertson 1980 (d) and Poggenpoel 1996 (e). The species are classified into five major categories of estuarine-dependence as suggested by Whitfield 1994, Table 3.1. Introduced species indicated by an asterisk*
Family name Species name Common name Dependence Recorded Category by Anabantidae Sandelia capensis Cape kurper IV d Centrarchidae Micropterus dolomieu Smallmouth bass IV c Micropterus salmoides Largemouth bass IV c Cichlidae Oreochromis mossambicus Mozambique tilapia IV a,b,c Tilapia sparrmanii Banded tilapia IV b Clupeidae Gilchristella aestuaria Estuarine round Ia a,b,c herring Cyprinidae Cyprinus carpio Carp IV a,b,c Pseudobarbus burgi Berg River redfin IV d Tinca tinca Tench IV c Galaxiidae Galaxias zebratus Cape galaxias IV a,d Gobiidae Psammogobius knysnaensis Knysna sandgoby Ib expected Mugilidae Liza richardsonii Harder IIc a,b,c,e Mugil cephalus Flathead mullet IIa a,b,c,e Myxus capensis Freshwater mullet Vb expected Sparidae Lithognathus lithognathus White steenbras IIa b,e Rhabdosargus globiceps White stumpnose IIc e Six (38 %) of the estuarine fish and three (19 %), of the freshwater fish recorded in Verlorenvlei, are South African or southwestern Cape endemics (Smith and Heemstra 1986, Skelton 1993). In all, the fish assemblage of Verlorenvlei with its high proportion of endemics and low diversity is typical of estuarine lakes on the west and southern coasts of South Africa comprising freshwater species or estuarine species tolerant of low salinities (Allanson 1989). Compared with the Orange / Gariep (381 ha), Olifants (713 ha), Berg (798 ha) and Rietvlei / Diep (515 ha) systems, Verlorenvlei (1 000 ha) is the largest and represents about 30 % of the available habitat to estuarine fish on the west coast (Lamberth & Turpie 2003). In terms of fishery yield (including nursery function) Verlorenvlei contributes approximately R 3 030 ha 1 or R 3,03 million to the value of the inshore fisheries annually. This represents 15 % of the total value of the seine and gillnet fishery or 30 % of the estuarine contribution to the value of the inshore marine fisheries on the west coast (Lamberth & Turpie 2003). In 2002 a total of 16 600 fish representing 5 species from 4 families were recorded using seine and gillnets (DWAF 2003). Liza richardsonii (89 %) and Gilchristella aestuaria (10 %) dominated numerically, providing 99 % of the total catch. In terms of mass, Oreochromis mossambicus (64 %) dominated followed by Liza richardsonii (18 %), Cyprinus carpio (10 %), Mugil cephalus (6 %) and Gilchristella aestuaria (2 %). The distribution of the species caught during the spring 2002 survey was largely a reflection of the estuarine dependence category to which they belong.
Page 34 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Gilchristella aestuaria , which breeds only in estuaries (also freshwater populations) is largely confined to the river estuarine interface (salinity 0 10 ppt) of most estuaries. In Verlorenvlei it was fairly evenly distributed and occurred from the mouth to Redelinghuys 25 km upstream. However, there were higher densities in the lower and upper reaches of the vlei. Mugil cephalus , a facultative catadromous species, were confined to the middle and upper reaches of Verlorenvlei but, according to locals, substantial catches are often had at Redelinghuys 25 km upstream. Liza richardsonii is equally at home in the marine and estuarine environment. The bulk of estuarine populations are usually distributed in the lower and middle reaches of estuarine systems (20 35 ppt) but there is often a second peak in abundance on the upstream side of the 0 10 ppt zone. A few individuals may venture far into freshwater where they may become isolated and survive for several years. In Verlorenvlei high fish densities occured in the mouth region and head of the vlei and medium densities in the middle reaches. Oreochromis mossambicus is a freshwater species tolerant of a wide range of conditions. It survives in salinities of 0 100 ppt. and has been recorded in temperatures of up to 42 ºC (Whitfield 1998). It is also opportunistic in “taking advantage” of degraded habitats from which other fish have been excluded. The optimum temperature range for O.mossambicus is 20 35 ºC whereas its tolerance of lower temperatures is positively correlated with brackish water (Whitfield 1998). Adult O. mossambicus were caught throughout the middle and upper reaches of Verlorenvlei. With the exception of a few adults the bulk of the L. richardsonii catch comprised juveniles of 20 100 mm in length recruiting into the system. A bimodal size frequency distribution suggests that there had been at least two spawning events in the marine environment within the four months prior to sampling. In turn, the low proportion of adult L. richardsonii suggests that there had been a mass exodus from the system that probably occurred with the onset of winter rains and the first breaching of the estuary mouth. Similar to L. richardsonii , the low numbers of M. cephalus suggest that most of the adults left with the first winter rains. This behaviour is characteristic of this species throughout the west and south coast as evidenced by adults appearing in marine samples from April May onwards. Juvenile recruitment may have been occurring at the time of sampling and there may have been a few juvenile M. cephalus mixed with the L. richardsonii as the young of these and other mullet species are notoriously difficult to tell apart. Most of the G. aestuaria caught in 2002 were young of the year and probably were spawned the previous summer. This species can spawn within its first year but individuals examined suggested that this had yet to occur. Gilchristella aestuaria spends its entire lifecycle in estuaries but is equally at home in most freshwater environments provided the pH is not too low. Adults respond to high winter flows by swimming upstream whereas spawning usually occurs at the head of estuaries to prevent eggs and young from being swept out to sea.
Page 35 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment The majority of O. mossambicus caught were large territorial males defending nests. Only two juveniles were caught both nearer to the mouth. With the exception of the juveniles all those caught had numerous open lesions (up to 36) over their bodies. Superficial examination revealed males to have more lesions than females. The most likely cause is that territorial males frequently fight leaving bite marks that are easily infected with one or more parasites that exist in the water column. The females’ lesions are probably incidental resulting through the actions of overzealous males. The ability of fish to recruit into an estuary varies between species and can only really be gauged by their relative abundance or presence / absence within a particular system. Mullet species such as L. richardsonii and M. cephalus as well as L. lithognathus are known to recruit through wave overwash into temporarily open / closed systems. In addition, mullet species also recruit by swimming from standing wave to standing wave in systems where there is a strong outflow. Indeed recruitment, into isolated coastal lakes and estuaries that seldom open, only occurs during floods or years of higher flow. In all, the high abundance and presence of M. cephalus and L. richardsonii as opposed to the absence of L. lithognathus in Verlorenvlei may be at least partially explained by their being much more adept at recruiting into the system. Timing is also important: to permit fish recruitment an estuary has to be open during the appropriate period. Recruitment also depends on spawning behaviour and the estuarine dependence category to which a fish belongs. By example, Liza richardsonii is a partially estuarine dependent species which spawns throughout the year with peaks in the summer months. Juveniles are equally at home in estuaries and the marine environment and can remain in the surf zone until such time as an estuary opens with a chance of recruitment. L. lithognathus on the other hand is entirely dependent on estuaries for its first year of life and has a relative short spawning season. Its’ recruitment window is thus very short and if an open estuary is not found within that period the larvae or juveniles will die. The recruitment window is probably 2 of 3 months, August October of each year depending on when spawning took place and the proximity of the estuary encountered to the spawning ground. In Verlorenvlei, water abstraction has resulted in the mouth staying open for shorter periods and closing earlier than it did historically. The recruitment opportunities for L. lithognathus ,therefore has been greatly reduced. Birds
Verlorenvlei is regarded as one of the ten most important wetlands for wading birds in the south western Cape, being a particularly important feeding area for the Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus and supporting a number of threatened bird species. (Figure 2.21) In 1976, 934 and 1 371 waders were recorded respectively during two surveys in the lower reaches of Verlorenvlei (Sinclair et al 1986). Of these numbers, 95% were migrants. In a later survey (1983) of the whole Verlorenvlei, 3 655 waders were reported, of which 2 928 were migrants and 727 residents. This same survey yielded a total of 6 829 birds of 60 species in the environs of Verlorenvlei (Sinclair et al 1986). The vlei also provides feeding, nesting and roosting sites for 200 species of birds in
Page 36 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment the surrounding area. It is an important moulting area for Egyptian geese (Alopochen aegyptiaccus ) and other waterfowl (Sinclair et al 1986).
Figure 2.21: Birds at Verlorenvlei Waterbirds seen at Verlorenvlei include herons, egrets, ibises, spoonbills and flamingos. The presence of Glossy Ibises and African Spoonbills is important, since these species are uncommon in the south western Cape. Greater Flamingos appear at Verlorenvlei when other vleis, such as Rocher Pan (35km south) and Wadrifsoutpan (13km north) dry up. Greater Flamingos are listed in the South African Red Data Book as Near threatened (Barnes (ed.) 2000). Other Red Data Book species include the Little Bittern and the Caspian Tern. The area is possibly also an important moulting ground and summer refuge for ducks, with 600 Cape Shoveller and 1 200 Yellow billed Duck being observed in May 1979. In addition, Verlorenvlei is a type locality for several species of birds, including the White backed Duck (Thalassomis leuconotus ) (Sinclair et al 1986). Up to 150 Great White Pelicans were counted by the FitzPatrick Institute in 1976, representing 26% of the total south western Cape population (Ref. 8). On 23 March 1982, 212 pelicans were counted. The Great White Pelican is rated as rare in South Africa, and therefore in need of special protection (Sinclair et al 1986).
Page 37 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Mammals
Little information exists on mammal populations at Verlorenvlei (Sinclair et al 1986). Archaeological and historical evidence suggest that larger mammals were present in abundance in the past, whereas they are non existent today. A survey by Stuart (1981) indicates the presence of the 12 carnivore species (see Table 3.3) and 11 other mammal species in the vicinity. Table 2.5: A list of carnivorous species recorded in Verlorenvlei
Species Name Common Name Otocyon megalotis bat-eared fox Vulpes chama Cape fox Chanis mesomelae black-backed jackal Ictonyx striatus striped polecat Genetta genetta small-spotted genet Suricata suricatta suricate (meerkat) Gynictis penicillata yellow mongoose Herpestes pulverlentus Cape grey mongoose Atilax paludinosus water mongoose Panthera pardus Leopard Felis lybica wild cat Felis caracal Caracal
Verlorenvlei Health Status To assist in the development of an EMP for Verlorenvlei (and to help prioritize the interventions required to maintain or improve the health of the Verlorenvlei) a provisional health assessment was conducted on the system following the Estuarine RDM methodology developed for determining the Ecological Water Requirements of an estuary (DWAF 2004). Table 3.4 present a summary of the provisional health status if the system (see appendix B for more detail on the process). Verlorenvlei is currently in a moderately to largely modified state, i.e. Category C/D. The degradation of the system’s health is largely attributed to: Significant reduction in the freshwater inflow (ground and surface water) to the system; A decrease in open mouth conditions (i.e. frequency and duration); Increase in the nutrient and sediment load to the system; Increased coverage by reeds and sedges; and Changes in the species composition and abundance of fish in the system.
Page 38 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Table 2.6: Provisional Present Ecological Health Status for the Verlorenvlei Estuary
WEIGHT COMPONENT WEIGHT SCORE SCORE HABITAT ASSESSMENT
Hydrology 25 50 13
Hydrodynamics & mouth condition 25 30 8
Water quality 25 76 19
Physical habitat alteration 25 80 20
HABITAT SCORE 58
BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT
Microalgae 20 60 12
Macrophytes 20 50 10
Invertebrates 20 50 10
Fish 20 40 8
Birds 20 90 18
BIOLOGICAL SCORE 58
ESTUARINE HEALTH SCORE 58
PROVISIONAL PES C/D As the Verlorenvlei is a Ramsar site it should be in a much better condition, but it is highly unlikely that the flow reduction to the system can be alleviated easily and as this is the major driver for change in the system it was felt that the Best Attainable State is a moderately modified system (i.e. Category C+). THE PROVISIONAL RECOMMENDED ECOLOGICAL CATEGORY FOR THE VERLORENVLEI, BASED ON THE PRESENT HEALTH STATE, ESTUARINE IMPORTANCE AND CONSERVATION IMPORTANCE IS C+. It is very important that this provisional health rating of Verlorenvlei be confirmed by an Intermediate or Comprehensive level Estuarine Reserve (RDM) study to determine its Estuarine Recommended Ecological Category with a confidence that would allow for decisive management actions. A high confidence Reserve determination would also allow for stricter licensing and more decisive action form the relevant authorities regarding the necessary intervention required to increase the health of the system.
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3.
Chapter 4: Ecosystem Services
Prepared by
Jane Turpie & John de Wet
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3.1 Introduction In recent years the important role that the natural environment plays in providing valuable goods and services to society has become more fully appreciated. Techniques have been developed to estimate the economic value of these environmental goods and services so that economic and environmental factors can be integrated into both policy making and the management of the resources. Estuaries are recognised as being among the most productive ecosystems on earth. In their study, Costanza et al. (1997) estimated the average annual global value in $US per hectare for a range of ecosystems by ascribing values to 17 types of ecosystem services and functions. They attributed the highest value per hectare of the ecosystems they measured to estuaries at $US22 832/ha per annum, and the next highest value to swamps and flood plains at $US19 580/ha per annum (amounts stated in 1997 terms). Nutrient cycling was the ecosystem service provided by estuaries that was highly valued in the study. In South Africa, in the last five years research has taken place into the economic value of estuaries (see, for example, Cooper et al. 2003; Lamberth & Turpie 2003; Turpie et al. 2003; Turpie & Hosking 2005; Turpie & Clark 2007; Anchor Environmental Consultants 2008). These studies have identified estuaries as important systems that contribute to the local and national economy through various types of value – directly contributing to the subsistence of communities and providing the opportunity for recreational activities; indirectly contributing through the ecological services they provide and having existence values. This chapter provides some background on the concepts of ecosystem services and Total Economic Value, describes the ecosystem services of the Verlorenvlei estuary and provides preliminary estimates of their value, based on available information and a site visit to the estuary and informal discussions with farmers, local community members who were fishing, tourists on the beach and at the Elands Bay hotel and tourists and staff at the Ventersklip resort. Finally, some observations are made regarding the potential implications of management of the estuary mouth on the value of the estuary.
3.2 Ecosystem Services Ecosystems are the natural capital that contribute to economic production and human welfare while ecosystem services are the benefits that people receive from ecosystems (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2005). There are different ways of describing and classifying ecosystem services. Barbier (1994) classified the benefits from ecosystems as goods, services and attributes as follows: Goods are harvested resources, such as fish. Services are processes that contribute to economic production or save costs, such as water purification. Attributes relate to the structure and organisation of biodiversity, such as beauty, rarity or diversity, and generate less tangible values such as
Page 41 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment spiritual, educational, cultural and recreational value. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005) classified the ecosystem benefits slightly differently by identifying provisioning, regulating, cultural and supporting services as follows: Provisioning services such as food and water; Regulating services such as climate, flood and disease regulation and water purification; Cultural services such as aesthetic, spiritual, recreational, and cultural benefits; and Supporting services, such as nutrient cycling and soil formation that maintain the conditions for life on Earth. There is good alignment between the above classifications i.e. goods / provisioning; services / regulation and attributes / cultural classifications are fairly similar. The supporting services identified by the Millennium Ecosystems Assessment (2005) underlie the other services and accordingly will be affected by the values of the other characteristics. The types of ecosystem goods, services and attributes associated with temperate South African estuaries are provided in Table 3.1. Table 3.1: Ecosystem goods, services and attributes based on definitions by Costanza et al. (1997) that are likely to be provided by temperate South African estuaries (Turpie 2007)
Ecosystem Goods, Importance Description Services & Attributes in estuaries Food, medicines Production of bait, fish and food plants; medicinal plants High Raw materials and Production of craftwork materials, construction materials and Medium
Goods grazing fodder Gas regulation Carbon sequestration, oxygen and ozone production, Low Waste treatment Breaking down of waste, detoxifying pollution; dilution and Medium transport of pollutants Refugia and nursery Critical habitat for migratory fish and birds, important High areas habitats for animals and plants, including critical breeding
Services habitat, nurseries for marine fish Export of materials Export of nutrients and sediments to marine ecosystems High and nutrients Genetic resources Medicine, products for materials science, genes for Low resistance to plant pathogens and crop pests, ornamental species Structure and Species diversity and habitats providing opportunities for High Attributes composition recreational and cultural activities
3.3 Total Economic Value The concept of Total Economic Value provides a framework for environmental valuation. This concept involves identifying the following components of economic value of environmental assets: Direct use values which arise from direct human utilisation of the resource, such as harvesting or consumption of the resource for subsistence, commercial or non commercial purposes. Direct use values can further be broken down: consumptive uses such as harvesting, and
Page 42 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment non consumptive uses such as recreation. Indirect use values. These are associated with the ecological functions of the environmental resources i.e. the regulatory services identified in the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005) summarised above. These services derive their values from supporting or protecting economic activities that have directly measurable values (Barbier et al. 1996). These indirect use values are often difficult to quantify. Non use values. Environmental resources have non use values, being those benefits that do not arise from contact between the consumer and the environmental asset, and are: option value, being the potential future use benefit existence value, or the wellbeing that comes from the knowledge that an environmental resource exists, without the intention, necessarily, of using it, and bequest value, or the willingness to retain the asset for the benefit of future generations. The Total Economic Value is the sum of the above values. In performing this calculation, care needs to be taken that there is no double counting, i.e. a single benefit must not be included in more than one type of use. In common with determining the economic value of ecosystems, it is difficult to provide a precise estimate of the economic value, and the preferred approach is to provide a range of values based on a best estimate of the likely values. Indeed, Turpie & Clark (2007) acknowledge that the objective of their study was to produce a rough estimate of the value of each of South Africa’s temperate estuaries. In this study, all values are expressed in 2008 Rands.
