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High flows in the downstream of Vanderkloof Dam

Modder River

River Health Programme Context of this Report Contents

The River Health Programme 2 Contributing Indices and Categories 4 Organisations This report is based on the findings of surveys of river systems in History of the 6 the central region of . These surveys, which took The River Health Programme in the Free State 8 Department of Water Affairs and place from 2000 to 2003, were part of the implementation of the Forestry (DWAF) Organisational Arrangements 10 River Health Programme in the Free State and . Department of Environmental Affairs Overview of the Study Area 12 and Tourism (DEAT) Signatures of River Biodiversity 15 Water Research Commission (WRC) The surveys extended beyond provincial boundaries to certain Ecoregion Characteristics 16 Departmentof Tourism, Environmental and adjoining sub-ccatchments of the Orange-VVaal system. An SUMMARY 18 Economic Affairs - Free State (DTEEA) exception is the southern catchment. These highly- SUMMARY (CONTINUED) 20 University of Free State, Centre for Rivers Environmental Management (CEM) polluted streams are the subject of a separate study (see the River Upper Vaal Catchment 22 Bloem Water Health Programme poster, Ecolo Sout Vaal, Harts & Skoonspruit Catchments 24 gical hern G State auten ). of g Vals & Renoster Catchments 26 Sedibeng Water Sand & Vet Catchments 28 CSIR Environmentek This report describes in some detail the organisational partnerships Modder & Riet Catchments 30 that have driven and sustained river biomonitoring activities at the Orange, Caledon & Kraai Catchments 32 provincial level since 1996. The Free State team relies heavily on Contributors Water Quality and Algae 34 shared responsibility and effective partnerships to achieve river Vleis & Pans 36 health objectives for all major rivers across a very large study area. Marinda Avenant Glossary 38 Organisational networking and collaboration are gaining importance Charles Barker Further Reading 39 Nacelle Collins as we move towards more devolved and co-ooperative river resource Pierre de Villiers Highlights, Challenges & Opportunities 40 Johann du Preez management, and this document includes an assessment of how Willem Grobler Thomas Gyedu-Ababio organisational arrangements support joint river health goals. Ntombi Hoohlo Cebo Mhlongo Israel Ngakantsi Jan Roos Maitland Seaman Charles Sekwele Mike Silberbauer Jurgen Streit Wilma Strydom Stephan van der Walt Ernita van Wyk Gerda Venter Dineke Vink Marie Watson Suggested citation: River Health Programme (2003). State-of-Rivers Report: Free State Reviewers: Region River Systems. Pete Ashton Department of Water Affairs and Forestry John Dini Pretoria Liesl Hill Neels Kleynhans ISBN No: 0-620-31794-9 Uli Looser Bonani Madikizela Harrison Pienaar Rudi Pretorius Dirk Roux Christa Thirion MARCH 2004 The River Health Programme

In 1994, DWAF launched the River Health Programme (RHP) to gather information on the health State-oof-RRivers Reporting of South Africa's river systems. Background Continuous monitoring of our river The central objective of South Africa's State-of-Rivers (SoR) reports are a systems and State-of-River reports on water policy is the equitable, efficient component of State of the Environment changes in their health, track our and sustainable use of our water (SOE) reporting, promoted at the United The Department of Water Affairs progress toward river health goals. resources. The National Water Act Nations Conference on Environment & (NWA), Act 36 of 1998, recognises that Development (UNCED) in Rio de and Forestry (DWAF) is the The RHP has built on the SOE experience Although DWAF guides the RHP, the the best way to achieve this is to Janeiro in 1992, as an improved source custodian of all water resources and has developed methods for programme is a co-operative venture manage aquatic (including of environmental information for providing information on the in South Africa. This makes with participants from many government rivers) at the catchment scale and decision-making. ecoqlogical state of rivers to help with DWAF responsible for the care and non-government organisations: through joint participation by all inter- environmental decision-making. The DEAT, WRC, DWAF Regions, provincial ested parties. The RHP supports this The NEMA is currently being revised to and management of water SoR process monitors rivers, then government departments, universities, management process by providing the include, amongst other amendments, a resources to ensure sustainable packages and disseminates infor- conservation agencies, private sector river health information needed by requirement for formal State of the social and economic devel- mation on river health to managers organisations, etc. managers and the participating public Environment assessment and reporting. and decision-makers. In this way, the opment. to make decisions. SOE reports RHP provides ecologically sound A river's ability to continue providing - provide information for better decision- management information while also goods and services depends on making regarding sustainable devel- informing and educating people informed and effective river opment about the health and importance of their rivers. State of Environment reports management. The requirements for - compare environmental performances sustainable use and development of of different areas answer questions such as: rivers include an understanding of river River Health information appears in an - increase public awareness of health, knowledge of the causes of accessible report format (such as this environment and development issues document) or in a more condensed - What changes are taking place deterioration, and information about in the condition and functioning areas of sustained utilisation and - empower individuals and organisations poster form. Eventually the RHP will unacceptable deterioration. This to improve their environment and cover all South Africa's major river of the