Towards Improving the Assessment and Implementation of the Reserve
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Water Affairs in the Lower Blyde River the Role of DWAF in Local Water Management
Water Affairs in the Lower Blyde River The role of DWAF in local water management IWMI Working Paper B.W. Raven, April 2004, Wageningen Acknowledgments The author likes to thank specifically Barbara van Koppen (IWMI) and Jeroen Warner (Wageningen University) for their help and contribution to this case study. The author further thanks: Willy Enright (DWAF Western Cape), Edward Lahiff (Western Cape University), Cees Leeuwis (Wageningen University), Derek Weston and Francois van der Merwe (DWAF Pretoria), Gert Bezuidenhout Johan Du Preez (Lower Blyde River WUA) Francis Mohlala (Mametja / Sekororo communities), Marie Tinka Uys (Environmental issues Blyde River), Gerhard Backeberg (WRC Pretoria), Anthony Turton (AWIRU Pretoria), Herve Levite, Nicholas Faysse, Tebogo Seshoka and other colleagues of IWMI Pretoria. 1 Content 1 Introduction 1.1 Case Study: The Lower Blyde River 1.2 The Case Study in perspective: South Africa and The Netherlands 1.3 Case Study Objectives 2 General Background 2.1 Multi Stakeholder Participation 2.2 Former SA irrigation policy 2.3 The new SA water policy: NWA 1998 2.4 Building CMAs and WUAs 3 The Lower Blyde River 3.1 The Blyde River Catchment 3.2 Stakeholders 3.2.1 Irrigation Farmers 3.2.2 Mametja / Sekororo Communities 3.2.3 Upstream Stakeholders 3.2.4 Downstream Stakeholders 3.2.5 Governments involved 4 Water Management in the Lower Blyde River 4.1 The Lower Blyde WUA 4.2 The Lower Blyde Irrigation Pipeline 4.3 The 800ha Black Emerging Farmers Project 4.4 Domestic Water Supply Mametja / Sekororo communities 5 Conclusions Bibliography Annex: list of interviews 2 1 Introduction “The new South Africa is the world in microcosm, in its population mix, its wealth gap and above all in the impact which the new forces of globalisation are having on it. -
Potential Impacts to Be Considered by the Oryx Gems Prospecting Rights Application
Potential impacts to be considered by the Oryx Gems prospecting rights application Biodiversity, Ecosystems & Natural Resources The farm portions overlap with several Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBA) and Ecological Support Areas (ESA) under the Mpumalanga Biodiversity Sector Plan (MBSP, 2014) and the National Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Areas (NFEPA, 2011) o Multiple Irreplaceable and Optimal terrestrial CBAs and ESAs o Multiple CBA and ESA rivers, wetlands and catchments (including the Blyde & Lisbon Rivers as listed CBA rivers) o Several downstream aquatic CBAs and ESAs under the Limpopo Conservation Plan (2013) will also be affected The farm portions overlap with three NEMBA listed Threatened Ecosystems: o Northern Escarpment Dolomite Grassland (Vulnerable) o Blyde Quartzite Grasslands (Endangered) o Malmali Karstlands (Endangered) The Unique community, ‘Graskop grassland’, registered under Mpumalanga Nature Conservation Act (1998) is located on the farm portions Birdlife Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA): area overlaps with the globally listed Blyde River Canyon IBA Threatened or rare species, or species of conservation concern potentially occurring on the farm portions: o Bird species: Blue swallow, Bald Ibis, Striped Flufftail, Stanley’s Bustard (Neotis denhami), Blackwinged Plover (Vanellus melanopterus), Buffstreaked Chat (Oenanthe bifaciata) o Mammal species: Oribi, Rough-haired Golden Mole, Meester’s Golden Mole, Short-eared Trident Bat, Natal Long-fingered Bat o Reptile species: Bradypodion transvaalense, Lamprophis -
INVESTOR FACT SHEET 4. Blyde River Hydro Power Project
INVESTOR FACT SHEET 4. Blyde River Hydro Power Project A. PROJECT SECTOR: Renewable Energy I. INTRODUCTION The Blyde River (Happy River) or Motlatse River, is a river in Mpumalanga Province South Africa. It flows north through the steep-sided valleys and ravines of the Mpumalanga Drakensberg (Dragon Mountains), before it enters the Lowveld Escapement – one of Africa’s prime wildlife and game reserves destinations. The Blyde River Hydro Power Project is a small Hydo-Electric Project involving the re-engineering and re-establishment of an existing hydro-electric power plant. II. LOCATION South Africa – Mpumalanga Province – Thaba Chweu Municipality III. PROJECT DESCRIPTION This renewable energy project is situated in the environmentally sensitive Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve of Mpumalanga Province. This area attracts over one million tourists a year to the natural wonder of the surrounding Bourke’s Luck Potholes, Gods Window, the Blyde River Canyon and the world famous Kruger National Park. Mpumalanga Province is an attractive Green Energy investment destination in support of the tourism infrastructure and local communities. The existing but non-operational Belvedere Hydro-Electric Power Plant was commissioned in 1911 to supply power to the historic gold mining town of Pilgrim’s Rest. This 2,000 Kw power station was at its time the largest hydro-electric power station in the Southern Hemisphere and Pilgrim’s Rest was electrified before the City of London. The Blyde River Hydro Power Project entails the design, engineering and commissioning of a new hydro-power station to generate renewable green energy to be supplied the surrounding tourism attractions and adjacent communities. -
Klaserie Eco School Pitlochry 14 KU.Pdf
Phase 1 Archaeological and Heritage Impact Assessment on a Portion of the farm Pitlochry 14 KU in respect of the proposed construction of a School, Klaserie, Mpumalanga Province. Compiled by: For Henwood Environmental Services Surveyor: Mr JP Celliers 4 February, 2019 Table of Contents Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 3 1.1. Terms of reference ............................................................................................................. 3 1.1.1 Project overview ........................................................................................................... 3 1.1.2. Constraints and limitations ........................................................................................... 3 1.2. Legislative Framework ....................................................................................................... 3 1.2.1. Heritage in Protected areas .......................................................................................... 5 1.3. Approach and statutory requirements ................................................................................. 6 2. Description of surveyed area .................................................................................................... 6 3. Methodology ............................................................................................................................. 7 3.1. Archaeological and Archival background studies .............................................................. -
Observations on the Distribution of Freshwater Mollusca and Chemistry of the Natural Waters in Thesouth-Eastern Transvaal and Ad
Bull. Org. mond. Sante' 1964, 30, 389-400 Bull. Wld Hith Org. | Observations on the Distribution of Freshwater Mollusca and Chemistry of the Natural Waters in the South-eastern Transvaal and Adjacent Northern Swaziland* C. H. J. SCHUTTE I & G. H. FRANK' An extensive survey of the molluscan fauna and of the chemistry of the freshwaters of the Eastern Transvaal Lowveld has revealed no simple correlation between the two. The watersfall into fourfairly distinct andgeographically associatedgroups chiefly characterized by their calcium and magnesium content. The frequency of the two intermediate hosts of bilharziasis was found to be roughly proportional to the hardness of the water but as the latter, in this area, is associated with altitude and this again with temperature and stream gradient it is thought highly probable that the distribution of these snails is the result of the interaction of a complex offactors. None of the individual chemical constituents in any of the waters examined is regarded as outside the tolerance range of these snails. It is also concluded that under natural conditions this area would have had few waterbodies suitable for colonization by these snails but that the expansion of irrigation schemes has created ideal conditions for their rapid establishment throughout the area. Primarily, the survey reported here was intended DESCRIPTION OF THE AREA as an attempt, not so much to correlate the presence The area (Fig. 1) is bordered by the Drakensberg of snails and the chemical composition of the waters escarpment in the west, the Lebombo range in the in which they occur, as to compile general ecological east, by the Sabie river in the north and the Komati data essential to further research work on the and Black Umbuluzi rivers in the south. -
Initiation Africa! with Victoria More and Sarah Nisse Mpumalanga Province, South Africa November 6 –18, 2018 Are You Ready to Embrace These Powers with Me?