3.4 Subsistence Fisheries The land surrounding Verlorenvlei is mostly privately owned by farmers, while there is open access to the estuary in the lower reaches around Elands Bay. There are farm workers who may access the estuary for fishing and a fairly large community in Elands Bay, who fish in both the sea and estuary. It is understood that there are about five illegal gill net operations in the estuary. While there is fishing in the system by communities, the local livelihoods are not dependent on this fishing although they are supported by it. In the absence of a detailed survey to establish the level and frequency of catches for subsistence fishing, a broad estimate is that this fishing contributes between R5 000 and R10 000 per month, suggesting an annual value for fishing of between R60 000 and R120 000. This magnitude of estimate is supported by Turpie & Clark (2007) who estimated the subsistence value of the Verlorenvlei Estuary at less than R50 000.
3.5 Raw Materials Substantial areas of the estuary contain reeds and sedges. Most of the surrounding land is privately owned and discussions with farmers suggest that there is limited harvesting of these resources for use as building materials. The community houses in
Page 43 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Elands Bay are constructed from modern materials such as bricks and mortar and there does also not seem to be harvesting of materials from the estuary for use in these houses. The harvesting of raw materials form the estuary is thus likely to be immaterial and accordingly no value is attributed to these materials.
3.6 Grazing It is worth noting that while harvesting materials is not important, the edges of the estuary are used for livestock grazing with cattle, goats and sheep using the grazing on the private farms all along the lake. Farmers confirmed that the grazing provided is important, especially during the dry summer months and autumn until the winter rains begin. There is limited use during the wet winter months and spring as the flooded margin makes access by livestock difficult. It was confirmed in discussions with farmers that there is a premium for land that adjoins the lake due to the grazing provided as the availability of this grazing increases the stock carrying capacity. However, it is difficult to quantify the benefit of the estuary to farm values and increased livestock holdings without detailed surveys and further analysis. Catchment activities affect productive farmland and activities. For example, farmers were concerned about the activities in the catchment, especially Working for Wetlands activities. Apparently many Port Jacksons (Acacia Cyclops) trees were killed in the rivers, but not removed. When the big winter rains came in 2008, these were “washed out” and blocked the river’s course, causing it to alter its course with erosion occurring.
3.7 Carbon Sequestration Carbon sequestration is measured in terms of the net storage or loss of carbon that takes place as a result of a long term increase or decrease in biomass. The contribution made by estuaries to carbon sequestration is unknown but is unlikely to be significant in temperate estuaries.
3.8 Waste Treatment The value of this function is usually estimated by the cost savings of treating water before it is released. While waste treatment is possibly an important ecological service provided by the Verlorenvlei system, the quantity of pollutants released into the system is unknown and it is not possible to estimate a value for this function.
3.9 Nursery Value Estuaries are productive systems due to high nutritional inputs and providing sheltered habitat and nursery grounds for many organisms, which can either be utilised in the estuary itself or later in their lives, in the coastal area. Factors that make estuaries suitable nursery habitats are abundance of food, higher
Page 44 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment temperature, turbid waters and lower salinities, while possibly also providing protection from predators. Nursery value is the value contributed by estuaries to marine fishery production as a result of providing nursery areas for commercial or recreationally valuable species. This value was estimated on a regional level by Lamberth & Turpie (2003). This study considered the estuaries’ role as nursery areas for species of fish exploited by recreational and commercial harvesting in the inshore marine environment. The study identified 80 fish species taken in fisheries that make use of estuaries, and categorised the species according to their degree of association with the estuary. According to available information and by extrapolating from various relationships, total catches were estimated for the fish species. In this manner, a value for estuaries was obtained on a regional basis and was disaggregated to individual systems on the basis of the area of the estuary. The values were estimated based on the contribution to Gross Domestic Product, including value added by subsidiary industries in the case of commercial fisheries. The value estimates were provided for five sections of the Sout African coast, including the west coast, but did not consider the Verlorenvlei because of its loss of estuarine functioning. In its natural state, when the estuary would have had more connection with the sea, the Verlorenvlei would probably have had a significant nursery function. For permanently open west coast estuaries, the average nursery value was estimated to be R3 030/ha on average. Verlorenvlei is some 1000 ha, suggesting a potential value of some R3 million per annum although there is only a narrow estuarine channel near the mouth and most of the lake itself seldom receives inputs of seawater (Sinclair et al. 1986). Because of its very limited connectivity with the sea at present, Turpie & Clark (2007) estimated the nursery value to be less than R0.1 million per year. However, it is possible that the system could be more valuable than this at present, and that it might be managed to better advantage in this regard. This is an area that deserves more thorough research.
3.10 Export of Materials and Nutrients The export of sediments and nutrients to the marine zone is an important function of some river systems, particularly along the east coast of South Africa. While there is some knowledge of the biophysical aspects of this function (Branch et al. 1985), no research has been carried out on its economic implications.
3.11 Recreation and tourism value The amenity value of an estuary is reflected in the premium paid for property with access to, or views of, estuaries, as well as the expenditure incurred by visitors to the estuary. Much of the estuary margin is undeveloped, with the farm houses and other buildings such as sheds on private farms occasionally present in proximity to thelake. As discussed above, there is a premium for farm land located along the lake, but this is for its grazing capacity rather than the views or other attributes, although several farms long the lake are now offering tourist facilities such as guest
Page 45 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment houses. There are only a few residential houses in Elands Bay situated along the lake – most of the development in the town has been along the coast with sea access and view apparently preferred to a view. The property value of an environmental asset is generally estimated using the Hedonic Pricing approach – a form of multiple regression – or through expert estate agent estimates. Property value has been estimated for some South African estuaries (see, for example, Cooper et al. 2003 and Turpie et al. 2003). Building on a study undertaken by Masiwime (2006), Turpie & Clark (2008) concluded that it was difficult to predict property value on the basis of easily obtainable estuary characteristics. The approach in their study was therefore to collate property value data and interview estate agents throughout the temperate region, thereby providing a rapid assessment of the property value of the estuary systems. Based on the limited development in Elands Bay along the estuary and the private farmland that surrounds the middle to upper reaches of the estuary, Turpie & Clark (2008) estimated the estuary premium on capital property value attributed to the Verlorenvlei to be in the order of R2 million. This estimate might be somewhat conservative, but the true value is unlikely to be very high. Tourism value is reflected in visitor’s expenditure on travel and accommodation. This expenditure by tourists is a partial measure of the “Willingness to Pay” for the estuary as a recreational amenity, although not all the value is directly attributable to the estuary. For example, Turpie et al. (2003) estimated that the Knysna estuary contributed 60% of the enjoyment of visitors, and it was estimated that the Kromme and Seekoei estuaries accounted for 17% and 10% of visitor enjoyment (Turpie 2006). Elands Bay is about 220 km from Cape Town and is a fairly popular as a tourist destination. The town has a hotel with 16 rooms, a caravan park and several guest houses, while many of the houses are holiday residences and not occupied permanently. Tourism is seasonal with most tourists visiting during the peak December and Easter holiday periods and over weekends, with it being generally quiet for the rest of the year. Fishing and surfing are amongst the main attractions, while the Namaqualand flowers and rock art also attract tourists. Verlorenvlei is also considered an important attraction for Elands Bay and marketed as such, with its bird watching a particularly important feature. Recreational fishing takes place in the estuary, especially near the mouth of the estuary and on private farm land – the fact that much of the estuary is surrounded by private land limits access to the estuary and probably reduces the extent of recreational fishing. There is no power boating allowed on the estuary although kayaking does take place. Apart from the tourist accommodation in Elands Bay itself, some farms along the estuary offer guest house accommodation. Ventersklip is a tourism development on the estuary 4km from Elands Bay. This resort has restored historic cottages which are hired out as self catering accommodation and also has camp sites – there are four cottages with some 14 beds, six luxury camp sites with their own private facilities and two general camp sites. There is also a restaurant. Guest activities include birdwatching, kayaking, fishing, rock art, flowers and walking, with a bird hide on the estuary having been developed by the Working for Wetlands programme. The
Page 46 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment surrounding farm is a CapeNature Contract Reserve, as are a few other farms along the estuary. The property values are capital values and are incompatible with values expressed per unit time such as tourism values. Turpie & Clark (2008) converted the total property premium to an annual turnover in the real estate sector based on estimated turnover rates of property for the commission accruing to the property sector – this was done by applying the findings of previous studies. Turpie & Clark (2008) estimated the annual recreational value of the Verlorenvlei, incorporating both the contribution to the property sector attributed to the system (as discussed above) and the tourism value, to be between R1 and R5 million in 2008 Rands. Based on the findings of this study, this estimate seems a reasonable approximation of the recreational value of Verlorenvlei.
3.12 Existence Value The existence value of an estuary is the wellbeing that comes from the knowledge that an environmental resource exists, with or without the intention of using the estuary. People are willing to pay to maintain this feeling of well being and the Willingness to Pay (WTP) is used to reflect the existence value in monetary terms. It has been estimated that the total existence value held by South Africans for all South African estuaries is in the order of R90 million per annum. Turpie & Clark (2007) disaggregate this value to the respective estuaries by ascertaining how the characteristics of an estuary influenced people’s ratings of their value. Based on the way in which Verlorenvlei was scored, the existence value of the Verlorenvlei system was estimated to be in the order of R50 to R100 000 per annum. This is probably an extremely conservative estimate, given the Ramsar status of the system, and the fact that the scoring concentrated on the mouth region only.
3.13 Summary The estimated values for the ecosystem goods, services and attributes valued above are summarized in Table 4.2. The table further briefly highlights the importance of the benefit and the key stakeholders who have an interest therein. Based on these rough estimates, it is estimated that the Verlorenvlei generates an annual value of between R1 and 8 million for subsistence, recreational uses as well as for the nursery function, although the value may be closer to the lower figure due to the overexploitation of fish resources. In addition, there are a number of potential ecosystem services that the estuary may provide but for which there is no information – these services have been excluded from the valuation, as have all the non use values.
Page 47 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Table 3.2: Summary of estimated annual value for Verlorenvlei Estuary in 2008 money terms (all amounts in R’000) Range of Estimates Importance Stakeholders Low High Subsistence use 60 120 Contributes to livelihoods Farm workers and local value community Recreational value 1 000 5 000 Increases value of Residents property Tourists Provides and enhances Local tourism sector recreational opportunities Local businesses Nursery value 100 3 000 Contributes to inshore Commercial fishing sector marine stocks Recreational fishers Subsistence fishers
3.14 Implications for Estuary Management An evaluation of the Ecosystem goods and services highlight the following aspects for estuary management: Farming and tourism are the main activities around the estuary and are not in conflict with one another, farming is more important than tourism at present. Grazing is an important benefit currently provided and the management plan needs to consider this in terms of establishing stocking rates that are sustainable and not detrimental to the estuary Catchment management potentially affects the productivity of farms along the estuary Low impact tourism activities should be encouraged at this estuary. With tourism starting to increase on the estuary, as evidenced by the farmers starting to go into tourism, it will be important to ensure that the types of uses are appropriate or zoned to minimize impacts. However, overregulation at this estuary should be avoided to retain its rural character.
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4.
Chapter 5: Activities threatening Ecosystem Services in and around Verlorenvlei
Page 49 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment The following section highlights the most important impacts on the Verlorenvlei based on the findings a field visit conducted in November 2008, available literature and stakeholder consultations. The activities and developments that pose a threat to Verlorenvlei are discussed in the following four categories: Environmental hazards; and Human activities and development (e.g. land use and infrastructure development, exploitation of living resources, water quality and quantity issues).
4.1 Environmental Hazards Environmental hazards posing a potential threat to the goods and services provided by estuaries include the following: Floods; and Climate change. Although some of these do occur naturally, it is important that these be considered in the management of estuarine systems, as they can be exacerbated by human activities. Potential threats associated with each of the above are listed in Table 4.1. Table 4.1: Environmental hazards posing a potential threat to services provided by estuaries
ENVIRONMENTAL RELATED THREAT HAZARD In general floods would not pose a serious threat to the road bridge Floods crossing the lower vlei as the system has a large surface area which can attenuate floods significantly. Sea level rise can change beach sediment dynamics and intrusion of saline water in the long term. A reduction in ground water and river inflow (including changes in magnitude and the frequency of floods) is predicted for the West coast in some climate models. Changes in the distribution of living marine resource species, both in Climate change the sea and in the estuary) are very likely in the long term. This in turn could have serious consequences for the livelihoods in the area. Increase in storm events at sea are predicted under certain climate change models, but as the Verlorenvlei mouth is perched the most likely effect will be an increase in the frequency and volume of overwash which will assist in reestablishing the link with the marine environment.
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4.2 Human Activities and Development Human activities and developments posing a potential threat to estuaries and the valuable services provided by these systems can be divided into the following three broad categories (Van Niekerk & Taljaard 2008): Land use and infrastructure development; Water quantity and quality (water supply/demand and waste); and The exploitation of living resources. Activities and developments associated with each of these categories are discussed below. Land-use and Infrastructure Development
Agriculture: Crop Production . A major threat from crop production in the catchment is linked to the increased input of nutrients and organic loading of the estuary (i.e. eutrophication). The presence of cyanobacterial bloom during the November 2008 field visits is a very good indication of the nutrient enrichment of the system mainly attributed to agriculture (Figure 4.1). Similarly Harding (in 2000) also found evidence of eutrophication during the Sandveld Reserve study. The microalgae assemblage mainly comprised cyanobacterial genera. The Sandveld Reserve study concluded that the algal assemblage was indicative of an elevation in trophic status that has been in place for some time, and probably reflects eutrophication associated damage to the lower levels of the foodweb.
Figure 4.1: Cyanobacterial bloom observed in Verlorenvlei during the November 2008 field visit
Page 51 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment The source of these nutrients probably is two fold: from the catchment as a result of inappropriate agricultural practices introducing high concentrations of nutrients to the system. This together with reduced river inflow results in the accumulation of in situ generated organic material resulting in the introduction of more nutrients to the system through remineralisation. There would have been remineralization of organic material under natural conditions as well, but the greater fluvial inflows and more frequent breachings in the past would have allowed for more dilution and lower concentrations of nutrients. It is very important that this link between water levels, breaching, increased vegetation growth and enrichment be better understood and quantified. Cyanobacteria (blue green algae) are known to form blooms more easily in slightly saline water and can become concentrated and produce toxins under the certain conditions. This poses a risk to wildlife and lifestock in the area and the triggers should be well understood and quantified. Avian botulism is a paralytic, often fatal, disease of birds that results when they ingest toxin produced by the bacterium, Clostridium botulinum . Outbreaks of avian botulism occur on water bodies with little or no outflow. Botulism occurs most often in mid to late summer, on shallow lakes, during periods of hot dry weather. Incidents are frequently associated with a lack of oxygen in the water that often occurs after Cyanobacteria have bloomed. Botulism outbreaks can be started by the presence of bird or other animal carcasses. Disease, starvation, severe weather, and collisions with power lines or other structures kill animals that then serve as ideal material for the development of botulism. The botulism spore, or resting stage of the bacteria, is commonly found in wetland soils, and can survive for years, withstanding freezing and drying. Many birds inadvertently eat these spores while feeding and the spores live in their digestive systems with no effect on the birds' health. Botulism toxin is transferred to birds by the ingestion of maggots and possibly other invertebrates that feed on the decaying carcasses. The botulism toxin does not harm the invertebrates but it accumulates in their tissues to levels where one maggot can kill a duck. Large numbers of maggots on a bird carcass can be attractive to live birds that then become poisoned by ingesting toxic maggots. The cycle repeats itself, and each time the cycle often involves more and more birds. Invasive alien vegetation . Alien invasive plant species occur at a number of locations in and around the vlei and in the catchment. It is very important that these invasive plants be removed where possible (Figure 4.2). Infestations of invasive alien plant species have a number of consequences for biodiversity: They use significantly more water than indigenous vegetation; They represent a modification/loss of natural habitat; and Alien vegetation burns at much higher temperatures than indigenous vegetation because of the much higher biomass per unit area than indigenous vegetation posing a greater danger to wildlife, humans and soil structure during veld fires.
Page 52 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment It is therefore recommended that the Working for Water/Wetlands programme assists in the removal of these plants as soon as possible.
Figure 4.2: Alien vegetation in the Verlorenvlei floodplain Road infrastructure (e.g. roads, crossings and culverts). Protection of the road running next to the estuary and lake by placing rocks and rubble and construction of retaining walls has had caused some loss of riparian habitat in a few places along the system. The effect is very localized and this is not considered to be serious. Nevertheless, this practice should be discouraged to prevent progressive degradation or the “death of a thousand cuts” effect along the banks of the system. The removal of the old causeway at the mouth and has improved the health of the vlei through the reestablishment of connectivity with the marine environment (Figure 4.3). Although this site still poses a natural obstruction to flow it is not a significant barrier to the recruitment of fish or even some invertebrate species. During the November 2008 field visit juvenile Steenbras were observed in the vlei for the first time since the 1970s.
Figure 4.3: Location of the old causeways at the mouth and near the railway bridge (November 2008)
Page 53 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Unfortunately the infilling at the railway crossing still poses an obstruction to flow and often bisects the system at lower flows, cutting the lower reaches from the main lake area. This leads to stagnant conditions in the estuary and increases frequency and duration of hypersalinity conditions in the hot, dry summer months. In addition, the road bridge and the causeway at Grootdrift prevent the free movement of existing channels and/or the formation of new channels, which in turn restricts local circulation features and regulate flow through a set positions in these structures (Figure 4.4). This is evident by the expansion of vegetation just upstream from the road bridge in the lower vlei and in the vicinity of the Grootdrift causeway since the 1940s. The Grootdrift causeway has very few culverts in it (2 large box culverts, 3 small pipe culverts) that stabilizes the channels through the wetland at predetermined positions and do not allow for dynamic changes in the wetland in the upper wetland area.
