BUFFALO RIVER ESTUARY SITUATION ASSESSMENT REPORT Prepared for: Department of Environmental Affairs: Oceans Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University and Coasts Prepared by: EOH Coastal & Environmental Services EAST LONDON 25 Tecoma Street, Berea East London, 5214 043 726 7809 Also in Grahamstown, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town and Maputo www.cesnet.co.za | www.eoh.co.za March 2016 EOH Coastal & Environmental Services i Buffalo River Estuary Draft Situation Assessment Report – March 2016 THE PROJECT TEAM Dr Alan Carter – Team Leader, stakeholder engagement, legislation and policy and report review Alan is an Executive at EOH CES, holds a PhD in Marine Biology and is a certified Public Accountant, with extensive training and experience in both financial accounting and environmental science disciplines with international accounting firms in South Africa and the USA. He has 15 years’ experience in environmental management and has specialist skills in sanitation, coastal environments and industrial waste. Alan is registered as a Professional Natural Scientist under the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP) and is a Certified Environmental Assessment Practitioner (CEAPSA). Amy Hunter – Project Manager, stakeholder engagement and data gathering Amy is an Environmental Consultant at EOH-CES. Amy holds a B.Sc. in Biochemistry and Zoology as well as a B.Sc. Honours in Zoology, both from the University of Johannesburg. Her honours project investigated the role of a tenebrionid beetle in the ecology of Bakwena Cave, Pretoria. Her M.Sc project, through Stellenbosch University, was a study on the effects of probiotics on the physiological and biochemical development of hatchery raised dusky kob (Argyrosomus japonicus) larvae. Her professional interests and passion lies within coastal and marine ecology as well as the development of sustainable aquaculture in South Africa. Amy has experience in a wide variety of areas with particular focus on aquaculture EIAs, coastal development EIAs and EMPs as well as coastal management programmes Dr Cherie-Lynn Mack – Stakeholder engagement and data gathering Cherie-Lynn, is a Principal Environmental Consultant at EOH CES and holds a PhD and MSc (with distinction) degrees in Environmental Biotechnology, with a BSc degree in Microbiology and Biochemistry. She has postgraduate research experience in industrial and domestic wastewater treatment technologies, with particular emphasis on the coal and platinum mining industries. Her interests lie in the water sector, with experience in ecological reserve determination and water quality monitoring and analysis. She has experience in water quality analysis and industrial wastewater treatment research. She currently manages and provides environmental input into a number of renewable energy projects, including wind and solar energy facilities. Caitlin Smith – Data gathering Caitlin holds a BSc degree with majors in Geology and Geography as well as a BSc Honours degree in Geology both from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. Caitlin has four years’ experience as a geologist in the heavy mineral sand mining industry. Caitlin is a Professional Natural Scientist (Pr.Sci.Nat) under SACNASP. Thina Mgweba – Data gathering Thina holds a B.Sc. in Economics and Environmental Science as well as a B.Sc honours in environmental science both from Rhodes University. Her honours dissertation investigated climate change resilience and adaptation in the coastal villages of Hamburg, Eastern Cape. Her professional interests include the development of climate change strategies, environmental economic analyses as well as social impact. EOH Coastal & Environmental Services ii Buffalo River Estuary Draft Situation Assessment Report – March 2016 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Will complete Executive Summary when the rest of the report is complete. EOH Coastal & Environmental Services i Buffalo River Estuary Draft Situation Assessment Report – March 2016 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 7 1.1. Background ..................................................................................................................... 7 1.2. Geographic context ......................................................................................................... 7 1.3. Purpose of Situation Assessment Report ........................................................................ 9 2. LEGISLATIVE INSTUMENTS AND RELATED STRATEGIES AND PROGRAMMES ......... 10 3. CATCHMENT CHARACTERISTICS ..................................................................................... 12 3.1. The Buffalo River Catchment (R20) ............................................................................... 12 3.2. Geology and Geomorphology ........................................................................................ 13 3.3. Climate and Runoff ........................................................................................................ 16 3.4. Land-use ....................................................................................................................... 16 3.5. Management of the catchment ...................................................................................... 18 3.5.1. Mzimvubu to Tsitsikamma Catchment Management Agency (CMA) ...................... 18 3.5.2. Adopt-a River Programme ..................................................................................... 19 3.6. Water use Monitoring .................................................................................................... 20 3.6.1. Amatole Water Supply System Reconciliation Strategy ......................................... 20 3.7. Water Quality monitoring: .............................................................................................. 20 3.7.1. The River Health Programme ................................................................................ 20 3.7.2. Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality .................................................................... 21 3.7.3. Department of Water and Sanitation ...................................................................... 21 3.8. Water resource overview ............................................................................................... 23 3.8.1. Groundwater .......................................................................................................... 23 3.8.2. River status ............................................................................................................ 24 3.9. Catchment water quality ................................................................................................ 26 3.10. Ecological Reserve Study .............................................................................................. 29 3.11. Infrastructure ................................................................................................................. 29 4. OVERVIEW OF ECOLOGICAL FUNCTION AND STATE OF ESTUARY ............................ 31 4.1. Physical description and estuarine area of influence ..................................................... 31 4.1.1. Estuary Classification ............................................................................................. 31 4.1.2. Estuarine Functional Zone ..................................................................................... 31 4.1.3. Estuarine Zone of Influence ................................................................................... 32 4.1.4. Existing Infrastructure ............................................................................................ 33 4.2. Ecological Health Status ................................................................................................ 36 4.2.1. National Biodiversity Assessment – Estuary Component ....................................... 36 4.2.2. Eastern Cape Biodiversity Conservation Plan ........................................................ 38 4.3. Abiotic Function ............................................................................................................. 39 4.3.1. Hydrology .............................................................................................................. 40 4.3.2. Hydrodynamics and Mouth State ........................................................................... 40 4.3.3. Water Chemistry (salinity) ...................................................................................... 40 4.3.4. Sediment Quality ................................................................................................... 41 4.3.5. Other physico-chemical parameters ....................................................................... 41 4.3.6. Estuarine water quality ........................................................................................... 42 4.3.7. Climate change ...................................................................................................... 44 4.4. Biotic Function ............................................................................................................... 45 4.4.1. Flora ...................................................................................................................... 45 4.4.2. Fauna .................................................................................................................... 49 5. ECOSYSTEM GOODS SERVICES AND THREATS TO ECOLOGICAL FUNCTIONING .... 50 5.1. Introduction