environment? knowledge is required to set goals and quality of life for themselves and future systems. The RHP will also revisit rivers generations to decide on management actions to periodically in order to provide infor- - What is causing these changes? achieve desired river health states. mation on long-term trends in the SOE reports use the 'Driving-Force- health of river systems. - What are the consequences of Pressure-State-Impact-Response' framework. This describes the human This report is the sixth in the State-of- these changes? RHP activities and outputs are strongly activities which create pressures on the Rivers series. Previous reports and aligned with national legislation, because environment, the current state and more information can be found on - What is our response and are the NWA requires the estabishment of trends in environmental conditions, the the RHP web page our actions effective? monitoring systems including the consequences for sustainability and http://www.csir.co.za/rhp/. monitoring of aquatic health. human livelihoods, and the policies and - What more can we do to improve The RHP monitoring results, in turn, actions in place to manage the the environment including river support other legal principles contained environment. This way of presenting health and, therefore,the quality in the National Water Act and the information is comprehensive and easy National Environmental Management to understand, especially if specific and flow of aquatic goods and Act (NEMA), Act 107 0f 1998. For indicators are used to measure changes services from which people example, RHP results provide evidence of in pressures, states and responses. benefit? environmental degradation where this may occur. 2 3 Indices and Categories

What are River Health Method used to categorise the study area. More details on the Each of the river health categories Indices? our rivers ecoregion classification system can be (below) is associated with a level of South African Scoring found on p 16. ecosystem health. The ecosystem health is linked to the potential of a river system Many physical, chemical and System (SASS) Once river health indices are measured, The results obtained by applying the to offer a particular range of goods and biological factors influence river they need to be interpreted within a biological and habitat indices during services. A ‘fair’ or ‘poor’ river may have ecosystem health, e.g. geomor- Geomorphological Aquatic (e.g. insects, framework that allows comparison of river surveys provide the information lost its potential for most of the uses, e.g. phology, hydrological and Index (GI) mussels, snails, crabs, worms) require the health of monitoring sites and even that determines the health of the river. tourism, conservation and even agriculture. It might, however be hydraulic regimes, water quality, specific habitats and water quality condi- river systems. An ecoregion classification For standardisation purposes that will tions for at least part of their life cycle. system was used to delineate ecological also allow for comparison of the health acceptable for a river to be ‘fair’ if a Geomorphological processes determine in-stream and riparian habitats Changes in community boundaries that allow grouping and of different river systems, a river health higher socio-economic return is deemed the size and shape of river channels, and a host of biological composition and structure reflect comparison of the river systems within categorisation is used. more important than the loss of some which in turn determine the diversity changes in river conditions. uses. This trade-off should be agreed processes. For practical purposes, and quality of habitats for aquatic biota. Invertebrates are good indicators of upon by all involved stakeholders as the RHP focuses on selected The geomorphological index assesses recent localised conditions in a river. long as sustainable use is not compro- ecological indicator groups that the channel condition and channel SASS is a relatively simple index, based mised. stability. Channel condition is based on A monitoring team identify are representative of the larger on invertebrate families found at a site. ecosystem and are feasible to the channel impacts evident in a river in order to obtain a reach, e.g. weirs, bridges or dams, and FAII score, which is one measure. Complex data that are the type of channel, e.g. bedrock or of the indices of river collected for each indicator group alluvial. Channel stability is based on the health. can be summarised and potential for erosion of the river banks expressed in a format that is easy and bed. River Health Categories to understand. The following Fish Assemblage indices were used to assess the Integrity Index (FAII) health of the rivers of the Central Region of South Africa: Fish are good indicators of long-term influences on a river reach and the The present health of a river is a Riparian Vegetation general habitat conditions within the measure of the present ecological state Index (RVI) reach. The number of fish of the river during the time of the survey The Habitat Integrity team (indigenous or alien), the different size and is presented in terms of the river ready for takeoff. Healthy riparian zones maintain the classes and the health of fish, are all health categories given below. form of the river channel and serve as indicators of river health. The FAII is an filters for sediment, nutrients and light. expression of the degree to which a fish The desired health of a river is an indication of the envisioned future Plant material from the is assemblage deviates from its undis- Index of Habitat an important source of food for aquatic turbed condition. The FAII was adapted ecological state of the river and is based Integrity (IHI) fauna. The structure and function of to make it applicable to rivers with low on ecological considerations, the need riparian vegetation is altered when fish diversities, as in the Free State. for sustainable development and management actions. The availability and diversity of habitats