Initiation Africa! With Victoria More and Sarah Nisse Mpumalanga Province, South Africa November 6 –18, 2018 Are You Ready to Embrace these powers with me? In early 2015 I received a call from Spirit. This call was in the form of an ever growing craving in my soul, a yearning to "just go" without knowing where the funds were coming from or how the journey would unfold. This call was asking me to embark on a journey to a continent I had only ever dreamed of stepping foot on — Africa. Within months, the Universe worked its magic and before I knew it I was on a plane to a very sacred and powerful place: the base of the Nilotic Meridian in South Africa. Upon stepping on her soil, I sobbed. At the time I could not identify all of the feelings and magic flowing through me, but I knew that this wondrous land was full of enchanting powers and miraculous events. I was home. I was finally in my Soul's Place. I immersed in the energy of this Mother Land for 10 days. Each day held a different initiation, a thinning of the veil, and a breakdown of all I thought I had ever "known" as it now transformed into what I always knew: that this was the place which merged the frequencies of Heaven and Earth. During those 10 days I was approached by group of beings, whom I have dubbed "The Creationaries". They showed me my work in Africa, they showed me that I would be bringing people there to REMEMBER their true power and connection to the universe. -
Ecostatus of the Crocodile River Catchment, Inkomati River System
33FRECOSTATUS OF THE CROCODILE RIVER CATCHMENT, INKOMATI RIVER SYSTEM Submitted to: INKOMATI CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AGENCY Compiled by: MPUMALANGA TOURISM AND PARKS AGENCY Scientific Services: Aquatic & Herpetology Contributors: CJ Kleynhans (DWA); C Thirion (DWA); F Roux (MTPA); A Hoffmann (MTPA); H Marais (MTPA); G Diedericks (Environmental Biomonitoring); Editors: Francois Roux and Marcus Selepe Date: December 2013 Eco-status of the Crocodile River Catchments, Incomati River System Acknowledgements Technical contributions: • Dr Neels Kleynhans (RQS - DWA) • Christa Thirion (RQS - DWA) • Dr Andrew Deacon (SANParks) • Hendrik Sithole (SANParks) • Gerhard Diedericks (Environmental Biomonitoring) • Dr John Simaika (University of Stellenbosch) • MTPA Scientific Services Biomonitoring Team o Francois Roux o Andre Hoffmann o Hannes Marais o Ronell Niemand o Richard Similane o Heather Aspeling o Petrus Mapopha List of Abbreviations DWA - RQS = Department Water Affairs - Resource Quality Services FRAI = Fish Response Assessment Index GPS = Global Positioning System m a.s.l. = metres above sea level KNP = Kruger National Park MIRAI = Macro-invertebrate Response Assessment Index PES = Present Ecological State RHP = River Health Programme SASS5 = South African Scoring System, Version 5 SQ = Subquatenary SQR = Subquatenary River September 2013 2 Eco-status of the Crocodile River Catchments, Incomati River System 1. INTRODUCTION The ICMA appointed the MTPA as service provider to conduct biomonitoring within the Crocodile River catchment on the 2012/2013 budget to determine the Present Ecostatus of this river system. Biomonitoring in the Crocodile River was conducted during 2012/2013, with the last formal biomonitoring on the Crocodile River last being conducted during 1998 (Hill et.al. (WRC report no.850/2/01)). During the 2012/13 survey fifty-seven sites were sampled in the Crocodile River and its tributaries, including the Elands River, Houtbosloop, Lunsklip, Alex’s se loop, Noord Kaap, Suid Kaap and Queens Rivers (Figure 1). -
Phase 1 HIA for the Farm Boerlands, Barberton