Figure 4.4: Road bridge crossing to Elands Bay showing increased reed growth above the bridge The practice of taking short cuts through the estuary poses a risk to the health of the estuary as it leads to the destruction of riparian vegetation (saltmarshes) and the disturbance of birds feeding and resting in the lower reaches. The effort made by the local and district authorities to control this should be commended and supported (Figure 4.5).
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Figure 4.5: Closure of informal road crossing near the Sishen-Saldanha railway bridge Instream infrastructure (e.g. jetties and weirs). A number of old jetties are situated in the middle vlei ( Figure 4.6). The jetties mainly seem to function as abstraction platforms for pumping freshwater from the vlei. Most of the jetties are on stilts and do not pose a significant threat to the heath of the system as they do not interfere with circulation. It needs to be established if the all jetties are registered and still in use (and all the owners are registered water users). The construction of additional private jetties should be discouraged to protect the riparian area and to limit the number of access points to the system.
Figure 4.6: Stone jetty used for direct abstraction of water from the Verlorenvlei
Page 55 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Riparian infrastructure (e.g. fences, bird hides, low-lying developments). There are a number of places where fences traverse the wetland, cutting a swath through the vegetation and bisecting parts of the upper vlei land (Figure 4.7). The related loss of habitat is of some concern, especially if this practice should continue unhindered. Some fences stretch well into the water body and may pose some risk to boating. In addition it should be noted that in some case fences can restrict access to public land which is a concern under the Integrated Coastal Management act (2208). Property rights need to be assess here to ensure the protection and acknowledgement of riparian rights, but also ensure access to public land where appropriate.
. Figure 4.7: Fences cutting through wetland vegetation in the upper Verlorenvlei The construction of a bird hide is a very good idea as it allows access to the Ramsar site and enhances its tourism value ( Figure 4.8). Care just needs to be taken with the removal of fringe vegetation which exposes the shore to wave action (generated by wind). This in turn can lead to erosion and the need for subsequent protection. Bank protection may require that hard structures will be erected along the predominantly muddy northern bank, thus representing a different habitat which in turn will attract different species and alter the community composition of the system.
Figure 4.8: Bird hide in upper Verlorenvlei
Page 56 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Some low lying developments are present near the mouth of Verlorenvlei (Figure 5.9). Although the present developments seem to be above the breaching level of the mouth it should be noted that these developments are within the estuarine space (i.e. below the 5 m MSL contour) and run the risk of inundation during very high flood events. It is strongly recommended that in the approval and rezoning of future properties no development below the 5 m MSL contour be allowed.
Figure 4.9: Low-lying developments neat the mouth of Verlorenvlei Recreational activities. Motor boats with engines in excess of five horsepower are not permitted on the lake. The deeper areas are suitable for sailing. However, the varying depth of the vlei throughout the year and the fringing and submerged vegetation can place considerable limitations on sailing in terms of access to open water. Swimming, although not prohibited, due to the thick layer of silt and its unhygienic water conditions, is discouraged. Recreational line fishing is allowed under normal permit conditions, but under most conditions this will only land alien fresh water fish. The vlei and its environs lend themselves to ideal bird watching conditions. The area is suitable for hiking trails and possible routes for such trails are along the waters edge as well as to places of historical interest and archaeological sites. They may also follow a route through the different vegetation types. Picnicking can become popular if the necessary sites were provided. Artificial breaching. There is some anecdotal evidence of artificial breaching of the system. This is in conflict with historical observations that show that culverts in the old causeway near the mouth were often blocked to prevent freshwater flow to the mouth region, and thereby preventing breaching of the system. This allowed the system to stay full for longer periods, which in turn prolonged the periods for abstraction of water for irrigation.Inundation of grazing land is at present muted as the motivation for artificial breaching. This needs to be confirmed. Although artificial breaching of an estuary can have great impact on the health of a system (e.g. altered timing, premature closure, sedimentation, recruitment failure, loss of nursery function) it can also sometimes be the saving grace of an system that is fresh water deprived, e.g. Great Brak. It is therefore of the utmost importance that an Ecological Flow requirement study be conducted on this system as it would
Page 57 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment evaluate the potential impact of artificial breaching of the ecological health of the system and provides a context for future management actions. Mining. The Department of Mining (Previously the Department of Mineral and Energy affairs) is considering issuing a mining licence to Bongani Minerals. This would allow the company to develop a tungsten open cast mine in the Moutonshoekvalley. An environmental impact assessment (EIA) is currently under way to deter mine the viability of the operation. Withers Environmental Consulting is undertaking the EIA on behalf of Bongani Minerals, which successfully lodged a mining rights application for the tungsten deposit in April. The project, dubbed the Riviera Tungsten Project, has an estimated reserve of 10,86 million tons with an average grade of between 0,28% and 0,31% of tungsten oxide, and is believed to be the sixth largest tungsten deposit in the world. The project will require a capital expenditure of R1,3 billion to develop. It is expected that the project would be an open cast mine, initially 20 ha, to mine the higher grade ore and then 50 ha in extent to mine the more disseminated orebody, which would be mined to a depth of 200 m. At full production, the mine would produce 700 000 t of tungsten oxide a year and would have a life of mine of 18 years. Some of the potential environmental impacts include be the pollution of ground water, reduced flows from Antonies River into the wetland, siltation of the Verlorenvlei and loss of income and jobs. The opposition to the development of the opencast mine exuded by residents and landowners in the Valley has resulted in the establishment of the Verlorenvleivallei Coalition. Opposition to the proposed mine stems from the fact that the valley relies heavily on underground water sources for irrigation purposes, which could potentially be heavily impacted by opencast mining activities. The Verlorenvlei Valley is a pristine and fertile valley, hosting a number of profitable export orientated fruit farms located downstream from the proposed mining site. The farms in the area are reliant upon groundwater for irrigation purposes as the area receives minimal rain. Apart from issues of water quality, residents and workers in the valley are also concerned regarding job losses. The environmental viability of such a project depends on the significance of the environmental impacts such a mine could have on the valley, including the social environment, and the degree to which effective mitigation can be administered, and this can only be determined once the EIA has been completed. Solid Waste Disposal (building rubble at the Island). In the past building rubble was left near the mouth of the estuary at the ” Island” (as can be seen by the vegetation growing on the rubble heap) (Figure 4.10). Although habitat loss associated with this is relatively small in comparison with the total surface area of the system, this practice should be strongly discouraged and in future action be taken against those responsible.
Page 58 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment It is strongly recommended that the rubble be removed and the site be restored. This will also prevent the very human trend of dumping rubble and waste where others have done so already.
Figure 4.10: Building rubble on Verlorenvlei floodplain Water Quantity and Quality
Water abstraction (e.g. direct abstraction, sumps and groundwater). The Sandveld Reserve study only looked at the reduction in total inflow to Verlorenvlei on a rapid level. The study did not provide any conclusive quantification of the total reduction in inflow (surface and groundwater), but did indicate that seasonal flows may be reduced by as much as 90%. The total reduction in MAR to the estuary is estimated to be between 50% and 80% depending (Appendix B, Verlorenvlei health assessment). Such a severe reduction in inflow to the system, would seriously limit the opportunity for breaching and re establishing connectivity with the marine environment. The Sandveld Reserve study also did not account for all the types of abstraction and losses from the catchment and the vlei itself (direct abstraction, sumps, groundwater, alien vegatation) and it is thus very hard to draw any conclusion on the extent to which the flows have been modified from natural conditions. However the net result of the loss in inflow is that the connection with the sea has been significantly reduced. Both the frequency and duration of open mouth conditions are affected by the abstraction activities. It is of the utmost importance that a high confidence Intermediate or Comprehensive Ecological Water Requirement (Reserve study) be done on Verlorenvlei. The estimates of the flow reductions should include assessments of reduction in groundwater and surface water, as well as direct losses from the vlei. Notwithstanding the fact that the vlei was phosphorus limited during the period assessed, the phytoplankton assemblage was representative of an eutrophic lake.
Page 59 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Wastewater dumping (e.g. sewage and vessels). There is some unconfirmed reports that wastewater (from the honeysucker) is being dumped in a sump next to the vlei. If this is the case, it is highly likely that this nutrient rich water would find its way into Verlorenvlei as the sump is situated in a very porous area. An additional concern would be the microbial contamination associated with wastewater and the risk it poses to human health. It was also of concern that while Elands Bay is being marketed as a world class surfing destination, no official ablution facilities have been erected at the beach for the surfing community. During peak surfing periods microbial contamination of the lower estuary (near the “Island”) could pose a serious risk. The lack of ablution facilities and related unintended consequences reduces the tourism value of the area and should be addresses as soon as possible. Similarly, the lack of washing facilities for boats (commercial and recreational) at the public launch site (near the rock lobster factories) has also led to an informal arrangement where some boat owners are washing their skiboats in the vlei. While this in itself is not a major concern the associated wastewater from the boats (e.g. fish blood and bait) can cause microbial contamination and further enrichment of the system. (There was also an unconfirmed report of possible effluent contamination form an adjacent a pig farm) Living Resources
Harvesting and burning of reeds and sedges. There has been a significant expansion in the area covered by reeds and sedges in Verlorenvlei since the 1940s (Figure 4.11). Two areas are of particular concern: The upper vlei near Grootdrift; and the lower area near the road bridge crossing. The main worry is the loss of open water area, especially the shallow open water areas which serve as fish nursery and bird feeding grounds.
Figure 4.11: Increased reed growth in upper Verlorenvlei
Page 60 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment The expansion of the reeds especially of Typha is very noticeable in the upper reaches of the system and is mainly contributed to increase nutrient loading and sedimentation from the catchment. The causeway over the vlei to Grootdrift also obstructs flow which in turn hinders circulation and allows for colonization of the open water areas by vegetation (reeds). The expansion of reeds and sedges in the lower estuary is probably related to reduced water levels (driven by the reduction in inflow) which allows for the expansion of vegetation into previously deep water areas. The area near the road bridge shows a definite increase in vegetation which is probably related to the obstruction to flow caused by the bridge. Not only does increased read growth cause a loss of open water habitat but it also increases nutrient enrichment through the decay of organic matter and subsequent remineralization. There are a number of places where riparian vegetation was actively removed for ease of access, for example, at the jetties, near the bird hide and in the vicinity of sumps (Figure 4.12). Again the concern here is the exposure of the vlei shores to wind generated waves and subsequent erosion and deposition in the vlei. Burning of the reeds and sedges surround the systems also seems to be a common practice. This is evident at a number of places especially in the upper reaches. The concern here is the loss of habitat, interference in the nutrient cycling processes and exposure of riparian area to wave action and subsequent bank erosion.
Figure 4.12: Evidence of destruction of reeds beds by burning Gillnetting and introduction of aliens species. (Information supplied by Dr SJ Lamberth, Marine and Coastal Managed, DEAT) Until within the last 50 80 years the fish assemblage of Verlorenvlei had remained relatively unchanged since its evolution into an estuarine lake around 1600 BP (Sinclair 1986, Poggenpoel 1996). Since the early 1900s, the construction of various weirs, causeways, road and railway bridges in the lower reaches as well as water abstraction are likely to have excluded some estuarine dependent marine species from the system. In turn, the introduction of alien freshwater fish species has
Page 61 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment probably had a major impact on the distribution and abundance of indigenous species throughout Verlorenvlei and its catchment. White steenbras (Lithognathus lithognathus) was the dominant species found in archeological digs in the Elands Bay area and was also the species most targeted by fishers until the late 1960s. White stumpnose (Rhabdosargus globiceps) was also caught but in much lower numbers. Both of these species have not been recorded in recent catches from the system, although White steenbras were observed in the estuary in November 2008. The main reasons for their absence are likely to be water abstraction reducing the recruitment window and the various obstructions constructed in recent years that present a physical barrier to recruiting fish. These barriers would have also caused a breakdown in the salinity gradient and a reduction in the cues that recruiting fish follow from the marine environment. Also possible is that aggressive introduced species such as the Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) may have helped exclude them from the system. In addition, White Steenbras and White stumpnose have been overexploited in the marine and estuarine environment and their absence from Verlorenvlei may also be a reflection of their stock’s collapsed state. The gillnet fishery for flathead mullet in V erlorenvlei have also contributed to the decline of the White Steenbras and White stumpnose (Figure 4.13). At present it is estimated that there are up to five gillnet operators in the vlei (CapeNature and MCM unpublished data). The current legal status of the fishery has not been resolved. MCM has an operational policy under the Marine Living Resources Act that precludes gillnetting in estuaries as it compromises their nursery function (Olifants Estuary has the last remaining legal gillnet fishery in country). MCM regards Verlorenvlei as an estuarine system, which means that the current gillnet fishery is not sanctioned. CapeNature, on the other hand, has until recently regarded the system as an inland water and has being issuing the licences under provincial ordinances to local landowners. No new licenses have been issued this year. During the November 2008 field visit MCM removed a gillnet near the Bird hide in the upper vlei. Fourteen fish from four different species (Carp ( Cyprinus carpio ): 1, common harder: 2; Mozambique tilapia:7; and flathead mullet: 4) were removed from the 35 m net. The mesh size was between 44 – 48 mm resulting in the fish ranging between 130 to 260 mm long in length being caught. Six freshwater fish species have been introduced into Verlorenvlei and its catchment since the late 1930s. The last introduction was the Mozambique tilapia in 1967 which together with Carp are the most abundant freshwater species in the system. These two species also appear to dominate as far up as Redelinghuys. Small and largemouth mouth bass ( Micropterus spp.), were also introduced but do not appear to have become as established in the vlei as they have in the river. Banded tilapia (Tilapia sparrmanii) exist throughout the catchment and vlei in low numbers and may be outcompeted by the Mozambique tilapia. Tench ( Tinca tinca) seem to have been the least successful introduction in Verlorenvlei as they have been elsewhere in the southwestern Cape.
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Figure 4.13: Gillnetting in upper vlei The Berg River redfin (Pseudobarbus burgi )(likely to be a separate species of redfin), Cape kurper (Sandelia capensis) and Cape galaxias (Galaxias zebratus) were once abundant throughout the catchment including the upper reaches of Verlorenvlei. Predation by bass and, to a lesser extent, the other introduced fish is likely to be the cause of their almost complete disappearance from the vlei. In addition, Cape kurper, tolerant of high salinities, would have been resident the entire year round but has since been excluded by the larger Mozambique tilapia which has similar habitat requirements for nesting sites. In all, two estuarine dependent species and three freshwater species endemic to the southern and western Cape have been lost from Verlorenvlei. The return of the marine species could be facilitated by increasing outflow and extending the recruitment window available to fish in the spring and early summer and removal of the physical barriers to their recruitment whereas the survival of the freshwater species relies on habitat preservation in the isolated areas in which they still occur. Agriculture: Livestock. There is a significant amount of grazing of the saltmarsh and wetland vegetation in the system (Figure 5.14). Numerous cattle and goats were observed grazing in the middle and upper reaches of the vlei. Grazing inhibits the growth of fringing vegetation, reduces productivity, leads to habitat destruction and ultimately can lead to erosion and sedimentation in the system. Unconfirmed anecdotal information indicates that the inundation of grazing land during high water levels can increase the pressure on local authorities to breach the mouth to allow access to pasture lands. It is strongly recommended that this practice be re evaluated and that agreement be reached with landowners on the areas in which grazing can be allowed and the carrying capacity of the vegetation in question.
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Figure 4.14: Cattle grazing on saltmarsh vegetation in the middle Verlorenvlei
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5.
Chapter 6: Environmental legislation relevant to Verlorenvlei
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5.1 Background This chapter aims to provide a brief summary of the most important policy and legal measures relevant to Verlorenvlei. The measures are discussed under the following categories: International Conventions; National Legislation; Provisional ordinances; and Local by laws. The information presented below is by no means comprehensive, but is intended to provide background to the development of the EMP. Note that the conventions, acts, ordinances and by laws relevant to Verlorenvlei create both opportunities for local and regional growth, but at the same time place constraints on the permissible types of development and activities in the vlei and its environs.
5.2 International Conventions Relevant to Verlorenvlei A number of international conventions are pertinent to Verlorenvlei of which the most important are: Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat (1971) (Ramsar Convention); Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972) (World Heritage Convention); Convention of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (1979) (Bonn Convention); and United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (1992). Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat (1971) (Ramsar Convention)
The broad aims of this Convention (www.ramsar.org/) are to stem the loss and to promote wise use of all wetlands. The Convention includes estuaries in its definition of wetlands. The Convention defines wetlands as ‘areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres’ (which includes estuaries). South Africa presently has 17 sites designated as Ramsar sites (www.ramsar.org/profile/profiles_southafrica.htm), with a total surface area of 498 721 ha, this includes estuaries such as the Orange, Verlorenvlei, Sout (De Hoop Vlei), Heuningnes (De Mond), St Lucia and Kosi Bay. A Wetland Conservation Bill has been proposed which will further assist South Africa in meeting the aims of the Convention.
Page 66 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972) (World Heritage Convention)
The Convention (http://whc.unesco.org/en/convention/) states that each state party to that Convention recognizes the duty of ensuring the identification, protection, conservation, presentation and transmission to future generations of the cultural and natural heritage situated in its territory (which may include estuaries). South Africa acceded to the Convention in 1997, given legal status through the World Heritage Conservation Act (Act 49 of 1999). The Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park (1999) (renamed to the iSimangiliso Wetland Park) and the Cape Floristic Region (2004) for example, were given international recognition as World Heritage Sites. Convention of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (1979) (Bonn Convention)
The Convention (www.cms.int/) was a response to the need for nations to co operate in the conservation of animals that migrate across their borders. These include terrestrial mammals, reptiles, marine species and birds. Special attention is paid to endangered species. South Africa is a major partner in this Convention as it is the terminus for many of the migratory species, both the Palaearctic (birds) and the Antarctic species (whales and birds). South Africa acceded to the Convention in December 1991. United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (1992)
The Convention on Biological Diversity (www.biodiv.org/convention/default.shtml) has three objectives: the conservation of biological diversity; the sustainable use of biological resources; and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources. As a party to the Convention, South Africa is required to develop national strategies, plans or programmes, or adapt existing ones, to address the provisions of the Convention, and to integrate the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity into sectoral and cross sectoral plans, programmes and policies. South Africa's response to this requirement is contained in the White Paper on the Conservation and sustainable use of South Africa's biological diversity (July 1998), given legal status through the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Protection Act (No. 10 of 2004).