vegetation removal, cultivation, are major determinants of the biota that construction, inundation, erosion, will be found in a specific ecosystem. sedimentation and alien vegetation River Health Knowledge of habitat quality is occur within or close to the riparian Category Ecological Perspective Management Perspective important in an overall assessment of zone. RVI is a measure of the degree of ecosystem health. The IHI assesses the modification of the riparian zone from Natural No or negligible modification Relatively little human impact impact of disturbances such as water its natural state. N abstraction, flow regulation and river Good Some human-related disturbance but channel modification on the riparian G Biodiversity and integrity largely intact ecosystems essentially in good state zone and in-stream habitats. The IHI icon shows the river and river bank which Fair Sensitive species may be lost, withtolerant or opportunistic Multiple disturbances associated with theneed are colour-coded according to the state F species dominating for socio-economic development of the in-stream and riparian habitat, Poor Mostly only tolerant species present; alien species invasion; High human densities or extensive respectively. P disrupted population dynamics; species are often diseased resource exploitation 4 5 History of the Free State

until 1868 when Britain took control of Rivers and History in the Free Rivers have been the sites of bloody conflict Basotuland () and fixed the Caledon State region over land, of symbolic escapes from River as the official border. The second conflict oppression and of conventions to agree on was with the at Thaba Nchu, a fairer dispensation. which the Oranje Vrij Staat annexed in 1884. For thousands of years, the only human Curiously, this area became nominally occupants of the region were hunter- independent under the laws of the gatherers such as the San. In the last mid-20th century before being re-integrated millennium or so, Khoikhoi nomadic herders into the present-day Free State province . arrived on the scene. Neither group left much QwaQwa, a tiny former non-independent Dam in - 1899 of an imprint on their environment. black state lying in the headwaters of the , on the Lesotho border, never The tranquillity of this rural backwater was formally separated from the . rudely interrupted in the 19th century by tragic inter-tribal warfare and the arrival of The natural borders to the west would logically Voortrekker farmers trying to escape British have followed the Vaal and Orange Rivers to rule. Looked at dispassionately from a distance their confluence were it not for the discovery of two centuries, the Difaqane and the Great of vast quantities of diamonds in what soon Trek were simply products of population became the mining town, Kimberley. Suddenly, pressure elsewhere in Africa and Europe, everyone who was anyone had always had an which radically changed the demographics of interest in the area and British Lieutenant- Governor Keate, called in to arbitrate, fixed the the region. The Free State coat of arms neatly encap- border about 1° of longitude east of the sulates the natural, economic and political confluence. Later, the British government Voortrekkers crossed the Orange River into history of the province, and the motto admitted that it had not played fair and "Transorangia" during the mid-1830s, Katleho ka kopano (success through unity) granted the Oranje Vrij Staat £80 000 in eventually meeting up on the in carries a hopeful message for a future compensation for the land annexed. 1837 to decide on a form of constitution or without conflict. Of particular interest is the modus operandi. They then spread out again, Orange River lily in the centre, the riverine In 1900 Britain again annexed the area, this some settling briefly in part of what is now wetland plant Crinum bulbispermum. The time as the Orange River Colony, and in 1910 KwaZulu-Natal, until the British annexed their base of the coat of arms symbolises the flat it became one of the four provinces of the Church Street bridge across Bloemspruit, Bloemfontein - 1904 fledgling republic in 1843. Many returned to landscape while the background to the lily Union of South Africa. Farming, particularly of during flood Transorangia, only to see Britain annex it in consists of three Karoo koppies. Note also maize, took off in earnest in the 1930s. The 1848 as the Orange River Sovereignty. Four the diamonds, mealies (maize) and wheat Vaal-Harts irrigation scheme north of the Free years later, the British government relented in the crown. and at the Convention recognised State, a large poverty-relief irrigation scheme, the independence of the trekkers north of the began at this time. After the Second World (the Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek), War, gold mining at and Virginia and in 1854 allowed the "Transorangians" to became an important part of the economy, form the Oranje Vrij Staat. also requiring the movement of water across catchment boundaries. In the 1970s Gariep The Vaal River formed the northern boundary Dam (then called Hendrik Verwoerd) was the of the new state and the Vaal's eastern Klip first of the structures built to provide water River tributary became the northeastern border security for irrigation on a grand scale. It was with the Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek. In 1861 followed by Vanderkloof Dam downstream the Griquas living between the Riet and (formerly P.K. le Roux Dam). During the 1990s Orange Rivers migrated southeast of Lesotho on the Senqu River headwaters of and the Orange River became the southern the Orange River, in Lesotho, began diverting border. The southeastern borders of the water to the for use in Gauteng. Oranje Vrij Staat were only resolved after two bitter conflicts. The first was with the Sotho In 1994, the Free State became one of the people, and the frontier shifted back and forth nine new provinces of South Africa, with its Modder River at Glen - 1915 The Orange River in flood - 1898 borders virtually unchanged.