SPECIALIST REPORT PHASE 1 ARCHAEOLOGICAL / HERITAGE IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR THE CLEARANCE OF VEGETATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF MACADAMIA FARMING ON PORTION 3 OF THE FARM BOERLANDS 631JT, BARBERTON CITY OF MBOMBELA, MPUMALANGA PROVINCE REPORT COMPILED FOR CORE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES Ms. ANNE-MARI WHITE Cell: 0608781591 / e-mail: [email protected] MAY 2020 ADANSONIA HERITAGE CONSULTANTS ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHERN AFRICAN PROFESSIONAL ARCHAEOLOGISTS C. VAN WYK ROWE E-MAIL: [email protected] Tel: 0828719553 / Fax: 0867151639 P.O. BOX 75, PILGRIM'S REST, 1290 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A Phase 1 Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) regarding archaeological and other cultural heritage resources was conducted on the footprint for the proposed agricultural development on portion 3 of the farm BOERLANDS 631JT, Barberton. The study area is located approximately 15 km west of the town of Barberton, on the R38 provincial route. Topographical images of 1968 and 1984 indicate the footprint of the proposed site (maps 1:50 000, 2530 DD). This area falls under the jurisdictions of the Ehlanzeni District Municipality, and City of Mbombela local municipality, Mpumalanga Province. The National Heritage Resources Act, no 25 (1999), (NHRA), protects all heritage resources, which are classified as national estate. The NHRA stipulates that any person who intends to undertake a development, is subjected to the provisions of the Act. The applicant, MS TECK FARMING (Pty) Ltd in co-operation with CORE Environmental Services, is proposing the development of agricultural fields (macadamia) on 19.5ha of vegetation. The proposed study area is covered with invasive vegetation which restricted visibility. The specialist biodiversity report of AFRIKA ENVIRO & BIOLOGY, is of the opinion that the dominance by alien invasive vegetation on the study area is an indicator that the land was cultivated or afforested in the distant past. -
Sibiya BK 25493728.Pdf
Geo-environmental and physical risk associated with the derelict and ownerless gold mines from Transvaal- Drakensberg and Barberton Greenstone Belt Gold Fields, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa Bonginkosi Knowlege Sibiya orcid.org 0000-0002-5547-9974 Dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Masters of Science in Environmental Sciences at the North-West University Supervisor: Dr DM van Tonder Co-supervisor: Prof TC Davies Graduation July 2019 25493728 DECLARATION I, the undersigned, hereby declare that the work contained in this dissertation is my own original work and that I have not submitted in previously in its entirety or in part to any other university or intuition. Signature: Date: ii OPSOMMING Histories het myne ‘n slegte reputasie gehad vir die aanspreek van omgewings- en veiligheidskwessies tydens en na mynbou aktiwiteit. Myngebiede is gesluit sonder dat daar enige aksie onderneem is om die gebied te herstel met gevolg dat groot oop putte, ongeseëlde skagte gevul met water, verspreide besoedeling, en verlate slikdamme. Die huidige navorsing het deel gevorm van die groter nasionale projek wat gefokus het op die beoordeling van omgewings- en fisiese risiko's wat verband hou met verlate en eienaarlose myne van alle kommoditeite. Goudmyne van twee geologiese eenhede naamlik; die Barberton Greenstone Belt en die Transvaalse Drakensberg Gold Field is gekies vir die studie as 'n streeksbenadering in risiko-gradering van verlate myne uit hierdie goudvelde vir rehabilitasie prioritisering. Die primêre doel van hierdie studie was om die potensiële omgewings, openbare veiligheids, en gesondheids gevare wat deur die verlate en eienaarlose myne van die Barberton Greenstone Belt en die Transvaalse Drakensberg-goudveld gelei het, te identifiseer en te vergelyk. -
Mpumalanga Destination Guide
Mpumalanga Destination Guide Overview of Mpumalanga Mpumalanga Province is rich in wildlife, culture, pioneer history, and natural beauty. Situated in the east of the country, it borders Swaziland and Mozambique and encompasses the southern section of the world-renowned Kruger National Park. Mpumalanga is 'Big Game Country', and the Lowveld is the setting for dozens of private game reserves and luxury lodges that abound in bird and animal life. Nelspruit is the capital and gateway to the province. Situated two hundred miles (325km) east of Johannesburg, it is South Africa's fastest growing city and has a vibrant CBD. Although not much of a tourist attraction in itself, Nelspruit is situated in the heart of a region rich in natural attractions, which makes it a favourite jumping off point for exploring the Lowveld area. The city's train station and airport welcome travellers several times a day, most of whom