5.3 National Legislation National legislation that is relevant to the development of an EMP for Verlorenvlei include: National Environmental Management Act (Act 107 of 1998); Marine Living Resources Act (Act 18 of 1998); National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management (Act 24 of 2008); National Water Act (Act 36 of 1998);
Page 67 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Water Services Act (No. 108 of 1997); National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (Act 10 of 2004); National Heritage Resources Act (Act 25 of 1999); Local Government: Municipal Systems Act (Act 32 of 2000); Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act (No. 43 of 1983); and National Health Act (No. 61 of 2004). A short summary on each of these are provided below. Details on key aspects of national legislation that regulate activities in and around Verlorenvlei are listed in Appendix A. National Environmental Management Act (Act 107 of 1998) (NEMA)
DEA is the lead agent for NEMA. NEMA (www.info.gov.za/documents/acts/1998.htm) provides for co operative environmental governance through the establishment of national environmental management principles, and procedures for their incorporation into decisions affecting the environment. NEMA emphasizes co operative governance and assists in ensuring that the environmental right and related rights in the Constitution are protected. NEMA requires the Department of Environmental Affairs to be the lead agent in ensuring the effective custodianship of the environment. In particular the Act provides that sensitive, vulnerable, highly dynamic or stressed ecosystems, such as estuaries require specific attention in management and planning procedures, especially where subjected to significant human resource usage and development. Various of the activities listed in the NEMA Environmental Impact Assessment (“EIA”) Regulations (which came into effect on 3 July 2006) bear on activities within the coastal zone and which require environmental authorisation before they can proceed. The EIA Regulations regulate procedures and criteria for the submission, perusal, consideration and decision of applications for the environmental authorisation of specified activities. These regulations are especially pertinent to estuaries as many estuaries are situated within rapidly expanding development nodes along the South African coast and are under tremendous pressure from human activities. Waste disposal activities are also scheduled activities under these regulations. Marine Living Resources Act (Act 18 of 1998) amended 2000 (MLRA)
DEA: Chief Directorate: Marine & Coastal Management is the lead agent for the MLRA. The objectives and principles of the MLRA deal with the utilization, conservation and management of marine living resources (including estuarine resources), the need to protect whole ecosystems, preserve marine biodiversity and minimize marine pollution, as well as to comply with international law and agreements and to restructure the fishing industry (www.info.gov.za/documents/acts/1998.htm).
Page 68 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Marine living resources includes any aquatic plant or animal, whether piscine or not, and any mollusc, crustacean, coral, sponge, holothurian or other echinoderm, reptile and marine mammals and includes their eggs, larvae and all juvenile stages, but does not include sea birds and seals. Chapter 4 of the MLRA deals with the declaration of Marine Protected Areas and which empowers the Minister (DEA) to declare an area to be a Marine Protected Area where various activities are prohibited. These are stipulated in the Declaration of Areas as Marine Protected Areas (No R.1429, 29 December 2000) promulgated under the Act (www.info.gov.za/documents/regulations/2000.htm). National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Act (Act 24 of 2008)
DEA: Chief Directorate: Marine & Coastal Management is the lead agent for the Coastal Management Act. In relation to the establishment of resource objectives, the Coastal Management Act (www.mcm deat.gov.za/regulatory/czb.html) aims at establishing a system of integrated coastal and estuarine management in South Africa, including norms, standards and policies, in order to promote the conservation of the coastal environment, and the ecologically sustainable development of the coastal zone, to define rights and duties in relation to coastal areas, to determine responsible organs of state in relation to coastal areas and to give effect to South Africa’s international obligations in relation to coastal matters and to provide for related matters. Chapter 8 of the Coastal Management Bill contains exclusive provisions dealing with Marine and Coastal Pollution Control, specifically addressing ‘Discharge of Effluent into coastal waters’ (administered in collaboration with DWA) and ‘Incineration and Dumping at sea’ (e.g. dredge spoil dumping). National Water Act (Act 36 of 1998) (NWA)
DWA is the lead agent for the National Water Act. One the important objectives of the NWA is to ensure protection of the aquatic ecosystems of such South Africa’s water resources (www.info.gov.za/documents/acts/1998.htm). To be able to do this effectively, the NWA requires policies to be in place that provide guidance in developing resource quality objectives, i.e. specifying aspects such as freshwater inflow, water quality, habitat integrity, biotic composition and functioning requirements. Estuaries are classified as a water resource under NWA. Chapter 3, Part 3 of the NWA requires Classification and Resource Quality Objectives to be determined for all water resources, including estuaries. The Water Resource Protection Policy (under this Act) provides detailed guidelines and procedures for the classification (i.e. predefined health status) and the setting of Resource Quality Objectives for the protection of aquatic ecosystems (including objectives for water quantity, water quality, habitat integrity and biotic integrity). Section 21 of the NWA classifies a number of activities related to water supply/demand and waste disposal (from land based activities) as ‘water uses’ that requires authorisation (licensing) by DWA.
Page 69 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment The Act also identifies certain land use (e.g. activities resulting in stream flow reduction such as afforestation and cultivation of crops) and infrastructural developments (e.g. altering the bed, banks, course or characteristics of a watercourse) as ‘water uses’ that require authorisation by DWA. Water Services Act (No. 108 of 1997)
DWA is the lead agent for the National Water Act. The main aspects of the Water Services Act, relevant to infrastructure development, are to provide for (www.info.gov.za/documents/acts/1997.htm): Right of access to basic water supply and basic sanitation necessary to secure sufficient water and an environment not harmful to human health or well being Management and control of water services, in general, including water supply and sanitation Preparation and adoption of Water Services Development Plans (refer to Section 13 of Act) by water services authorities that should form part of IDP’s. National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (Act 10 of 2004)
DEA is the lead agent for the Biodiversity Act. The objective of the Biodiversity Act is to provide for the conservation of biological diversity, regulate the sustainable use of biological resources and to ensure a fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the use of genetic resources (www.info.gov.za/documents/acts/2004.htm). The Act states that the state is the custodian of South Africa’s biological diversity and is committed to respect, protect, promote and fulfill the constitutional rights of its citizens. It also recognizes that South Africa is party to, amongst others, the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar Convention) and the Convention on Migratory Species (Bonn Convention). National Heritage Resources Act (Act 25 of 1999)(NHRA)
South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) is the lead agent for the NHRA. The NHRA (www.info.gov.za/documents/acts/1999.htm) introduces an integrated and interactive system for the management of national heritage resources (which include landscapes and natural features of cultural significance). One of the important elements of the Act is that it provides the opportunity for communities to participate in the identification, conservation and management of cultural resources. The Act also requires that in areas where there has not yet been a systematic survey to identify conservation worthy places, a permit is required to alter or demolish any structure older than 60 years. This will apply until a survey has been done and identified heritage resources are formally protected. Anyone who intends to undertake a development must notify the heritage resources authority SAHRA and if there is reason to believe that heritage resources
Page 70 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment will be affected, an impact assessment report must be compiled at the developer’s cost. Thus developers will be able to proceed without uncertainty about whether work will have to be stopped if a heritage resource is discovered. Local Government: Municipal Systems Act (Act 32 of 2000)
Department of Provincial and Local Government is the lead agent for the Municipal Systems Act. The Municipal Systems Act (Chapter 5) deals with Integrated Development Planning (IDPs) (municipalities are obliged to prepare and to update IDPs regularly) (www.info.gov.za/documents/acts/2000.htm). An IDP is intended to encompass and harmonise planning over a range of sectors such as water, transport, land use and environmental management. It requires each local authority to adopt a single, inclusive plan for the development of the municipality which: Links, integrates and coordinates plans and take into account proposals for the development of the municipality; Aligns the resources and capacity of the municipality with the implementation of the plan; Forms the policy framework and general basis on which annual budgets must be based; and Is compatible with national and provincial development plans and planning requirements that are binding on the municipality in terms of legislation. Chapter 5 of the Municipal Systems Act deals with integrated development planning (IDP) that sets the social and economic objectives for a particular area. The Municipal Planning and Performance Management Regulations (Government Notice R.796, 24 August 2001) (www.info.gov.za/documents/regulations/2001.htm) promulgated in terms of this Act describe the content requirements of IDPs. The regulations, for example state that the Spatial Development Framework, reflected in the municipality’s IDP, must ‘contain a strategic assessment of the environmental impact of the spatial development framework’. Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act (No. 43 of 1983) (CARA)
Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is the lead agent for CARA. The objectives of CARA is to provide for the conservation of the natural agricultural resources of South Africa by: the maintenance of the production potential of land; the combating and prevention of erosion and weakening or destruction of the water sources (including estuaries); and the protection of the vegetation and the combating of weeds and invader plants. National Health Act (No. 61 of 2004) (NHA)
While the Department of Health is the lead agent, the implementation of this act is delegated to the local municipal and provincial authorities.
Page 71 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment The responsibility for rendering environmental health services under the NHA has been delegated to metropolitan and district councils as from 1 July 2004. Every metropolitan and district municipality must ensure that appropriate municipal health services are effectively and equitably provided in their respective areas. These include (insofar as it influences human health, except in ports): water quality monitoring; waste management; and environmental pollution control. Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act 2002
Department of Minerals and Energy is the lead agent for this act. The Act contains the statutory requirements regarding the enforcing of environmental protection and management of mining impacts, including sand and coastal mining. The Act requires Environmental Management Programmes (EMP) that identify a mine’s impact on the environment and provide a clear programme on how these will be managed, based on an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). To ensure compliance with environmental issues, the act requires consultation with each department charged with administration of any law that relates to any matter affecting the environment before an EMP may be approved.
5.4 Provincial Ordinances Provincial ordinances that are relevant in the development of an EMP for Verlorenvlei include: Land Use Planning Ordinance, 1985 (Ordinance 15 of 1985, as amended in 2004); Western Cape Housing Development Act (No. 6 of 1999); Western Cape Planning and Development Act (No. 7 of 1999); Cape Nature Conservation Board Act (No. 15 of 1998); Cape Nature and Conservation Ordinance (No. 19 of 1974, as amended in 1999); and Nature and Environmental Conservation Ordinance (No. 19 of 1974). A short summary on each of these are provided below. Land Use Planning Ordinance, 1985 (Ordinance 15 of 1985, as amended in 2004) (LUPO)
The Provincial Department Environment Affairs & Development Planning (DEADP) is the lead agent for LUPO. LUPO (www.wcpp.gov.za/Documents/act.asp) provides for decision making regarding land use and planning issues, including applications for rezoning, sub division and the amendment of relevant structure and/or spatial plans promulgated
Page 72 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment in terms of LUPO. Most planning applications received by the local authorities and/or the provincial planning and environmental department are in terms of this Ordinance and include applications for departure, rezoning or subdivision, and appeals against planning decisions taken by a municipality (such appeals are regulated by section 44 of LUPO). Western Cape Housing Development Act (No. 6 of 1999)
The Western Cape Housing Development Act determines general principles applicable to housing in the province of the Western Cape and defines the role of the provincial and local spheres of government in housing development (www.wcpp.gov.za/Documents/act.asp). It also needs to ensure that housing development is integrated with all other facets of development in a holistic way. Western Cape Planning and Development Act (No. 7 of 1999)
DEADP is the lead agent for this ordinance. The Western Cape Planning and Development Act lays down guidelines for the future spatial development in the Western Cape province in such a way as will most effectively promote the order of the area as well as the general welfare of the community concerned (www.wcpp.gov.za/Documents/act.asp) . Cape Nature Conservation Board Act (No. 15 of 1998) and Cape Nature and Conservation Ordinance (No. 19 of 1974, as amended in 1999)
CapeNature is the lead agent for this ordinance. The Cape Nature Conservation Board Act (www.wcpp.gov.za/Documents/act.asp) allowed for the establishment of the Cape Nature Conservation Board (or CapeNature as that body is more commonly known). The objectives of the Board are: to promote and ensure nature conservation and related matters in the Province; to render services and provide facilities for research and training in connection with nature conservation and related matters in the Province; and in pursuing the objectives set out above, to generate income, within the framework of any applicable policy determined by the responsible Minister or the Provincial Cabinet. Nature and Environmental Conservation Ordinance (No. 19 of 1974)
CapeNature is the lead agent for this ordinance. Although this Ordinance applies principally to the terrestrial environment, by analogy it can be extended to estuaries because it refers to inland waters (which in turn include tidal rivers or estuaries).
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6.
Chapter 7: Existing Management Strategies or Plans
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6.1 Overview The following section provides a brief overview of the existing management strategies or plans that incorporate Verlorenvlei Estuary in their planning domain. Existing management strategies or plans which incorporate Verlorenvlei comprise: Cederberg Municipality Integrated Development Plan Cederberg Municipality Spatial Development Framework (SDF) Cederberg Municipality Water Development Service Plan; Catchment Management Strategies produced by DWAF; South African Wetlands Conservation programme (Ramsar management plan) C.A.P.E. Estuaries Conservation Plan (Turpie and Clark 2008); Working for Wetlands CapeNature and CAPE Stewardship programme; Biodiversity and Potatoes; and Rooibos Biodiversity Initiative. The following section provides some detail on existing management strategies or plans that relate to Verlorenvlei.
6.2 Cederberg Municipality Integrated Development Plan Background
Cederberg Municipality is one of the several local municipalities that form part of the West Coast District Municipality. It includes 6 communities: Clanwilliam, Citrusdal, Lamberts Bay, Graafwater, Elandsbaai and Wupperthal. The Integrated Developmental Plan for Cederberg Municipality 2006 2011 constitutes the primary planning strategies of the Municipality. The vision of the Cederberg IDP is to improve service delivery for all the residents of the area. Verlorenvlei has a fairly small and undiversified economy, contributing roughly 10% of the district total. Agriculture is the most important Sector in terms of employment and the economy. The main crops are potato and sweet potatoes with oats, barley and wheat grown on a smaller scale (CSIR, 1986). It is estimated that 57 % of the employment are from agricultural activities in the whole Cederberg municipality. The secondary sector is processing of agricultural products, fishing and manufacturing though they are significantly smaller relative to agriculture. Approximately 2187 people were employed in agriculture and fishing sectors at Elands Bay and Lamberts Bay in 2001. The fishing industry forms the main economic base, but it is showing a declining trend as a consequence of the quota limitations on fishing for the local community. One of the reasons for the poor economy is that land ownership is concentrated among a few individuals and there are few opportunities to diversify the economy except for tourism based on the natural beauty of the area. The level of income is very low and is estimated to be between R401 800 per head per month. This is not surprising given the fact that the largest sectoral contribution to the local economy is agriculture. The black component of the population has the
Page 75 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment lowest income while the white segment has the highest income. This is to be expected as the black African population group mainly fins employment in the agricultural sector. More males than females are employed in agriculture and manufacturing industries. The rate of unemployment is very high in the Cederberg Municipality area with only 39% of the whole population employed ( Figure 6.1). The rate of unemployment is correlated with race, gender and standard of education. The highest rate of unemployment is in the black African group, this has been linked to the high numbers of seasonal migrant workers that stay in the area after the harvesting season and large numbers of people from other provinces such as the Eastern Cape who perceive the Western Cape as the best area for employment (IDP). About 78 % of the white population have access to full time jobs while only 39% of the coloured population and 53% black population have full access to full time jobs. This is due to the fact that high percentage of black and coloured population groups are seasonal workers on farms (Cederberg 2007).