6 7 Skoonspruit: DWAF regional & DTEEA Renoster River: DTEEA Achievements Goals Achievements Goals IHI assessment To extend programme to include Mooi River IHI assessment To identify partners for river The RHP in the Free State completed. SASS other indices, such as the RVI, AchievementsGoals completed. biomonitoring and management and FAII biomoni- GI, etc. None To develop a and design more structured toring ongoing. State-of-Rivers brochure by combined program approach to biomonitoring routine. Aerial video of December 2006, with focus on with the North West river completed. abstraction. River Health History of the RHP in Programme The CEM was also well positioned for the Free State implementation action and they put together a team of aquatic specialists to : DWAF regional & DTEEA Achievements Goals During the early part of 1996, a group of take on the monitoring of selected Upper Vaal & Klip Rivers: Rand Water IHI assessment To extend programme to Achievements Goals stakeholders met to discuss the launch rivers. Their expertise includes diverse completed. SASS include other indices (RVI, Harts River: CEM & Sedibeng Water Awareness of the role of To produce State-of-Rivers and GI, etc.). To test the use of and development of the River Health fields such as geomorphology, riparian Achievements Goals FAII biomoni- bio-monitoring at booklet; to incorporate other artificial substrates for SASS Programme in the Free State. This group vegetation, nutrients, algae, invertebrates, Full biomoni- To incorporate River Health toring ongoing. partners (esp. mines and industry) and to link river health results catchment forum level toring results into Sedibeng to strengthen collaborative included the Department of Tourism, fish and analytical chemistry. explicitly to point-source and high-level Rand programme Water’s Environmental monitoring strategy and to make pollution impacts (e.g. fish Water resource Environmental and Economic Affairs and database Management system. the benefits of biomonitoring kills at ) commitment (ongoing (DTEEA), DWAF regional, the Centre for The RHP participants in the Free State in place. To strengthen the . budget and program) for explicit to partners. Develop Environmental Management (CEM) at the have interacted to form a dynamic and monitoring network. river biomonitoring. biomonitoring strategy for Klip University of the Free State, Rand Water, committed implementation team with River. Bloem Water and the Departments of a vision for improving river health. Vaal River: DWAF regional and DTEEA Agriculture, Health, Housing and Education. Achievements Goals Wilge, Elands, Ash River & They listed the rivers in the Free State and Today, approximately eight years after Preliminary IHI To extend programme and Liebenbergsvlei: Rand Water prioritised them for biomonitoring. the inception of the RHP in the Free assessment to include other indices, Achievements Goals State, the team can boast established completed. SASS such as RVI, GI, etc. To Impacts of KatseTo develop a strategy for Biomonitoring started promptly, with and growing databases for most of and FAII biomoni- encourage the formation transfer shown biomonitoring of river DWAF, DTEEA and Rand Water toring ongoing. and strengthening of with biomoni- tributaries and describing the major rivers in the region, as well partnerships in co- toring. IHI impacts of increased flows focussing on SASS and fish monitoring. as numerous formalised partnerships. ordinated fashion, e.g. assessment of during the dry season. with mines, for strength- Wilge River To develop partnerships ening the monitoring completed. with industry. network.

Key drivers of success Namahadi River: CEM & Sedibeng Water Achievements Goals Sound biomoni- To incorporate Namahadi toring protocol and biomonitoring results into The operating model database in place. Sedibeng Water’s they have been able to achieve much organisation has led Environmental Management each participating plan. The Free State team included all the more collectively than they would have activities in its designated rivers and major rivers in the province in the individually. DWAF (Free State region), supported active collaboration. The monitoring programme. Each partici- provincial DTEEA, Rand Water and the seamless leadership shared by DTEEA pating organisation took responsibility CEM together chose sampling sites, set and DWAF regional makes for a formi- Sand & Vet Rivers: DWAF regional & DTEEA for one or more rivers. up methodologies and apportioned dable provincial co-ordinating team. At Achievements Goals responsibility for monitoring different all levels, leaders promote collaboration, IHI assessment To strengthen biomonitoring The choice of this model meant that a catchments. Bloem Water has been open-mindedness, constructive completed for the Sand capacity and partnerships via Modder and Riet Rivers: CEM & Bloem Water River. Biomonitoring high degree of awareness biomonitoring exercise for the entire farsighted in the funding of biomoni- discussion, joint leadership and respect Achievements Goals capacity built in created by catchment forum province's rivers would require careful toring by the CEM in the southern Free for others' perspectives. They build and State-of-Rivers poster To strengthen partnership with Sedibeng Water activity. allocation of responsibility followed by State and the Bloem Water Chair of support the relationships that provide 2002. Full biomoni- Mangaung Municipality and incor- Water Environmental Management in impetus for a joint river health implemen- toring programme andporation of RHP indicators into committed and sustained action. Each database in place. IHI municipal State of Environment participating institution acknowledged the CEM. Partnerships like this have tation process. assessment completed. Report by close of 2004. their common interest and