are en route to the Kruger National Park, whose southern Malelane Gate is about 40 miles (63km) from Nelspruit. It is not only those interested in safaris that come to Mpumalanga, however. Besides wonderful opportunities for bird watching and game viewing, the area is also scenically beautiful, with its mountains, valleys, waterfalls, canyons, and panoramic passes spread across the region. Mpumalanga's lack of development means more space for its natural finery, which is particularly evident along the scenic meander known as the Panorama Route that takes in spectacular sights along the eastern slopes of the escarpment. Key Facts Language: South Africa has 11 official languages, including Afrikaans, English, Xhosa, Zulu, and Sotho. -
Pollution Impacts on the Aquatic Ecosystems of the Kruger National Park, South Africa
Scientific African 6 (2019) e00195 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Scientific African journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/sciaf Pollution impacts on the aquatic ecosystems of the Kruger National Park, South Africa ∗ Eddie S. Riddell a,b, , Danny Govender a,c, Judith Botha a, Hendrik Sithole a, Robin M. Petersen a, Purvance Shikwambana a a South African National Parks, Kruger National Park, Skukuza, South Africa b Centre for Water Resources Research, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa c Department of Paraclinical Sciences, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t Article history: The Kruger National Park (KNP) is a savanna ecosystem situated in the middle reaches of Received 17 January 2019 five large, dynamic and biologically diverse transboundary river systems. The KNP has been Revised 20 August 2019 at the forefront of applied river ecosystems research for over 30 years. Meanwhile each of Accepted 9 October 2019 its rivers has a unique set of challenges from both a river flow and water quality manage- ment perspective. These have often arisen from anthropogenic changes in the catchments Keywords: of the park. The resultant challenges give rise to an array of effects that bear upon the Rivers parks’ ability to maintain the viability of aquatic ecosystems in a large and bio-diverse Diffuse pollution landscape. Crocodiles This paper sets the scene through a synopsis of the investments made by the KNP to Sediments improve river management practices and the present status-quo of these aquatic systems. -
State of the Rivers Report Obtainable From
State of the Rivers Report Obtainable from: Water Research Commission PO Box 824 PRETORIA 0001 ISBN: 1 86845 689 7 Printed in the Republic of South Africa Disclaimer This report has been reviewed by the Water Research Commission (WRC) and approved for publication. Approval does not signify that the contents necessarily reflect the views and policies of the WRC, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use. r State of the Rivers Report Crocodile, Sahie-Stznd & Olifants River Systems A report of the River Health Programme http://www.csir.co.za/rhp/ WRC Report No, IT 147/01 March 2001 Participating Organisations ami Programmes Department ofWater Affairs and forestry Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Water Research Commission CSIR Etivironmentek Mpumatanga Parks Hoard Krtiger \ational Park Working for Water Programme (Atpitma/anga) Biomonitoring Serrices Steering Group Steve Mitchell Henk van Vliet Rudi Pretorius Alison I low man Joban de Beer Editorial Team Anna Balhince Liesl Hill Dirk Roux Mike Silherhauer Wilma Strydom Technical Contributions Andrew Deacon Gerhard Diedericks Joban Fngelbrecht Neels K/eynhaus Anton Linstrb'm Tony Poulter Francois Roux Christa Thirion Photographs Allan Batcl.wtor Andrew Deacon Anuelise (,'erher Neels Kleynhans Liesl Hill Johann Mey Dirk Roux loretta Steyn Wilma Strydom F.rnita van Wyk Design Loretta Steyn Graphic Design Studio Contents The Hirer Health Programme 7 A new Witter Act for South Africa 2 An Overview of the Study Area 4 River Indicators and Indices 6 Indices in this Report 8 The Crocodile River System Ecoregions and River Characteristics . 10 Present Ecological State 12 Drirers <>t Eco/miii/i/ Ch/un'i' 14 Desired Ecological State 16 The Sabie-Sand River System Ecoregions and River Characteristics .