Agriculture and Fishing Community/social/Personal 855 Construction 201 Financial 2187 237 Manufacturing 129 162 Private households 429 others Figure 6.1: Employment by industry at Elands Bay and Lamberts Bay in 2001 (Census 2001) In terms of education the Cederberg community has a poor profile; there are very few skilled individuals in this area, which has a negative influence on the overall economy ( Figure 6.2). Only 5 % of the community has had tertiary education (i.e. post matric), while only 18 % of the people have finished grade 12. Most of the people have had some secondary education (33%), 23 % with some primary education, 12 % completed their primary school and 9% has had no education at all (Census 2001, Cederberg IDP 2007 2001) 5% 9% 18% No schooloing Some primary 23% Complete primary Some secondary Grade 12 Higher 33% 12% Figure 6.2: Education levels from Elands Bay and Lamberts Bay in 2001 (Census 2001)
Page 76 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment The population at Elands Bay and Lamberts Bay based on Census 2001 was estimated to be approximately 12 527 in 2001. Approximately 75 % of the population is from the Coloured group while the African group constitutes 8%, whites 17% and Indians only 0.1 %. Population statistics of the area and age and gender distributions are provided in Tables 7.1 and 7.2, respectively (Census 2001). The population in this area is expected to have increase significantly by 2020, about 18% increase from the 2001 population. The highest population growth is expected in the black African group due to large influx of this group into the area (IDP), followed by the Coloured group. Table 6.1: Population statistics for Elands Bay and Lamberts Bay (combined) in 1996 and 2001
Persons 1996 2001 African 592 986 Coloured 8888 9406 Indian 17 13 White 2107 2123 Total population 11765 12527 Table 6.2: Age group and gender statistics for Elands Bay and Lamberts Bay (combined) in 1996 and 2001
1996 2001 Age Female Male Female Male 0 4 575 574 624 615 5 14 1147 1191 1194 1197 15 34 1929 1956 1935 1983 35 64 1686 1794 2058 2041 Over 65 401 357 495 399 Total 5738 5872 6294 6233 Legal context
The IDP is compiled in terms of Chapter 5 of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act (Act no 32 of 2000). According to the Act, an IDP is the single, inclusive and strategic plan of a municipality, which coordinates and guides development within the municipal area, which should include the following core components (Section 26): the municipal council’s vision for the long term development of the municipality with special emphasis on the municipality’s most critical development and internal transformation needs; an assessment of the existing level of development in the municipality, which must include an identification of communities which do not have access to basic municipal services; the council’s development priorities and objectives for its elected term, including its local economic development aims and its internal
Page 77 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment transformation needs; the council’s development strategies which must be aligned with any national or provincial sectoral plans and planning requirements binding on the municipality in terms of legislation; and a spatial development framework which must include the provision of basic guidelines for a land use. The Cederberg Municipality’s IDP is the overarching planning tool of the municipality. Its purpose is to inform the sector specific plans of the municipality by providing high level planning objectives, which guides operational and sectoral planning ( Figure 6.3). In essences it represent the Macro Strategy for the municipal area. The Provincial Growth and Development Strategy, as well as the Western Cape Spatial Development Framework inform these options. Figure 6.3. Examples of the sectorial plans captured in the Cedeberg District municipality’s IDP Infrastructure investment in the Cederber Municipality primarily focuses on the Olifants River development corridor (Citrusdal and Clanwilliam) and the tourism corridor on the West Coast (Elands Bay and Lamberts Bay). Further development of smaller settlements are not encouraged. The focus is on increasing the mobility of the residents of these areas through capacity building initiatives. Service backlogs still exist in the municipal area, especially in the rural parts, e.g. eradication of the bucket toilet system. Central to Cederberg Municipality’s development challenges is the bulk service provision of water and sanitation. From an institutional perspective the major challenge of the municipality is the recruitment and retention of skilled personnel. A significant percentage of critical positions are not being filled, which reduces service quality. The IDP also identifies transport as one of the key issues that need improvement in the area. Because the local economy exports agricultural products there is greater need for efficient transport routes. Other important issues are water and sanitation. The Cederberg municipality recognizes that water scarcity is a major
Page 78 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment problem in the region particularly in the Elands Bay area, which might put additional pressures on the water resources of Verlorenvlei. The West Coast Disaster Management Framework has identified four risks in the West Coast District which require immediate attention: Fire, N7 (inadequacy of this raod to handle the ever increasing heavy traffic safely), Floods and Environmental change. The Cederberg Municipality is vulnerable to all these risks. In addition the Elands Bay area is more likely to experience marine related disasters such as red tides. But this factor is less likely to have much impact on the Verlorenvlei estuary since the estuary is closed for most of the time. The mostly likely factor that could have a negative impact on Verlorenvlei is climate change which will result in a reduction in freshwater inflow, higher temperatures and higher evaporation rates. The Cederberg Municipality recognises Verlorenvlei to be an important sensitive site that needs conservation measures. The main constraint on development in the Cederberg Municipality shortage of staff resulting from a lack of skilled people in the area. Large numbers of people in the Cederberg Municipality who are currently unemployed will never be able to take advantage of opportunities even if they are made available to them because they lack the necessary skills. Consequently there is greater need for skills development in the Cederberg Municipality
6.3 Cederberg Municipality Water Services Plan The vision for the Cederberg Municipality is to utilize the IDP process as a community driven tool and in the process, compile a practical, realistic, and workable plan to ensure qualitative, effective, affordable and sustainable services delivery, thereby improve the life of all the residents of the Cederberg Municipality. IDP Priorities and Objectives Related to Water Services IDP priority issues which impact on IDP objectives related to water services water services To provide water of good quality to all the people of Cederberg (especially Lamberts Bay and Clanwilliam). To Water quality upgrade the purified water supply for the sports field in Lamberts Bay To upgrade water infrastructure (e.g. stormwater, pipe Upgrading of water and sanitation network, raw water treatment plants and sewage infrastructure treatment works) in all the towns and surrounding informal settlements Proper sanitation facilities To install proper toilet facilities in Elands Bay To prioritize monitoring of all the boreholes in the Monitoring municipality Reservoir storage capacity in all the Revisit reservoir storage capacity in all the towns. towns
Page 79 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Sustainable Water Services Sub-goals To provide free basic water services to all users by 2010. Provision of Basic Water Services Currently, the municipality is providing 10 kilolitres free (includes free basic water) basic water services to residents in and around the main urban centres To provide basic sanitation facilities (up to RDP standards) to informal and rural settlements in the Provision of Basic Sanitation Services municipality by 2010 and promote hygiene education programmes To maintain high levels of water services provision where applicable and improve cost recovery to sustain these Higher Levels of Water Services services. To upgrade water services levels in other centers to the same level as the five main centers by 2010. To maintain higher levels of sanitation service provision where applicable and improve cost recovery plan to Higher Levels of Sanitation Services sustain the services. To upgrade sanitation services in other centres to the same level as the five main centres by 2010. Sub- Integrated Water Resources Management goals To develop and implement measures for minimizing Water Resource Protection pollution of the available water resource and to promote and support pollution awareness programmes. To optimize the utilization of the available resource by reducing unaccounted for losses, To promote repair of leaks, active and passive leakage Water Resource Conservation control awareness programmes. To promote water conservation awareness education in all areas, more especially urban centers and agricultural areas To ensure that the current and future water demand are well understood and managed. Demand Management To embark on a consumer meter replacement programme, where applicable, in order to maintain accuracy regarding water consumption estimates.
6.4 Olifants/Doorn Catchment Management Strategies
Background
The Olifants Doorn WMA consists of three drainage systems: primary drainage region E, and secondary catchments F6 and G3. Verlorenvlei falls within the Sandveld drainage region, which is the southern coastal strip G3. G3 is a semi arid region with annual rainfall ranging from 100mm to 500 mm. Livestock farming is the main activity in this area while potato farming is done on the central region. Farmers use groundwater for irrigation. The main towns are Elands Bay, Lamberts Bay, Doring Bay, Strandfontein and Graafwater. The town and rural communities depend on groundwater for their water supply which is obstructed from the deep sandy deposits. The major water use in the Olifants Doorn WMA is irrigation. Irrigation is well developed in this area with approximately 20 000 ha under irrigation in the Olifants River catchment.
Page 80 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Sandveld Area
The largest user of water in the Sandveld area is agriculture and almost all the water for agriculture is obtained from groundwater resources. Potato farming is the fastest growing activity in the area. The potatoes are supplied to the large fast food franchises in South Africa. A significant proportion of the harvest is also sold as seed potatoes. Key water resource management issues the Sandveld identified in the issues that the Olifants/Doorn Catchment Management Strategies include: Information is needed on groundwater quality, quantity, geological formation and the storage capacity of aquifers Groundwater abstraction must be monitored and managed. Monthly monitoring of the following is required: Level of groundwater in boreholes Water abstracted from boreholes Crops being irrigated (volume of water used per month) Rainfall A licence system is necessary for groundwater abstraction. Farmers should be informed (twice a year) regarding the amount of water available for irrigation before they start to plant. Fair pricing is essential in the CMA establishment process. Costs should be allocated to where they are incurred and the amount of cross subsidisation should be limited. Information on environmental impacts is required. Alien vegetation should be removed to re establish wetlands that will improve water flows and contribute to improving tourism potential. The possibility of a larger water allocation for Lamberts Bay in order to promote development of the tourism industry should be researched. More information is needed with regard to the planning done by the local municipalities for water supply. Water resource issues being addressed at present at in the Sandveld Region include: The rate of agricultural development in the Sandveld especially the cultivation of potatoes is placing a severe strain on existing groundwater resources. Forum members expressed their concern regarding the rate and way in which groundwater is being abstracted as the danger exists that the groundwater resources may be over exploited. The rate of abstraction in the Langvlei Catchment area is of special concern. A study was started by DWAF in March 2002 to investigate the sustainable yield from the Langvlei River, the carrying capacity and the quality of the groundwater resources in the G30F drainage area. The focus of the study will be on the interaction between the Langvlei River, the wetlands and the groundwater resources. The study will enable DWAF to determine the ecological and basic human reserve.
Page 81 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment 6.5 South African Wetlands Conservation programme’s plan for Verlorenvlei This programme was initiated by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism to ensure that South Africa's obligations to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and Convention on Biodiversity are implemented. The aim of this programme is to protect the wetlands in South Africa against degradation and destruction and to promote sustainable use of all wetlands resources in South Africa.
Objectives
The objective of the programme is to ensure the conservation (protection, management and utilization) of South Africa's wetlands in such a way that the ecological and socio economic functions of wetlands are sustained now and in the future. The programme comprises eight supporting programmes that are listed in Table 7.3 . Table 6.3: Supporting programmes of South Africa’s Wetlands Conservation Programme
Sub-programmes Aims Objectives Interdepartmental Promote cooperative Maintain and improve working relations coordination governance between DEAT and with those departments whose activities other department that have a have a direct bearing on wetland direct or indirect effects on conservation wetlands and their conservation Provide/support ecological requirements (e.g. Department of Agriculture in all development planning and policy and DWAF) to make any aspects progress in wetlands conservation Ramsar working Coordinate the national Establish and run effective working groups groups activities through a national subsidiary to the Committee for Ramsar committee consisting of Environmental Coordination to advise the both governmental and non Department on issues relating to the governmental agencies. implementation of the Ramsar Convention in South Africa . National inventory To establish a South Africa Classify, charaterize and map all wetland and monitoring of Ramsar working group that will systems, and identify areas of highest wetlands be responsible for identifying prority; wetlands of national/ Determine a list of priority wetlands, based international importance that on existing knowledge for South Africa; should be included in a list of Develop a full inventory of South Africa's priority wetlands. The process wetlands, the database developed from required the development of a this inventory will provide the foundation national wetland inventory. for the other actions; National wetland To develop the national policy Develop a national policy on wetland policy on wetlands conservation in conservation order to support other Implement the policy management agencies that Develop and implement effective support nature conservation legislation for wetland conservation in terms of the policy Wetland protection Establishment of a system of Promulgate the Wetland Conservation Bill protected wetlands as part of Provide appropriate protection for all sites the protected area network in designated by South Africa to the List of
Page 82 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Sub-programmes Aims Objectives cooperation with the South Wetlands of International Importance in African public, including terms of the Ramsar Convention; landowners, non government Develop and implement management organizations and the private plans, for such listed sites; sector. Establish a system of protected wetlands of national significance which represent the full range of wetland functions, values and attributes Develop and implement a system to monitor the status and trends of all wetland systems Research Promoting management of To establish a research programme that programme wetlands which is based on promote management of wetlands understanding of the ecology To ensure adequate funding for the and behaviour of the systems programme and their components To ensure that research results are published Capacity building To address capacity constraint To promote capacity for conservation of for wetland regarding Wetland conservation wetlands using a wide variety of conservation by providing information through techniques newsletters and publications, To publish technical and research reports including a database of those To develop a wetland expertise network working on wetlands. Develop and implement a training programme in wetlands Establish a wetland awareness programme Effect an wetland conservation extension cadre International To strengthening South Africa’s To establish and maintain a lead in actions role in international wetland activities which honour our international conservation obligation in terms of the convention To promote active participation in wetlands international further development Establish cooperative programmes with international partners Raise funds for the programme Management Strategies
Designated as a Ramsar site in 1991 Verlorenvlei is regarded as one of the ten most important wetlands for wading birds in the south western Cape. The vlei is a unique system with multiple conservation assets (ecological, social, historical, cultural, architectural and archaeological). It has been listed as one of the estuaries with minimal development and in a good state to be conserved so as to control further developments. Despite the importance of this estuary in South Africa, it has no official conservation status. However there are a number of management strategies that are currently being promoted: Redesigning or removal of crossing point and illegal structures in the estuary to improve flow and thereby ecological functioning. An investigation of the extent to which irrigation systems are being used and to investigate all the impacts caused by such systems Determining the stock carrying capacity of the natural grazing area
Page 83 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment bordering the vlei in relation to present veld and climate conditions and conservation objectives. Adjustments to the stock numbers should be made, monitored and updated continuously with landowners. To manage the visitors to the estuary, both during the weekends and longer holidays, and to provide temporary recreational facilities with the minimal impact and disturbance to the estuary The recreational use of the vlei should be restricted in order to preserve the uniqueness of this estuary and to maintain water quality, aquatic microphytes, fringing vegetation and bird habitats. Landowners around Verlorenvlei should be involved in the management and conservation efforts and should be made aware of the conservation value of their properties. Alien plants should be eradicated, particularly in the source areas, before they become unmanageable.
6.6 C.A.P.E. Estuaries Conservation Plan As part of the development of a regional conservation plan for the cool and warm temperate estuaries Turpie and Clark (2007) recommended that Verlorenvlei forms part of the set of estuaries that needs to be protected to meet biodiversity targets in South Africa. The conservation plan stipulates that 50% of the terrestrial marginal area be included as a no development area and that the Recommended Ecological Water Requirement Category be a B or C (see Table 6.3). The Turpie and Clark (2007) study forms part of the C.A.P.E. Regional Estuarine Management Programme. The main aim of the overall programme was to develop a strategic conservation plan for the estuaries of the Cape Floristic Region, and to prepare detailed management plans for each estuary in line with the requirements of the National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Act 24 of 2008. The overall objective of this study was to identify which estuaries should be assigned Estuarine Protected Area status and to prioritise estuaries in need of rehabilitation, on the basis of an updated classification of estuaries in terms of health, conservation importance and socio economic value. Targets were defined in terms of achieving representivity of ecosystem types, habitats, species, as well as meeting population targets that ensure their viability. In selecting the set of protected areas to meet conservation targets, management costs, opportunity costs and the benefits of protection were taken into account, with the aim of achieving conservation targets at the lowest net cost or highest net benefit. Opportunity costs were considered in terms of the cost of withholding water for alternative uses, since more water would have to be reserved for estuaries with protected status. Based on an analysis of past RDM studies it was estimated that the water sacrifice would amount to roughly 15% of the natural MAR, resulting in a widely differing quantity of water from estuary to estuary. The marginal cost of this water was estimated on the basis of a recent study elsewhere in the country, and adjusted by the water demand score initially devised using data from DWAF, which was applied to each estuary. Thus the cost per unit of water was higher in catchments where the demand was high relative to supply.
Page 84 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment The findings of this study suggest that a much greater level of protection of estuaries is desirable from a socio economic perspective than would be necessary just in order to meet biodiversity conservation targets. This shows the importance of integrating socio economic considerations into what has up to now been a largely bio centric process. The partial protection of 80% of estuaries is also desirable from a management perspective, in that it facilitates the introduction of an almost universal sanctuary zone in each estuary which is marked by standard markers, which in turn facilitates the education of the public about the protection system. The study recommended that all estuaries be zoned and that each estuary may contain a sanctuary area (including a portion of the terrestrial margin which is protected from development and excessive use), and a conservation area (which includes the remainder of the terrestrial margin). The latter might be zoned in a number of different ways, depending on the vision and requirements for that estuary. Table 6.4: Summary of the recommended extent of protection required for the estuaries in the temperate regions of South Africa (Turpie and Clarke 2007)
RECOMMEDATION VALUE Extent of sanctuary protection Half Extent of undeveloped margin 50% Minimum water requirement (ecological category) 1 B or C
6.7 Working for Wetlands Working for Wetlands is a government programme (similar to Working for Water, Working on Fire and Landcare) managed by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) on behalf of the national government departments of Environmental Affairs, Water Affairs and Agriculture, and forms part of the Expanded Public Works Programme. While the programme’s primary focus is wetland rehabilitation, the protection and sustainable use of those wetlands is simultaneously entrenched in the programme’s core objectives. The vision of Working for Wetlands is to facilitate the conservation, rehabilitation and sustainable use of wetlands in South Africa that is in accordance with national policies and commitment to international conventions and regional relationships. The two main objectives of the programme are wetland conservation in South Africa and poverty reduction through job creation and skills development. Given this approach of linking wetland conservation to sustainable economic development, the programme has formed part of the government’s Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) and shares in its focus on incorporating unemployed, poor people into employment and skills development opportunities. Projects are thus focused on rehabilitation, 1 Ecological Category denotes the future state of health of the estuary, from A (near natural) to D (functional), and with A category systems having greater water requirements than D class systems.
Page 85 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment conservation and appropriate use of wetlands in a way that attempts to maximize employment creation, support for small business and the transfer of skills to the unemployed and poor. The programme was initiated in 2001 and started with 14 projects. The budget has been increased steadily and so has the number of projects implemented and beneficiaries employed. The programme is currently implementing 40 projects countrywide with a budget of R70 million and employs over 2 000 workers. Twenty implementing agents are currently employed and some are Section 21 companies. Implementers are responsible for employing contractors and their teams (workers), and ensuring that rehabilitation plans are adequately implemented. Funds are transferred from SANBI to the implementing agents, who in turn pay contractors and their teams. Local people are recruited to work in projects. Targets for employment specify that the programmes workforce should comprise at least 60% women, 20% youth and 2% disabled people. Working for Wetlands operates within the context of the Constitution (1996), whereby everyone has the right to have the environment protected, and the following national legislation, amongst others, by which the environment is protected: National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004 (NEMBA) National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (NEMA) National Water Act, 1998 (NWA) Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act , 1993 (CARA) This legislation both directs Working for Wetlands in its vision and objectives and regulates the wetland rehabilitation activities which Working for Wetlands carries out. Basic Assessments for Environmental Authorisation are carried out for all listed activities involved in wetland rehabilitation to comply with NEMA and a Memorandum of Agreement is being put in place with DWAF to ensure compliance with the water use licensing requirements of the NWA. Typical activities undertaken within the projects include: The construction of structures to control erosion in the wetland, trap sediment and raise water tables; Control of invasive alien plants in the immediate catchment, and in the wetland; Plugging of artificial drainage channels in the wetland; Addressing offsite causes of degradation in the catchment; Raising awareness of wetlands among workers, landowners and the public; Providing adult basic education and training and technical skills; and Developing management plans for the rehabilitated wetlands Wetland rehabilitation of Verlorenvlei and its catchment was initiated in the 2006/2007 financial year. Rehabilitation has been carried out in the Velorenvlei wetlands, and along the Kruismans and Krom Antonies rivers over the past two years. The interventions include a bird hide, groynes, 1994 ha of initial invasive alien plant species clearing and 500 ha of follow up clearing. Further work will be carried out in these catchments in the 2009/10 financial year.