the need to been the key to the success of the river Caledon River: CEM & Bloem Water Achievements Goals health monitoring in the Free State. Without this approach, the chosen work together, making effective use of Aerial video and To expand biomonitoring to existing capacity in support of a united operating model, with different organisa- IHI assessment include SASS and fish. tions monitoring different rivers, may not completed. To strengthen partnership with provincial initiative. Appropriate leadership Orange & Kraai Rivers: DWAF Regional & DTEEA have worked. The Free State team's firm Bloem Water and extend to Achievements Goals include Naledi Municipality. The team therefore chose an operating River health champions operate at belief in the benefits of healthy rivers has Aerial video and IHI To develop a broadbase monitoring model to match their collective vision as various levels using a variety of strengthened voluntary participation and assessment completedprogramme for the Orange and Kraai rivers. To leadership styles. Provincial DWAF and co-operation and it provides the tenacity for Orange River. produce a State-of-Rivers report by December well as to accommodate the objectives 2005. To encourage closer collaboration with and energy required to sustain an imple- Biomonitoring sites of each participating institution. The DTEEA strongly support the RHP have been identified. agricultural and tourism partners, especially for various organisations discovered that initiative, while at the operational level, mentation process over the long term. improved custodianship of near-pristine rivers such as the Kraai. 8 9 Our vision is a river biomonitoring programme in each river catchment; to identify impacted Organisational Arrangements river reaches; to address these impacts; to facilitate the development of improved river River Health management strategies, empowered by the philosophy of Awareness River Health Programme (schools, NGOs, other shared responsibility. DWAF VISION (extract) Free State The Free State Team and interest groups) Their Vision To serve people by: Conserving, managing and Educating the people of Co-operating with all spheres of developing water resources in a South Africa on ways to government, in order to achieve Free State River Health Champion Northern Cape The Provincial Department of Tourism, scientific and environmentally manage, conserve and the best and most integrated National River Health Dept. of Tourism, Environmental and conservation sustainable manner to meet sustain our water resources. development in our country and Coordination Economic Affairs (DTEEA) Environmental and Economic Affairs social and economic needs in our region. (DTEEA) leads the River Health (DWAF, DEAT, WRC) Programme in the province, with support in decision-mmaking and DWAF Regional monitoring activities from the regional RIVER HEALTH PROGRAMME VISION (extract) National National Office Private Corporate DWAF office, the University of the Free DEAT DWAF Sector State and three Water Boards: Bloem To monitor, assess and report on the ecological state of our river systems in an objective and scientifically sound manner. Water, Rand Water and Sedibeng Agriculture Water. However, many more players, State-of-Rivers State-of-Rivers reporting: Biomonitoring infor- To support the devel- Research Institutions reporting: to assist to inform and educate mation supports opment of teams and at different levels of governance, UFS - Centre for Environmental ecologically sound South Africans about the selected legal governance structures Future Catchment Management Mining contribute to the programme. The management of rivers state of our rivers and the principles of the required for effective to deliver an optimal importance of wise use NEMA and the and co-operative river Management Agencies success of the programme in the Free range of goods and and management of river NWA. resource management. State is based on the realisation that services to society. resources. Industry participants are collectively responsible Water Boards/ for the sustainable management and Water User Associations utilisation of natural resources. This Energy Bloem Water synergy is apparent in the diagram on FREE STATE RIVER HEALTH VISION the facing page. Rand Water To develop, maintain, assess and customise a river biomonitoring programme Municipalities (SoE & IDP) in each river catchment with the aim of identifying impacted river reaches The diagram on the right shows how and addressing these impacts by facilitating the development of improved river Sedibeng Water the Free State River Health Vision management strategies, empowered by the philosophy of shared responsibility interacts with the visions of the River and the concept of buying into the strategy by all role players. Health Programme and the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry.

VISIONING The RHP and Governance

Reflection & Review The resource manager's day-to-day tasks River management is necessarily complex, health. The effective management of river Governance is the process whereby are influenced by a collection of interac- so several institutions need to interact in resources requires co-operation between individuals and institutions within tions with operations management, order to reach appropriate decisions. role players, because of diverse and society, both public and private, manage policy development, regulation, Governance of a shared resource implies conflicting interests; therefore it becomes Adaptive Goals & Objectives their common concerns. In the context allocation, resource user preferences, that each participant needs to understand almost impossible for any one organisation Auditing Management of biomonitoring and river auditing, law enforcement and all the and respect the others' interests, in order to achieve its river management