Page 86 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Maintenance costs are particularly high for 2009/2010 as the main focus will be on invasive alien plant clearing interventions. The high cost is related to the nature of the clearing (which requires trees be felled and removed entirely from the floodplain).
6.8 CapeNature and CAPE Stewardship Programme CapeNature and C.A.P.E. (Cape Action for People and the Environment) coordinates Stewardship programmes that focuses on the wise use of private land that falls in high priority conservation areas. The Stewardship Programme falls under the CAPE programme with the specific objectives that all identified protected area priorities are secured, have formal Protected Area status and are managed effectively. Thus the objectives of the CAPE Stewardship Programme and CapeNature Stewardship Programme are the same enabling the funding to be used in a totally integrated way within CapeNature. The tern “stewardship” refers to the wise use, management and protection of land which has been entrusted to private landowners. Within the context of conservation, stewardship means wisely using natural resources that landowners have been entrusted with on their properties, protecting important ecosystems, effectively managing invasive alien plant species and fires, and grazing or harvesting without damaging the veld. The vision of the Stewardship Program is threefold: To ensure that privately owned areas with high biodiversity value receive secure conservation status and are linked to a network of other conservation areas in the landscape; To ensure that landowners who commit their property to a stewardship option, will enjoy tangible benefits for their conservation actions; and To expand biodiversity conservation by encouraging commitment to, and implementation of, good biodiversity management practice on privately owned land, in such a way that the private landowner becomes an empowered decision maker. The Three Stewardship options that the CapeNature Conservation Stewardship Programme are promoting include: Contract Nature Reserves Contract Nature Reserves are legally recognized contracts or servitudes on private land to protect biodiversity in the long term; Biodiversity Agreements Biodiversity Agreements are negotiated legal agreements between the conservation agency and a landowner for conserving biodiversity in the medium term; and Conservation Areas Conservation Areas are flexible options with no defined period of commitment (includes conservancies).
Page 87 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Conservation land in the three categories (above) has been secured for the Greater Cederberg Biodiversity Corridor using the Stewardship methodology. Competent extension staff within CapeNature carries out extension work and negotiates legal contracts. The Biodiversity economy of the areas will benefit from funding being spent in areas with increased conservation land security.
6.9 The Greater Cederberg Biodiversity Corridor – GCBC The Greater Cederberg Biodiversity Corridor (GCBC) is a CapeNature Landscape Scale Conservation Initiative which aims to effectively conserve the biodiversity of the Greater Cederberg by 2020 and beyond, and through it to deliver significant benefits to the people of the area. In order to achieve this goal the GCBC will: • Expand the minimum area of sustainable land use to an estimated 500 000 hectares which is believed to be the minimum area required in the region to conserve the unique biodiversity as well as the ecological and evolutionary processes required to do so. • Ensure that the people of the area benefit from the development of the “biodiversity economy” of the region. • Develop co operative governance structures that will promote the sustainable management of the area (i.e. between government, civil society and private sector). • Ensure effective participation of local people. • Promote awareness of the objectives of the Greater Cederberg Biodiversity Corridor. • Ensure the capacity of local people to effectively participate in the Greater Cederberg Biodiversity Corridor. • Ensure that the biodiversity of the Greater Cederberg Biodiversity Corridor is managed sustainable. Within the context of the Sandveld, the GCBC Steering Committee mandated the formation of the Sandveld Task Team to function as a voluntary association of stakeholders with the purpose of seeking innovative solutions to the natural resource issues being faced in the Sandveld. The creation of sustainable management systems for natural resources in high intensity agricultural production areas such as the Sandveld are a key challenge the world over. In the Sandveld the two key resources use issues are abstraction of groundwater and the conversion of natural habitats to agricultural production. Increasing concern among stakeholders on the sustainable utilisation of these key resources saw active participation from members of the Sandveld Task Team in seeking solutions. Both agricultural industries, namely potato South Africa and the South African Rooibos Council (“SARC”) have formally requested the relevant government departments to fulfil their monitoring and compliance mandate regarding natural resource utilisation. In the words of Dawie DeVilliers of the SARC “should existing legislation be applied, there would be no problem”.
Page 88 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment The vision of this task team is to: To encourage & consolidate effective partnerships between all stakeholders, thereby ensuring a culture of sustainable natural resource utilisation and protection in the Sandveld. The Task Team has representation of from a broad range of stakeholders engaged in the management of natural resources, including government departments, conservation agencies, local government, industry and civil society. Within this collaborative forum two key and recurrent issues emerged: • Pressure on Groundwater Resources; and • Pressure on natural habitats from land transformation 1. Pressure on Groundwater Resources Rainfall in this region ranges from 100 mm per annum at the coast to 500 – 750 mm in the Olifants River Mountains, most of the potato farming occurs closer to the coast and is dependent on groundwater for successful production. Eskom power was introduced to the Sandveld in the 1980s, and access to electricity has been a key driving force in the abstraction and utilisation of groundwater in the area. This easy access to cheap water, together with the low costs of clearing land and the lucrative market conditions has unlocked the potato boom in the Sandveld. Water abstraction for irrigation of potato crops is 90% of the volume of all water usage in the Sandveld. As a result, groundwater resources in the Sandveld have been placed under major pressure. The Department of Water Affairs estimates a 6 million m³ annual water deficit for the Sandveld, chiefly owing to over utilisation of groundwater. Between 1998 and 2002, groundwater abstraction for potato irrigation increased by at least 23%. (Accurate estimates are not possible as very few farmers measure the amount of groundwater they abstract). Importantly, the main groundwater problem areas in the Sandveld occur where there is a higher density (or clustering) of boreholes and associated groundwater abstraction. This typically occurs where municipal and agricultural abstraction occurs in close proximity. Although groundwater levels are not declining throughout the area, over abstraction of groundwater is severe in six sub catchments. Water shortages and salt water intrusion have been reported, springs and the Upper Wadrift wetlands have dried up, and estuaries are impacted. The problem has been exacerbated by the relatively lower rainfall that has been experienced in the area since 2001. 2. Land Transformation Land clearance for centre pivot cultivation has also resulted in a dramatic loss of indigenous vegetation with an average of 2,7 ha have been cleared per day between 1989 and 2001. A significant percentage of this is believed to be illegal.
Page 89 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment The rooibos sector is growing quickly in the area. The total number of Rooibos producers has grown from 300 to 450 in three years. In 2005, for the industry as a whole, 15,000 ha of rooibos was planted with the current rooibos footprint at 60,000 ha. This is believed to be a response of wheat farmers who are turning to rooibos due to drought and unfavourable market conditions. This pattern of accelerated land transformation is causing irreversible loss of endangered habitat and ecosystem functioning including: • An inability to meet national biodiversity conservation targets as the lowland habitats are continuing to be destroyed; • Loss of land cover and wetland functioning; • Increased vulnerability of agriculture to impacts of climate change; and • Progressive desertification (dune formation reported on exposed potato circles during hot, dry & windy summer months). Key Issues: In essence interventions in six key areas are required to address these constraints to effective natural resource planning and management. Importantly, the key issues below are not listed in order of priority but will require simultaneous interventions to achieve sustainability. 1. Capacity building - Capacity Constraints in the National Department of Agriculture (NDA), Department of Water Affairs & Forestry (DWAF), Department of Environmental Affairs & Development Planning (DEA&DP) and CapeNature. 2. Compliance monitoring & law enforcement programme – Putting in place an ongoing programme of compliance monitoring and law enforcement, while also addressing possible historic illegal transformation of natural vegetation and possible historic illegal abstraction of groundwater. 3. Conservation of natural resources – The creation of biodiversity corridors to conserve essential ecological process and pattern in the landscape capable of delivering long term environmental services to communities living in the sandveld. 4. Coordination and cooperation – In the spirit of co operative governance encourage the establishment of collaborative mechanism for natural resource management and decision making. 5. Resource economics study - The need for an economic feasibility study of the primary industries from a resource economics point of view.
6.10 Biodiversity and Potatoes The Sandveld forms part of the Greater Cederberg Biodiversity Corridor (GCBC) which is home to a large number of rare and endangered plants, birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects. In the last few decades this delicate ecosystem had become threatened by potato production (primarily by increases in water consumption and the clearing of natural vegetation) in the Sandveld region.
Page 90 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment To address this concern Sandveld potato farmers (who produces the bulk of the Western Cape’s potatoes), have entered into a ground breaking biodiversity initiative which aims to protect the Sandveld fynbos and dwindling water supplies, and at the same time secure the future of the potato industry. The GCBC, known as a “live in, work in” biodiversity corridor, was established as a landscape initiative to minimise the effect of climate change by supporting the free movement of plant and animal species. This is achieved through the voluntary participation of land owners, communities and the private sector to expand conservation areas on privately owned land. In cooperation with Potatoes SA’s producers, the GCBC also aims to establish a biodiversity driven economy in the Sandveld in the long term through the implementation of sustainable potato production. CapeNature, the GCBC implementation agency, has found a partner in Potatoes SA to make this biodiversity initiative a reality. Farmers, retailers and the conservation sector are collaborating to develop industry wide guidelines to ensure sustainable potato production as well as the conservation of natural resources. The guidelines are contained in a manual entitled: Biodiversity Best Practice Guidelines for Potato Production in the Sandveld . The task team responsible for the guidelines includes representatives of CapeNature, the GCBC, the potato industry, retail groups and other stakeholders. The team approached a consortium of scientists to develop scientific agricultural principles that could be implemented in a sensitive area such as the Sandveld. The guidelines will be used to implement conservation plans in the Sandveld and enable farmers in this area to follow sustainable production practices. The guidelines have been accepted and ratified by all stakeholders. It is envisaged that these agricultural principles will now be implemented by producers through out the Sandveld. Various government departments will be involved on an ongoing basis during the implementation phase, as many of the proposed actions require support and information from these departments. Both the government and potato producers in the Sandveld are supportive of the initiative and indicated that they would like to start the implementation phase as soon as possible. A project manager has been appointed who, with the assistance of a core group of producers, will implement of the guidelines. The aim is to certify a number of producers as biodiversity compliant producers in the next 12 months.
6.11 Biodiversity and Rooibos Initative Rooibos is grown only in South Africa and rooibos tea farmers in the Sandveld produce 50% of the world’s rooibos. Enormous Rooibos market expansion, with demand growing 742% over the past ten years, has significantly increased pressure on the biodiversity of the Sandveld region. To address this the rooibos industry has launched a world first biodiversity project to address Rooibos production’s enormous impact on the environment and ensure long term viable production in the region. Farmers, retailers, the South African Rooibos Council and conservation authorities collaborated to develop Rooibos Biodiversity Best Practice Guidelines for the
Page 91 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Rooibos industry, which will protect the region’s important biodiversity and ensure sustainable production. The Rooibos guidelines come in the form of a manual for farmers, entitled Biodiversity Best Practice Guidelines for Rooibos Production . These guidelines currently are being implemented with a pilot group of farmers. An Environmental Management Plan will be developed for each farm, in order to guide best practice production at a site level. The pilot group will be audited at the end of this year and hopefully certified as compliant with the guidelines. In coming years the project will be expanded to include more rooibos producers. The Rooibos Biodiversity Best Practice Project is an important model to demonstrate how sustainable production can be achieved in reality. It aims to address some of the key challenges – climate change, soil degradation, food security, water scarcity, fuel and fertilizer prices – that drives growth and production in the agricultural sector.
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7.
Chapter 8: Synopsis of Current Situation in Verlorenvlei
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7.1 Summary of Problems and Impacts Through stakeholder consultation, 16 key activities have been identified as threatening (or potentially threatening) to the ecosystem services provided by Verlorenvlei (Chapter 5). These activities contribute to an array of problems and associated environmental impacts and socio economic consequences, when managed inappropriately, as illustrated in Table 7.1and Table 7.2. From these tables it is clear that there are no one to one linkages between the activities, problems and impacts – several activities can contribute to one or more problems which, in turn, can contribute to more than one impact, and vice versa. The following section provides a brief description of these key activities and their related potential impacts on the Verlorenvlei: Veld fires in and around Verlorenvlei lead to soil erosion and increased sedimentation. This can be particularly problematic at Verlorenvlei as it has a constricted outlet that prevents sediment scouring during floods leading to an accumulation of sediments in the system. Road Infrastructure refers to the roads and embankments in the floodplain and the crossings and culverts that transverse it. The roads and embankments stabilize the course of the vlei and often create a different substrate character compared with the natural situation. The numerous crossings and culverts (e.g. road bridge to Elandsbay, crossings to Grootdrift and Redelinghuys, informal crossings near mouth and railway bridge) cutting across the system frequently restrict its flow, stabilizes its course and leads to increased reed growth. The construction of informal crossings near the mouth and at the railway bridge has led to the destruction of habitat and disturbance of bird life. Riparian Infrastructure refers to all infrastructure in the floodplain of the system. Of particular concern are the low lying properties near the mouth of the system, i.e. along the estuarine channel. There are numerous examples along the coast where this type of urban creep starts putting pressure on local authorities to manage the water level in a system artificially. An additional concern is the many fences that span the floodplain that restrict access and result in overgrazing in the areas where animals are kept. This causes changes in the species composition of the floodplain vegetation. In-stream infrastructure refers to jetties and pumphouses that could have a localized influence on circulation patterns in the vlei. Recreational activities include non consumptive activities such as boating and swimming that may have a limited localized disturbance impact on the birdlife. Windsurfing, however, results in a high disturbance impact on the avifauna. Open-cast Mining of tungsten and molybdenum of is being proposed in the upper catchment of Verlorenvlei at Metonshoek. This mining development is likely to need significant freshwater supplies, hold significant risk for the sense of place in the area and can potentially
Page 94 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment cause pollution of the freshwater supplies flowing into Verlorenvlei. Artificial breaching of the mouth is rumoured to be undertaken as a result of the backflooding of the floodplain (grazing land) in the upper vlei. Artificial breaching can lead to loss of water column habitat and a reduction in estuarine productivity. Agriculture: Crop production and l ivestock grazing in the catchment results in increased soil erosion and related sedimentation. This in turn is linked to increased reed growth in the upper reaches and a decrease in water clarity. Crop production is also linked to agricultural return flow carrying leached fertilizer (nutrients) and agrochemicals, a decrease in freshwater input and loss of riparian habitat. Water abstraction refers to sumps, river, groundwater and direct abstraction which collectively cause a significant reduction in the inflow of freshwater to Verlorenvlei. This in turn has decreased the average water level in the vlei, prevented regular natural breachings of the mouth and increased isolation of the system from the sea. Reduced water levels and flushing in turn has led to increased reed growth and blooms (blue green algae or parrot’s feather). Alien vegetation infestation in the catchment of Verlorenvlei has contributed significantly to a decrease in surface and groundwater flow to the system. Wastewater disposal includes the disposal of non reticulated sewage, washings from fishing boat and discharging of wastewater from a local pig farm. In appropriate disposal of waste water leads to nutrient enrichment and microbial contamination. Solid waste disposal especially leachate and litter from the municipal waste dump, which is situated within a few hundred metres of the vlei, can lead to microbial contamination, toxic substances entering the system or enrichment. Solid litter can lead to the entrapment of biota and reduction in the aesthetic value of the vlei. Dumping of building rubble in unauthorized sites (e.g. on the “Island”) can lead to the loss of habitat and a decrease in aesthetic value. Agricultural return flow carrying leached fertilizers causes nutrient enrichment, which in turn leads to the blue green algal blooms or extensive growth of parrot’s feather. A relatively recent phenomenon is the occurrence of avian botulism in wading birds, also linked to poor water quality. Harvesting of reeds and sedges can lead to reduction in the abundance of plant species. While the burning of reeds and sedges can lead to an increase in sedimentation and changes in the nutrient cycle of the vlei. Gill netting refers to the targeting of indigenous estuarine dependant and associated fish species for local consumption. Gillnetting leads to recruitment failure of estuarine associated species (including over exploited species such as white steenbras) and results in a decrease of the system’s nursery value. It also may enable alien fish species to become established. Introduction of alien fish species has caused the displacement of indigenous species.