goals by management, a governance framework related institutions responsible for to manage their collective interest in river working in isolation. The adaptive river Cycle helps all participants manage their executing these activities. These institu- health. resource management process aims to Strategy, Logistics & Plans common river health concerns effec- tions range from national government bring this diversity together - to build a tively. It defines the rules of resource to provincial DWAF and DTEEA, local Governance is a people-centred process shared vision and to design management Monitoring & Reporting management, the entities that control government, catchment management and is essentially about relationships and monitoring strategies that support the these rules, and the relationships forums, agriculture, mining, business, between individuals and institutions that achievement of that vision. between them. water user associations and individuals. have common goals relating to river Management Actions 10 11 Overview of the Study Area Land-uuse l aa South Africa Rural V K Small nature reserves, including private game lip Terrain reserves and conservancies, mostly about 10 to 100 km2, are scattered throughout the study W s t i r l area, often close to or around major dams. a g H e The study area comprises the upper or The upper Wilge catchment, between Clarens Vaal Dam eastern one-third of the Orange-Vaal al and , mainly within the Va Dihlabeng Local Municipality, attracts many drainage basin. While the landscape is Modder mostly flat, lying between 1000 and tourists from within South Africa and abroad. The 1500 metres in elevation, many unusual landscape consists of basalt and Bloemfontein tributaries originate at altitudes of Kroonstad sandstone cliffs contrasting with the rolling nearly 3000 metres in the foothills. The 18000-hectare nature reserve offers hiking, watersport and fishing LESOTHO highlands. The s rt a study area completely contains H and the Qwa Qwa nature park includes the Basotho O Sterkfontein Dam Cultural Village. The Golden Gate Highlands National ra the Free State province, and n g incorporates portions of Gauteng, Park conserves the habitat of many species, including e Kimberley Rivers , North-West the rare bearded vulture (lammergeier) and bald ibis, Modder Dams Province, the Northern Cape and the Cape vulture and eland. Golden Gate and Qwa Grassland the . The Kingdom Bloemfontein Qwa parks are merging into a single national park, Degraded land of Lesotho appears on the map Katse Dam eventually to become part of a more than 5000- Shrubland and low fynbos for completeness, because it is square-kilometre Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Conservation Area incorporating the highest Thicket and bushland the source of much of the LESOTHO mountains in . DEAT, DWAF and Rand Dryland crops runoff for the Orange-Vaal System. Senqu Water are all contributing to the upliftment of the area Irrigated crops through tourism, poverty relief and alien vegetation VOanderkloof Dam Urban areas The 2420-kilometre-long Orange River, also r clearance projects. a n Mines and quarries known as the Gariep, begins as the Senqu ge River at an altitude of 3 000 metres in the Maluti mountains of the Lesotho Highlands. Apart from a few coalmines, agriculture dominates From the Lesotho border to south of Kimberley, the land-use in the Klip River catchment, to the Social profile Economic profile detriment of the wetlands. Seekoeivlei, a remnant it is the natural boundary between the Free Climate State and the Eastern and Northern Cape. of the Klip floodplain with its characteristic oxbows, is protected under the Ramsar agreement. It traverses the increasingly arid Karoo and Kalahari, forms the southern border of In the western portion of the study area, the The total population of the Free Mining, agriculture and manufac- Namibia and enters the Atlantic Ocean at The rainfall in the study area shows a landscape becomes flatter and dryer, covered with State is almost 3 million. Sesotho is turing drive the economy of the Alexander Bay, where its delta wetland is a which joins the Vaal River in Vaal Dam. marked east-west gradient, with annual grasslands and maize fields. Wheat and maize the dominant mother tongue study area. declared Ramsar site. The last 1250-kilometreTributaries of the Wilge River include the figures of 1000mm in Lesotho, 700mm farming dominates the central and northern (64%), followed by , stretch of the Orange receives no appre- Liebenbergsvlei and Namahadi rivers. The in the eastern Free State and 300mm in regions of the study area. Sheep, cattle and game isiXhosa, Setswana, isiZulu and Gold production dominates the ciable inflow from its tributaries. stretch of the Vaal River between Vaal Damthe west. Most precipitation occurs farming is popular in the southern and south- English. mining sector and the Free State and Bloemhof Dam receives water from during summer thunderstorms, while westerly regions. contributes almost a third of South The Vaal River and its tributaries drain aboutsouthern Gauteng’s polluted streams and snow sometimes occurs on the About half of the Free State Africa’s gold production. Large coal 20% of the Orange-Vaal basin. The source the Skoonspruit, Renoster and Vals rivers. mountains in the east. Frost is common Urban population has access to water- deposits in the northeast support of the main stem is near Breyten The Vet River joins the Vaal at Bloemhof during the cold winter nights. The largest urban agglomeration in the study area borne sanitation systems. Less than power generation and chemical (Mpumalanga) at 1770 metres and the mainDam. Further downstream, the Harts is Mangaung Local Municipality, comprising 10% of the population in the Wilge industries. tributaries originate near and flows in from the north and the Riet The