Page 95 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Agriculture: Livestock grazing of riparian zone reduces the vegetation cover which, in turn, allows greater amounts of sediment to be washed into the vlei during heavy rains. In addition over grazing this will also lead to changes in the species composition/abundance of the vegetation around the system. Alien vegetation infestation in the floodplain leads to changes in the species composition (biodiversity loss) and reduction in water level. Table 7.1: An overview of key activities and linkages to potential environmental problems if managed inappropriately
PROBLEM
ACTIVITY regime CATEGORY Siltation Littering pollution Microbial Eutrophication contamination Toxicchemical Physicalhabitat biomass/species Suspendedsolids DirectAlteration of Alterationsalinity of alteration/destruction Alien vegetation infestation in flood plain Veld fires Road Infrastructure (including roads, crossings, culverts) Riparian Infrastructure (including fences, bird hides, low lying developments) In stream infrastructure (e.g. jetties, pumphouses) Recreational activities (boating, windsurfing, swimming) Mining (Tungsten/Molybdenum) Artificial breaching
Land-useInfrastructure & Development Agriculture: Crop production & Livestock in catchment Water abstraction (river, groundwater, direct abstraction, sumps) Alien vegetation infestation in catchment causing flow reduction Wastewater disposal (non reticulated sewage, boat washing, effluent from pig farm (?)) Solid waste disposal (building WaterQuantity Quality & rubble, leaches and litter from municipal dump)
Page 96 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment PROBLEM
ACTIVITY regime CATEGORY Siltation Littering pollution Microbial Eutrophication contamination Toxicchemical Physicalhabitat biomass/species Suspendedsolids DirectAlteration of Alterationsalinity of alteration/destruction
Agricultural return flow
Harvesting and burning of reeds and sedges Gill netting of indigenous fish species Introduction of alien fish species Agriculture: Livestock grazing of LivingResources riparian zone
Table 7.2: Environmental impacts and socio-economic consequences potentially associated with specific problems
PROBLEM
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES regime Siltation Littering pollution Microbial Eutrophication contamination Toxicchemical Physicalhabitat biomass/species DirectAlteration of Alterationsalinity of alteration/destruction High SuspendedHigh solids
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
Modification/loss in species composition
Smothering of benthic communities
Entanglement of organisms (e.g. birds)
Chronic effects on biota
Mortality (acute effects) on biota Opportunistic/Nuisance/Harmful algal blooms Anoxic conditions
Pathogenic infections in biota
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Human health and safety risks through recreational activities Human health risk through ingestion of contaminated seafood
FOOD SECURITY & POVERTY
Loss in quality of seafood products
Loss of fisheries resources and revenue
OTHER SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT
Loss of aesthetic value (e.g. for tourism) Loss of coastal real estate, public facilities and recreational potential
7.2 Summary of Legislation and Responsibilities An array of existing Acts (both national and provincial) governs the activities identified as posing threats to the ecosystems services provided by Verlorenvlei and were discussed in greater detail in Chapter 7. A summary of relevant Acts and responsible departments/authorities pertaining to the different activities is provided in Table 8.3. Table 7.3: Summary of relevant legislation and responsible departments/authorities pertaining to identified activities in Verlorenvlei
RESPONSIBLE ACTIVITY RELEVANT LEGISLATION DEPARTMENT/ AUTHORITY CATEGORY NWA 1998 DWA Alien infestation CARA 1983 DAFF Biodiversity Act 2004 DEA CARA 1983 DAFF Veld fires Biodiversity Act 2004 DEA Municipal systems Act 2000 Dept. Provincial and Local Road Infrastructure Government IDPs Local Authorities Municipal Systems Act 2000 Dept. Provincial and Local Riparian Government Infrastructure IDPs Local Authorities DWA NWA 1998 DEA:MCM In stream ICMA 2008 Dept. Provincial and Local infrastructure Municipal Systems Act 2000 Government/
Land-useInfrastructure & Development Local Authorities
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RESPONSIBLE ACTIVITY RELEVANT LEGISLATION DEPARTMENT/ AUTHORITY CATEGORY NWA 1998 DWA Recreational MLRA 1998 DEA: MCM activities Provincial Conservation Ordinances CapeNature Mineral and Petroleum Resources Mining DME Development Act 2002
Artificial breaching NWA 1998/ICMA 2008 DWA / DEA:MCM
Agriculture: Crop NWA 1998 DWA production and CARA 1983 DAFF livestock NWA 1998 DWA Water abstraction Water Services Act IDP Local Authorities NWA 1998/ Water Services Act DWA Wastewater ICMA 2008 DEA:MCM disposal IDP Local authority ICMA 2008/ NEMA 1998/ DWA Solid waste disposal National Waste Management Bill Solid Waste Management By laws (?) Local Authorities Agricultural return NWA 1998 DWA
WaterQuantity Quality & flow CARA 1983 DAFF Harvesting and CARA 1983 DAFF burning of reeds MLRA 1998 DEA: MCM and sedges MLRA 1998 DEA: MCM Gill netting Provincial Conservation Ordinances CapeNature Introduction of alien MLRA 1998 DEA: MCM fish species Provincial Conservation Ordinances CapeNature Agriculture: LivingResources CARA 1983 DAFF Livestock grazing in MLRA 1998 DEA: MCM flood plain
7.3 Summary of Existing Reponses In many instances activities that pose a threat to the ecological and socio economic ecosystem services provided by Verlorenvlei (Chapter 5) are governed by specific legislation (Chapter 6). Also, there are a number of existing management actions or responses aimed at mitigating or minimising such threats (Chapter 7). A summary of the estimated severity of the impacts, as well as the status of existing legislation and management initiatives pertaining to specific activities is provided in Table 8.4. Note that this is not an absolute rating but rather a qualitative evaluation to enable prioritization of management actions
Page 99 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Table 7.4: Summary of (negative) impacts on Verlorenvlei (depicted as H= high; M = medium ; L = low ) and the status of existing legislation and management initiatives ( G = good ; F = Fair ; P = poor ) pertaining to identified activities
“IMPACT” “RESPONSE”
ACTIVITY CATEGORY Responses Ecological Legislation Management ImpactSeverity ImpactSeverity Socio-Economic Socio-Economic Agriculture: Crop production H L F F
Alien infestation M L F G
Veld fires L L G F
Road Infrastructure L L F F
Riparian Infrastructure M L G F
In stream infrastructure L L F F
Recreational activities L L F G
Mining (proposed) H H P F/P
Land-useInfrastructure & Development Artificial breaching H L F P Solid waste disposal L L G P Water abstraction H H G P
Wastewater disposal (non reticulated sewage Water Quality & wash water from boats) M M F P Quantity & Harvesting and burning of reeds and sedges M L F P
Gill netting H M G F/P
Introduction of alien fish species H M G P
LivingResources Agriculture: Livestock H L F P
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8.
References
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Abrahams, F. 2005. A Review of Provincial Land Use Planning in the Western Cape. A research paper submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the LLM degree in the Faculty of Law, University of the Western Cape. Cape Town, South Africa. www.uwc.ac.za/library/theses/main_frame.htm.
Day, J.H. (ed.). 1981. Estuarine ecology with particular reference to southern Africa. A.A. Balkema, Cape Town.
Anchor Environmental 2008. Olifants Estuary Situation Assessment. Report prepared for C.A.P.E. Regional Estuarine Management Programme.
Australia and New Zealand Environment And Conservation Council (ANZECC) 2000. Australian Guidelines for Water Quality Monitoring and Reporting. National Water Quality Management Strategy No. 7. Canberra, Australia. ISBN 0 642 19562 5.
Barbier, E.B. 1994. Valuing environmental functions: tropical wetlands. Land Economics 70: 155 173.
Barbier, E.B. Acreman, M. and Knowler, D. 1996. Economic valuation of wetlands: a guide for policy makers and planners. Gland, Switzerland: Ramsar Convention Bureau.
Brodie, A, Job N, and Coe, W. 2008. Draft Wetland Rehabilitation Plan: West Coast. Working for Wetlands Programme. Submitted to the South African National Biodiversity Institute.
Clark, B.M; Hauck, M; Harris, J.M; Salo, K. & Russel, E. 2002. Identification of subsistence fishers, fishing areas, resource use and activities along the South African coast. South African Journal of Marine Science 24: 425 437.
Cooper, J. Jayiya, T. van Niekerk, L. de Wit, M. Leaner, J. and Moshe, D. 2003. An Assessment of the Economic Values of Different Uses of Estuaries in South Africa. Stellenbosch: CSIR report prepared for the Directorate: Marine and Coastal Management, Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
Costanza, R., d'Arge, R., de Groot, R., Farber, S., Grasso, M., Hannon, B., Limburg, K., Naeem, S., O'Neill, R.V., Paruelo, J., Raskin, R.G., Sutton, P. and van den Belt, M. 1997. The value of the world's ecosystem services and natural capital. Nature 387, 253 259.
DWAF 2003. Sandveld Preliminary (Rapid) Reserve Determinations. Langvlei, Jakkals and Verlorenvlei Rivers. Olifants Doorn WMA G30. Surface Volume 1: Final Report Reserve Specifications. DWAF Project Number: 2002 227.
Eagle, GA and Bartlett PD. 1984. Preliminary chemical studies in four Cape estuaries. CSIR Report T/SEA 8307. CSIR Environmentek, Stellenbosch.
Grindley, J R, Lane, S B and Robertson, H N. 1980. The environment and ecology of Verlorenvlei. Papers presented at a symposium on conservation at Verlorenvlei held in September 1980. School of Environmental Studies and Department of Archaeology, University of Cape Town.
Page 102 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Harrison, T.D., Cooper, J.A.G and Ramm, A.E.L. 2000. State of South African estuaries – geomorphology, ichthyofauna, water quality and aesthetics. Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, State of the Environment Series Report No. 2.
Joubert A (ed). Undated. Fishing rights and small scale fishers: An evaluation of the rights allocation process and the utilisation of fishing rights in South Africa. Unpublished report.
Lamberth, S.J. and Turpie, J.K. 2003. The role of estuaries in South African fisheries: economic importance and economic implications. African Journal of Marine Science 25: 131 157.
Maswime, T. 2006. The contribution of estuaries to residential property values in the Cape Floristic Region, South Africa. MSc Thesis, University of Cape Town.
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005. Ecosystems and Human Well being: Synthesis. Island Press, Washington, DC.
Oyieke, H.A. and Kokwaro, J.O. 1993. Seasonality of some species of Gracilaria (Gracilariales, Rhodophyta) from Kenya. J. Appl. Phycol. 5(1): 123 124.
Poggenpoel, C.A. 1996. The exploitation of fish during the Holocene in the south western Cape, South Africa. MSc Thesis, University of Cape Town, 225 pp.
Potter, I.C., Beckley, L.E., Whitfield, A.K., and Lenanton, R.C.J. 1990. Comparisons between the roles played by estuaries in the life cycles of fishes in temperate Western Australia and southern Africa. Env. Biol. Fish. 28: 143 178.
Robertson, H.N. 1980. An assessment of the utility of Verlorenvlei water. MSc Thesis, University of Cape Town.
Sinclair, S.A., Lane, S.B. and Grindley, J.R. 1986. Report No 32: Verlorenvlei (CW 13). In: Estuaries of the Cape. Part II, Synopses of available information on individual systems. Heydorn, A.E.F. & Morant, P.D. (eds). CSIR Research Report No 431: 97 pp.
Skelton, P.H. 1993. A complete guide to the freshwater fishes of Southern Africa. Southern Book Publishers. 388pp.
Smith, M.M. and Heemstra, P.C. (ed) 1986. Smiths’ Sea Fishes. Macmillan South Africa, Johannesburg, 1 047 pp.
Statistics South Africa. 2008. Annual inflation on a monthly basis. Available at http://www.statssa.gov.za/keyindicators/CPI/CPIX.pdf
Turpie J.K. and Hosking S.G. (eds). 2005. Proceedings of a national workshop on Resource Economics as a tool for the management and conservation of estuaries in South Africa. Rivierra Hotel, Veldrif, 10 11 March 2005. Anchor Environmental Consultants.
Turpie, J. Joubert, A. Clark, B.M. and Savy, C. 2003. The economic valuation of estuaries: A case study of the Knysna Estuary, South Africa. Cape Town: Marine Coastal Management, Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism. 53 pp.
Page 103 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Turpie, J.K. 2006. Department Kromme/Seekoei Catchments Reserve Determination Study – Technical Component. Socio economics Report. Prepared by Anchor Environmental Consultants for Coastal & Environmental Services. Report no. RDM/ K90/00/CON/1105
Turpie, J.K. 2007. C.A.P.E. Estuaries Guideline 9: Maximising the economic value of estuaries. C.A.P.E. Estuaries Programme.
Turpie. J.K. and Clark, B..M. 2007. Development of a conservation plan for temperate South African estuaries on the basis of biodiversity importance, ecosystem health and economic costs and benefits. Anchor Environmental Consulting report prepared for C.A.P.E. Regional Estuarine Management Programme.
Wallace, J.H., Kok, H.M., Beckley, L.E., Bennett, B. and Blaber, S.J.M. 1984. South African estuaries and their importance to fishes. South African Journal of Science, 85: 203 207.
Whitfield, A.K. 1994. An estuary association classification for the fishes of southern Africa. South African Journal of Science 90: 411 417.
WR90, 1995. Surface water resources of South Africa. Published by the Water Research Commission, 1st Edition 1995.
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9.
Appendix A Summary of Sections in Relevant Legislation pertaining to Activities Affecting Estuaries
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Land use and Infrastructure Development Taking the activities identified as part of this situation assessment into account, details on key legislation specifically important to the management and control of land use and infrastructure development in and around Verlorenvlei are listed below (adapted from Taljaard 2007): ACTIVITIES AND/OR KEY LEGISLATION DEVELOPMENTS Execution, construction or Section 24 of NEMA requires that potential impacts on the upgrading of activities and environment, socio-economic conditions and cultural heritage must developments in and around be investigated and assessed prior to implementation and reported estuaries, such as: to the authority charged with authorizing, permitting or otherwise allowing the implementation of an activity as listed in the NEMA EIA • Structures below high- Regulations. The NEMA EIA Regulations (respectively contained in water mark (e.g. bank Government Notices R385 , R386 & R387) were promulgated under stabilisation, jetties, Chapter 5 of the Act (replacing previous EIA regulations, 1998 that launching sites) were promulgated under the Environmental Conservation Act). They commenced with effect from 3 July 2006. Activities that require a • Bridges, road and railways Basic Assessment, as well as the competent authorities responsible for • Dams, reservoirs, levees or administering these applications, are listed in Government Notice No. weirs R386 , and include activities such as dredging, excavation, infilling • Canals, channels and and removal of soil. Government Notice No. R387 lists activities that water-transfer schemes require Scoping and Environmental Assessment (i.e. a ‘full EIA’) and • Public and private include, for example, development activities which exceed 20 amenities hectares or more; and construction or earth-moving activities in the sea or within 100 metres inland of the high-water mark of the sea • Sewage treatment works (which defined term includes estuaries). and solid waste dump sites A more detailed list of activities is presented in Regulations • Rezoning for residential or (Government Notice No. R386 and No. R387 - dated 21 April 2006 and industrial development in effective from 3 July 2006) and around estuaries (www.info.gov.za/documents/regulations/2006.htm ). Operational • Altering the bed, banks, management procedures and actions are typically specified in course or characteristics Environmental Management Plans. of a watercourse (e.g. mouth breaching, bank Section 21 of the NWA also lists a number of activities that are stabilisation, storm water classified as a water use and that require authorisation from DWAF. A outlet structures, detailed list of these activities is provided in Section 21 of the Act. sedimentation or erosion Specific operational management procedures are specified in issues, dune stabilisation) individual license Agreements.
• Reclamation of land Chapter 5 of the Municipal Systems Act requires Provincial and Local below the high-water Authorities to develop Integrated Development Plan (IDP) for areas mark under their jurisdiction. Construction and upgrading of these • Other (e.g. activities will therefore also need to take into account requirements communication network and stipulates of such IDP structures and access (www.info.gov.za/documents/regulations/2001.htm) . The Municipal roads, transport routes, Planning and Performance Management Regulations (2001) specify structures and facilities requirements of IDPs. The regulations, for example state that the involving hazardous Spatial Development Framework reflected in the municipality’s IDP substances). must ‘contain a strategic assessment of the environmental impact of the spatial development framework’.
Section 12 of the Water Services Act requires Water Services Authorities (Municipalities) to prepare Water Services Plans (WSP) as part of IDPs. Details on the content of WSP are provided in Section 13
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Chapters 2 & 3 of the Coastal Management Bill provides specification for the demarcation of different areas within the coastal zone, e.g. coastal buffer zones and set backlines. Chapter7 provides specification of activities that may/may not be undertaken in these demarcated coastal areas. Specific operational management procedures will most likely be specified through Coastal Management Programmes and Estuarine Management Plans. Agricultural activities in and Section 6 of the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act gives the around estuaries, including: Minister of Agriculture the power to prescribe control measures to achieve the objectives of the Act which shall be complied with by • Livestock grazing land users to whom they apply. Such control measures have been • Cultivation of crops specified in the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act • Husbandry involving Regulations (1984 as amended in 1985 & 2001) (www.nda.agric.za/ ). invasive alien species (plants or animals) Where agricultural practices include activities classified as a water use under Section 21 of the NWA or a listed activity under the EIA Regulations (Section 24 of NEMA ) (e.g. altering the bank of an estuary) it will require authorisation from DWAF (see above) and be subject to an EIA.
Part 8 of the NWA also states that a water use may be subject to an EIA (under NEMA). Introduction of alien Section 6 of the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act gives the vegetation Minister of Agriculture the power to prescribe control measures to achieve the objectives of the Act which shall be complied with by land users to whom they apply. Such control measures have been specified in the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act Regulations (1984 as amended in 1985 & 2001) (www.nda.agric.za/ ).
Section 21 of the NWA classifies activities resulting in stream flow reduction, (e.g. presence of alien vegetation) as a water use that requires authorisation from DWA. More details on such activities are provided in Section 21. Part 8 of the NWA also states that a water use may be subject to an EIA (under NEMA). Recreational activities (e.g. Section 21 of the NWA classifies the use of a water resource for boating, swimming, recreational purposes as water use that requires authorisation from amenities, footpaths, bird DWAF. DWAF is in the process of drafting Regulations for recreational watching etc) use of water resource – see www.dwaf.gov.za/Documents/Other/RMP/rwum.asp
Section 32 of the National Health Act requires that every metropolitan and district municipality must ensure that appropriate municipal health services are effectively and equitably provided in their respective areas. This is understood to include water quality monitoring (in terms of health risks) in water resources (e.g. estuaries) used for recreational purposes. Off-road vehicles access in Section 24(4) of NEMA , through the Off-road Vehicle Regulation (2001 coastal areas as amended 2004) (www.mcm-deat.gov.za/4x4/ ) regulates off-road vehicle access in coastal areas. Mining (e.g. sand winning, Section 22 of the Mineral & Petroleum Resource Development Act diamond and titanium) stipulates that a license is required to obtain the right to mine. If an application to obtain mining rights is excepted, the applicant is required to conduct and EIA (in accordance with Section 24 of NEMA ) and needs to provide an Environmental Management Programme (Section 38 of this Act).