evaporation gradient is the reverse of Bloemfontein (Free State provincial capital), Catchment have access to full Bethlehem along the Eastern Escarpment from the east. The Riet and its tributary, the the rainfall gradient, with rates of 1 300mm and Thaba Nchu. Most other large sanitation and clean water supply In the Free State, agriculture uses Mountains, where the annual rainfall is Modder, originate in the mountainous per year in the east, to 2 600mm per urban areas are associated with mineral systems. Almost 45% of the residents about 90% of the surface area. 700mm. The Vaal forms 775 kilometres of area south of Bloemfontein, at an altitude year in the west. exploitation. Kimberley (Northern Cape provincial in the greater Mangaung area have Except for the Bloemfontein, the northern border of the Free State, from of about 1500 metres. capital) is famous for the huge excavations during waterborne sanitation but 15% are Welkom and Kimberley (Northern Meyerville in the east to north of Kimberley The mean daily maximum temperature the diamond rush of the 1880s. Klerksdorp is the without any formal sanitation Cape) areas, where manufacturing in the west. Finally, 1425 kilometres from its River flow in this region is strongly in summer is 34°C and the mean daily gold mining centre of North-West and Welkom of system. and mining contributes significantly, source, it joins the Orange River. seasonal, with most runoff occurring minimum in winter is 0°C. In Bloemfontein, the Free State. Sasolburg and Secunda in the agriculture is the main contributor during the summer rains. The flat roughly in the centre of the area, the northeast are renowned for pioneering work in to the Gross Geographic Product of Tributaries of the upper Vaal include the gradient encourages the formation of summer average is 22°C and the winter the production of fuel and other chemical the study area. eastern Klip River and the Wilge River, pools, meanders and pans. average is 10°C with a range of –2 to 31°C. products from coal. 12 13 GAUTENG MPUMALANGA

M J Water Supply Development Priorities NORTH WEST K Signatures of River Biodiversity L B D Possible developments to ensure a reliable water supply along the Orange River include: The CSIR and DWAF have set up a Geomorphic Provinces of the Free State N national river conservation planning - Raising the Gariep Dam wall H KWAZULU- initiative to determine which rivers - Building a dam at Torquay, downstream of the FREE STATE F A NATAL should be selected to conserve South Vanderkloof Dam G Africa's freshwater biodiversity. The - Building a new Boegoeberg Dam, near the existing dam initiative includes the development of - Building a dam at Vioolsdrift C E LESOTHO policy and a systematic planning tool for Ghaap Plateau The catchments downstream of Vanderkloof Dam are selecting and prioritising rivers. Karoo arid: even the inflow from the Vaal River is intermittent Lower Vaal NORTHERN CAPE and unreliable because of activities in the Vaal catchment. Principles of conservation planning include and Orange - underlain by flat-lying Valleys Any damming and diversion of water must therefore connectivity, representivity, complementarity sedimentary rocks of the occur in a well-planned manner, so as not to affect I and persistence of biodiversity features. Lesotho Highlands Karoo Supergroup development and the environment. DWAF should assess EASTERN CAPE - long periods of weath- the environmental flow requirements of major rivers in Systematic conservation planning uses ering and erosion have physical surrogates to describe biodiversity the Free State before building any additional dams. Karoo created gentle, multi-concave and delineate its spatial pattern. Two pediments, broad valleys, braided important physical surrogates used in South floodplains and flat, concave river Africa are hydrology and geomorphology. longitudinal profiles interrupted by The signatures for these are the hydro- Water transfers between river basins: Water transfers between river basins: how dolerite intrusions logical index and geomorphic provinces. economic necessity or ecological disaster? much and where? - large pans, some filled by groundwater, Geomorphic provinces others following the line of ancient river The population centres of South Africa have developed around areasThe Orange-Vaal system drains nearly half of South Africa. In Hydrological Index Geomorphic provinces signify areas of beds of mineral wealth and trade opportunity, rather than where fresh such a large area, we can distinguish between intra-basin The hydrological index is an index of hydro- similar landforms that reflect comparable - hydrological variability increases westwards water is readily available. Advanced engineering works have providedtransfer (between basins within the Orange-Vaal system) logical variability. A hydrological index close climatic, erosional and tectonic forces. a solution by tapping remote water sources, and inter-basin transfersand inter-basin transfer (into and out of the Orange-Vaal to 1 represents areas of low hydrological are now a feature of our modified hydrology: without them, our system). Intra-basin water moves around within the system Ghaap Plateau variability (commonly perennial rivers). An The Free State province is represented by current level of economic activity would be impossible. In addition, and inter-basin water is imported or exported. - remnant of the African erosion surface index of greater than 50 indicates semi-arid the five geomorphic provinces below. during times of drought, they can provide emergency assistance. That - underlain by dolomitic rock said, we must be aware that these systems have costs and impacts Note that water management in the Vaal is so tight that areas characterised by high variability beyond their construction, operation and maintenance, for example:only rare high flows ever