Page 107 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Water Quantity and Quality (Water supply/demand & waste) Taking the activities identified as part of this situation assessment into account, details on key legislation that are of importance in the management of Verlorenvlei’s water quality and quantity activities and developments are discussed below: ACTIVITIES AND/OR KEY LEGISLATION DEVELOPMENTS Taking water from a water Section 21 of the NWA classifies these activities (largely influencing resource (surface and freshwater flows) as a water use that requires authorisation from DWA. ground water abstraction) or More details on such activities are provided in Section 21. Operational storing water management procedures and actions are typically specified in the Impeding or diverting flow of individual License Agreements. Operational management water in a watercourse (e.g. procedures and actions are typically specified in the individual inter-basin transfers) License Agreements Under Section 39 of the NWA , DWAF has Activities resulting in stream promulgated General Authorisation (2004) in terms of which certain flow reduction (e.g. activities, classified as water a use, exempts a water user from afforestation, cultivated land applying for a license (www.dwaf.gov.za/Documents ). Part 8 of the and alien vegetation) NWA also states that a water use may be subject to an EIA (under Irrigating land with NEMA). wastewater generated through an industrial activity Section 12 of the Water Services Act requires Water Services or a water treatment works Authorities (Municipalities) to prepare Water Services Plans (WSP) as part of IDPs. Details on the content of WSP are provided in Section 13 of the Act . Water services (or supply) Discharging waste or water The EIA Regulations promulgated under NEMA (Government Notice containing waste (e.g. No. R, 386 of 2006 (Activity No. 25) requires the performance of a municipal and industrial Basic Assessment ‘for the expansion of or changes to existing facilities wastewater, contaminated for any process or activity, which requires an amendment of an storm water runoff, existing permit or license or a new permit or license in terms of contaminated river runoff legislation governing the release of emissions, pollution, effluent’. The due to e.g. inappropriate EIA Regulations promulgated under NEMA (Government Notice No. R, catchment practices) 387 of 2006 require the performance of Scoping and EIA for the Disposing of waste in a construction of facilities or infrastructure, including associated manner that may structures or infrastructure, for any process or activity which requires a detrimentally impact on a permit or license in terms of legislation governing the generation or water resource (e.g. littering, release of emissions, pollution, effluent or waste and which is not solid waste dumping, and identified in Government Notice No. R. 386 of 2006. septic and conservancy-tank seepage, marine Section 21 of the NWA classifies these activities (largely influencing aquaculture waste) freshwater flows) as a water use that requires authorisation from DWA. Disposing in any manner More details on such activities are provided in Section 21. Operational water that contains waste management procedures and actions are typically specified in the from any industrial process individual License Agreements. Under Section 39 of the NWA , DWAF (e.g. industrial wastewater or has promulgated General Authorisation (2004) in terms of which contaminated storm water certain activities, classified as water uses, exempts a water user from runoff originating from an applying for a license. Part 8 of the NWA also states that a water use industrial area) may be subject to an EIA (under NEMA). Section 7 of the Water Services Act regulates industrial use of water, both in terms of use and disposal of effluent (possible overlap with section 21 of the NWA)
Chapter 8 of the Coastal Management Bill deals with Marine and Coastal Pollution Control, specifically addressing ‘Discharge of Effluent into coastal waters’. The Bill does recognise DWAF’s current involvement in such matter and proposes that such activities be management and control in collaboration with DWAF. Dumping of waste Chapter 8 of the Coastal Management Bill deals with Marine and Coastal Pollution Control, specifically addressing ‘Incineration and Dumping at sea’.
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Exploitation of Living Marine Resources Taking the activities identified as part of this situation assessment into account, details on key legislation that are of importance in the management of the estuarine living resources of Verlorenvlei are discussed below: ACTIVITIES AND/OR KEY LEGISLATION DEVELOPMENTS
Line fishing (commercial, subsistence & recreational) This MLRA (as amended in 2000) governs pollution matters related to the exploitation of marine living resources. Specific requirements are Net fishing (e.g. gill nets stipulated in the MLRA - General Regulations (Government Notice and fyke nets) R1111 in Government Gazette 19205 of 2 September 1998 - as amended). Cast-net fishing – recreational Specific requirements linked to recreational fishing are stipulated in the Harvesting of estuarine Recreational Fishing Information Brochure (www.mcm- vegetation (e.g. reeds) deat.gov.za/recreational/index.html ). Introduction of alien species (e.g. fish and invertebrates)
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Appendix B
Desktop Health Assessment of Verlorenvlei
Page 110 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment In 2003 a preliminary reserve determination study was conducted on Verlorenvlei as part of the larger Sandveld Reserve Project (DWAF 2003). This study provided a very cursory estimate of the present health of the vlei. The study found Verlorenvlei to be moderately modified, i.e. Category C. A number of the assumptions made in the health estimate did not appear to reflect the true state of affairs, e.g. the reduction in seasonal inflows was estimated to be 60% and the total recharge abstracted was about 90%, but the frequency of natural opening only changed by 20%. This seems to be far too conservative an assumption based on a volumetric analysis of a Natural MAR of 100 X 10 6 m 3. Based on the natural MAR open mouth conditions should have been much more frequent and for longer periods under the reference conditions. Changes in water levels and mouth conditions drive most of the other physical and ecological features of the system such as nutrient cycling, salinity, micro algal blooms, growth of emergent and submerged vegetation, invertebrate and fish recruitment from sea, nursery function, and bird abundance. Therefore most of the components evaluated as part of the Sandveld study would show a further reduction in health if the scores for the mouth state were adjusted. To address the shortcoming of the Sandvel Reserve Study a desktop estuary health assessment was done to determine the current health status of Verlorenvlei in a workshop environment in collaboration with estuarine experts familiar with the Cape west coast. The specialist team responsible for this study is given in Table B.1. Table B.1: The specialist team responsible for the evaluation of the Present Ecological Status for the Verlorenvlei ROLE/EXPERTISE LEAD SPECIALISTS CONTACT DETAILS Physical processes Ms Lara van Niekerk CSIR, Stellenbosch, Water quality Ms Susan Taljaard CSIR, Stellenbosch, Physical processes Mr Piet Huizinga Independent consultant Fish Dr Steve Lamberth Marine and Coastal Management, DEA Estuarine Ecology Mr Pat Morant Independent consultant The study provides a Provisional Present Ecological Status (PPES) not to be confused with the official Present Ecological Status (PES) allocated to an estuary through either a Rapid/Intermediate/Comprehensive RDM determination. The PPES was based on the degree of similarity between the Reference Condition and the Present State estimated for each of the identified components. The estimates of the health scores were based on available information and expert opinion. Therefore the findings of this study can only be used for broad scale planning and not for the development of any infrastructure or large scale licence allocation in the evaluated catchments. An estuary is classified in terms of its present condition and the desired future condition. These conditions are termed Present Ecological Status (PES) and Recommended Ecological Category (REC), respectively. It is proposed that the PES is defined on the basis of 'Health' (i.e. present condition) and that the REC of estuaries should be defined on the basis of PES and 'Estuarine Importance'. The
Page 111 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment latter process should also take into account modifying determinants, such as protected area status, and restorability (DWAF 2004). Health is used to describe an estuary's condition. That is, to what extent the current state of an estuary differs from its Reference condition. The fact that estuarine systems undergo significantly greater dynamic changes than river systems means that severe degradation of an estuary may involve a shift from dynamic change to pre dominantly unidirectional change. The loss of dynamic function per se may thus constitute an important measure of degradation in estuarine health (DWAF 2004). The Present Ecological Status of an estuary is a measure of its present condition or 'ecological status', and should thus be defined on the basis of Estuarine Health. Six classes can be broadly described as follows (Table B.2 ). Table B.2: Ecological Management Categories (DWAF 2004) PES CATEGORY DESCRIPTION A Unmodified, natural B Largely natural with few modifications C Moderately modified D Largely modified E Highly degraded F Extremely degraded In developing the Estuarine Health Index, an important challenge lay in finding the measures to desigante these different states which are sufficiently robust that different practitioners will come to the same categorisation. The index measures the degree to which present conditions resemble Reference Condition. In the Estuarine Health Index the reference and present conditions are determined for the following components (DWAF, 2004): A. Abiotic components • Hydrology • Hydrodynamics and mouth condition (including timing, frequency and duration of closure), • Water chemistry (axial salinity gradient and vertical salinity stratification, temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, nitrate and phosphate concentrations) • Sediment processes B. Biological Components • microalgae • macrophytes • invertebrates • fish • birds Each variable, defined as a percentage of the pristine state, is weighted, and then aggregated, using the overriding rule provided in Table B. 3 and Figure B.1. The final score, reflects the state as a percentage of the pristine state. The overall degree of health of the abiotic aspects of the estuary may be considered to be a measure of the Habitat Health or Integrity, while the remaining variables make up the Biological Health Index.
Page 112 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Table B.3:. Example of a calculation of the Estuarine Health Score NO. VARIABLE SCORE WEIGHT WEIGHTED SCORE Abiotic (habitat) variables 1 Hydrology 41 25 10 2 Hydrodynamics and mouth condition 80 25 20 3 Water quality 59 25 15 4 Physical habitat 80 25 20 A. Habitat health score = weighted mean 65 Biotic variables 1 Macrophytes 60 20 12 2 Microalgae 60 20 12 3 Invertebrates 70 20 14 4 Fish 60 20 12 5 Birds 90 20 20 B. Biological health score = weighted mean 70 ESTUARINE HEALTH SCORE = weighted mean of A & B 67.5
Figure B.1 Components and weightings of the Estaurine Health Index The Reference state is estimated by a multidisciplinary group of estuarine scientists based on the present status of the estuary and knowledge of the impacts that affect the system. Expert knowledge and available information are all used to build up a “picture” of the probable reference conditions and to evaluate future changes in runoff. The Estuarine Health Index is applied in its totality to all levels of RDM (Comprehensive, Intermediate or Rapid), only the level of information supporting the study, motivations provided for scoring and level of confidence vary. Similarly the Estuarine Desktop RDM assessment used the recognised Estuarine Health Index (DWAF 2004) to derive the PPES, but populated it based on expert knowledge and information collated during a one day workshop.
Page 113 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment The motivations for the estuarine health scores allocated for the Provisional Present Health Assessment of the Verlorenvlei are provided in Table B.4. A summary of the final weighted scores for the system are provided in Table B.5. Table B.4:. Motivations for the Provisional Present Ecological Health Scores for the Verlorenvlei Estuary COMPONENT SCORE MOTIVATION
Hydrology
Low flows 20 80% reduction in seasonal inflows and an overall reduction in inflow (groundwater and surface water) to the vlei. Floods 80 Largely unchanged
Hydrodynamics and 30 Mouth open condition decrease from open at least once a year to Mouth condition a few months at a time every 2 to 3 years. (Assessment based on estimated Natural MAR of 100 x 10 6 m 3 ). Water Quality (WQ)
Salinity 90 Largely unchanged as the connection to the sea is naturally constricted by the drifts at mouth and railway bridge. There is a decreased salinity in the estuarine channel near the mouth. Increased salinity in the lake due to evaporation and agricultural practices. The existence of palmiet in the upper catchment suggests a fresher system under the Reference condition. Inorganic nutrient 50 Nutrient input to the system has increased a) direct inflow from the (DIN and DIP) catchment and b) through in situ remineralisation lined to higher organic loading (system would have been oligotrophic under Reference Condition). Suspended solids 70 Although the sediment load from the catchment has increased, (turbidity/transparen reeds in the upper systems probably filter particulates from river cy) inflow prior to entering the basin and shallows. However, a marked increase in water column primary productivity (phytoplankton blooms) has resulted in an overall decrease in water transparency, particularly in the larger basin area. Increases in benthic feeders (carp) probably also contribute to higher turbidity, particularly in the shallower areas. Dissolved oxygen 80 Considering the lack of marked vertical stratification and effective wind mixing of the water column, the system is generally well oxygenated, i.e. similar to the reference condition. However, it is expected that increased organic loading would have resulted in some reduction in dissolved oxygen in the deeper sections in wind protected areas. Toxic substances 70 Extensive agricultural activity in the catchment and along the shores of the lake probably resulted in some accumulation of pesticides and herbicides. The extent will have to be confirmed through studies of sediments and biota. Physical habitat 80 Southern shores in good condition, but the northern shores quite alteration disturbed. Impacts include roads, riprap, bridges, sumps, sedimentation, jetties, drainage channel. Microalgae 60 Nutrient enrichment will cause an increase in the biomass of microbenthic algae and increase the frequency and scale of blue green algal blooms. Macrophytes 50 Significant increase in reeds (mainly Typha ) at the head of the system (caused by sedimentation, nutrients and Grootdrift causeway). The increase of the emergent vegetation in the westen part of the lake is most likely driven by lower water levels and the modification in channel configuration at the road bridge.
Page 114 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Other impacts include: burning of reeds, grazing, fencing, sumps, jetties cut into the fringing vegetation exposing banks particularly on the north side. The canal that separates the reeds from main water body in the upper floodplain also led to a change in vegetation. There is also some alien vegetation in estuarine flood plain. (Some concern regarding the submerged macrophytes what drives the cycle between this and phytoplankton?? Alien species?) Invertebrates 50 Species richness, abundance and community composition have been affected as alien fish (e.g. O Mosambicus ) reduce the population of small invertebrates (molluscs) and carp change the bottom sediment structure. Nutrient enrichment would also affect the abundance of certain species. Fish 40 Species richness, abundance and community composition have been affected. The major drivers are reduction in recruitment due to increased mouth closure and introduction of alien species. The indigenous fish are being driven out of the lake into the upper reaches. Illegal gilnetting (at least five nets) further decreases in the abundance and loss of nursery function. Birds 90 The decrease in inflow and related lower water level drives some changes in bird species abundance. For example, flamingos will be more frequent visitors due to lower water levels. No change in species composition is likely. Table B.6: Provisional Present Ecological Health Status for the Verlorenvlei Estuary COMPONENT WEIGHT SCORE WEIGHTED SCORE HABITAT ASSESSMENT
Hydrology 25 50 13
Hydrodynamics & mouth condition 25 30 8
Water quality 25 76 19
Physical habitat alteration 25 80 20
HABITAT SCORE 58
BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT
Microalgae 20 60 12
Macrophytes 20 50 10
Invertebrates 20 50 10 Fish 20 40 8
Birds 20 90 18
BIOLOGICAL SCORE 58
ESTUARINE HEALTH SCORE 58
PROVISIONAL PES C/D
Page 115 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment The Estuarine Health score for Verlorenvlei, based on its Present Status, is 58. This translates into a Provisional Present Ecological State of C/D as indicated above and defined below in table B.7. Table B.7. Guidelines for the Present Ecological Status ESTUARINE HEALTH PRESENT ECOLOGICAL STATE GENERAL DESCRIPTION INDEX 91 – 100 A Unmodified, natural 76 – 90 B Largely natural with few modifications 61 – 75 C Moderately modified 41 – 60 D Largely modified 21 – 40 E Highly degraded 0 – 20 F Extremely degraded Turpie and Clark (2007), Turpie (2004) and Turpie et al. (2002) ranked South African estuaries in terms of Conservation Importance based on the size of the system, its zonal type rarity, the habitat importance of the system and biodiversity importance score. The Estuarine Importance scores allocated to Verlorenvlei are provided in Table B.8. Table B.8: Estuarine importance scores (modified from Turpie and Clark 2007) ESTUARINE IMPORTANCE Score Estuary size 100
Habitat 70
Zonal type rarity 60
Biodiversity 82
CONSERVATION IMPORTANCE RATING 72 The Estuarine Importance Score is allocated according to the guidelines provided in Table B.9. Table B.9: Estaurine Importance score guidelines IMPORTANCE SCORE DESCRIPTION 81 – 100 Highly important 61 – 80 Important 0 – 60 Of low to average importance The study found that the vlei is an Important Estuary (Importance score between 61 – 80) on a regional scale. The degree to which the Ecological Category needs to be elevated above the Present Ecological Status depends on the level of importance and the level of protection or desired protection of a particular estuary. A summary of the recommended extent of protection required and the priority for rehabilitation for each of the estuaries in the study area (Turpie and Clarke 2007) are provided in Table B.10.
Page 116 Final Draft: Verlorenvlei Situation Assessment Table B.10: Summary of the recommended extent of protection required and the priority for rehabilitation for each of the estuaries in the study area (Turpie and Clarke 2007) RECOMEDATION VALUE Extent of sanctuary protection Half Extent of undeveloped margin 50% Minimum water requirement (ecological category) 2 B or C The REC represents the proposed level of protection assigned to an estuary, which, in turn, is used to determine the Ecological Water Requirements. To determine the 'minimum' Ecological Reserve Category of an estuary, based on its PPES, the following relationship is applied (Table B.11): Table B.11: Guidelines for the Recommended Ecological Reserve Category (DWAF 2004) CURRENT/DESIRED PROTECTION RECOMMENDED POLICY BASIS STATUS AND ESTUARY ECOLOGICAL RESERVE IMPORTANCE CATEGORY Protected or Desired Protected A or BAS* Protected and desired Area protected areas should be restored to and maintained in the best possible state of health Highly important PES + 1, min B Highly important estuaries should be in an A or B class Important PES + 1, min C Important estuaries should be in an A, B or C class Of low to average importance PES, min D Remain in a D class. * BAS = Best Attainable State Though the Verlorenvlei is a Ramsar site and should be in an A category it is highly unlikely that the flow reduction to the system can be alleviated easily and as this is the major driver for change in the system it was felt that most likely the Best Attainable State is an C+. THE PROVISIONAL RECOMMENDED ECOLOGICAL CATEGORY FOR THE VERLORENVLEI, BASED ON THE PRESENT HEALTH STATE, ESTUARINE IMPORTANCE AND CONSERVATION IMPORTANCE ARE A C+. It is very important that this provisional health estimation of Verlorenvlei be firmed up by an Intermediate or Comprehensive level Estuarine Reserve study to determine its Estuarine Recommended Ecological Category with a confidence that would allow for decisive management actions. A high confidence Reserve would also allow for stricter licensing and more decisive action form the relevant authorities regarding the necessary intervention required to increase the health of the system. 2 Ecological Category denotes the future state of health of the estuary, from A (near natural) to D (functional), and with A category systems having greater water requirements than D class systems.
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