reach the Orange. (periodic or ephemeral rivers). The Lesotho Highlands - low relief - rugged topography with deeply - sub-surface drainage The hydrological index for rivers in the incised valleys cut by the headwaters of - springs around the edge of the plateau - reduction in available water in the source basin Intra-basin transfers Free State ranges from 1 to 90. the Orange River result from karst weathering and ground- - disruption of flow patterns in source and receiving basins Transfer Volume* Main Purpose - river longitudinal profiles are steep, with water recharge - alteration of species composition in aquatic systems (may include more than (million cubic Hydrological Variability discontinuities at changes in rock type - very high hydrological variability - transfer of alien and indigenous species. one scheme) metres/year) - low hydrological variability A Lesotho-Vaal System 457 Urban** Low High For these reasons, the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry Highveld has guidelines for the transfer of water between catchments: B Vaal-Harts 419 Irrigation Lower Vaal and Orange Valleys - gentle undulating to flat topography C Orange-Riet 181 Irrigation - Vaal and Orange rivers re-incising and shallow, open valleys that reflect the - the national government controls inter-basin transfers D Vaal-Sand/Vet 59 Irrigation, urban their valleys following tectonic uplift African erosion surface the source catchment has priority for water provision - E Caledon-Modder 59 Urban during the Miocene and Pliocene - river longitudinal profiles are gentle, - transfers must confer an overall benefit F Riet-Vaal (at Douglas) 30 Irrigation - channels above and below the Vaal- stepped at dolerite sills - transfers must not disrupt environmental integrity G Orange-Vaal (at Douglas) 18 Irrigation Orange confluence are strongly - many rivers have well-developed - water use in source and receiving catchments must be efficient controlled by pre-Karoo valleys that meander belts - the receiving system cannot transferwater solely for the Inter-basin transfers influence present-day processes - frequent pans in western Free State Ecological Reserve H Western Thukela - Vaal 736 Pumped storage, urban - river longitudinal profiles are flat, with have created small, contiguous I Orange-Fish 575 Irrigation, urban - users must bear the costs of transferring water discontinuities at changes in rock type endorheic basins J Vaal-Crocodile (Limpopo) 514 Urban - users do not pay the source catchment unless it is outside the country. - well-preserved alluvial terraces contain - numerous dry valleys and gravel terraces K Assegaai-Vaal 63 Power station cooling important fossil and archaeological remains These requirements will often create conflict, and any inter-basin reflect ancient drainage lines (especially L Eastern Thukela - Vaal 55 Power station cooling along the right bank of the Vaal River) scheme is necessarily a compromise. To complicate matters, - low hydrological variability down to M Vaal-Olifants (Limpopo) 36 Power station cooling many of the existing systems were completed long before these Vaal-Orange confluence, greater - low hydrological variability Vaal-Molopo 4 Stock watering specifications came into effect. In such cases, management for N variability downstream - semi-arid optimal river health is even more difficult. * Approximate: volume varies according to year of reporting. ** Urban includes domestic and industrial use 14 15 Ecoregion Characteristics Vaal Dam

al Va Defining ecoregions is part of the process of classifying South Africa's river ecosystems according to broad similarities. The first level delineation of ecore- gions (Level 1) was derived from 3 000 terrain, vegetation, altitude, O r r an e rainfall, runoff variability, air v ge i R temperature, geology and soil e r g e n iv characteristics. DWAF is in the a R r aal process of subdividing Level 1 O V Gariep Dam ecoregions into more detailed Level II ecoregions. Vaal Dam Altitude (m) Gariep Dam For this report, the preliminary Orange-VVaal Confluence Level 1 classification groups river reaches into areas of broad Augrabies Falls Study Area ecological similarity. Since ecore- gions represent units of Atlantic Ocean ecological similarity they provide 0 0 1 200 River length (km) 2 400 convenient boundaries within which to select reference condi- tions, carry out ecological assess- 18. Ghaap Plateau 17. Southern Kalahari 14. Nama Karoo 7. Highveld 4. Great Escarpment ments and set goals for desired Mountains states of the river ecosystem. Landscape: Plains with low relief; hills with Landscape: Plains with low to moderate Landscape: Plains with low to moderate relief; Landscape: Plains and hills with low and Landscape: High and low mountains with moderate relief relief; hills with low and Hills with moderate to high relief moderate relief high relief Vegetation: Kalahari plateau bushveld moderate relief Vegetation: Nama karoo types Vegetation: Grasslands Vegetation: Mountain grassland types with (dominate) and Kalahari plains patches afromontane forest Vegetation: Kalahari bushveld types Altitude: 500 - 1 700 m Altitude: 1 100 - 2 100 m thorn bushveld Altitude: 300 - > 3 500 m Altitude: 700 - 1 900 m Rainfall Late to very late summer to winter Rainfall Early to late summer Altitude: 900 - 1 700 m Rainfall Early to very late summer Rainfall Late to very late summer MAP: 0 to 500 mm MAP: 400 to1 000 mm Rainfall Mid to very late summer MAP*: 300 to > 1 000 mm MAP: 0 to 500 mm MAR: <5 to 40 mm MAR: 5 to >250 mm MAP: 200 to 500 mm MAR: 20 to >250 mm MAR: <5 to 40 mm Temperature: -9 to 40ºC (mean annual 20 ºC) Temperature: -11 to 41ºC (mean annual 18ºC) MAR: <5 to 40 mm Temperature: -8 to 39ºC (mean annual 18ºC) Temperature: -8 to 41ºC (mean annual 19ºC) Geology: Mudstone, sandstone, tillite, Geology: Sandstone, quartzite, Temperature: -6 to 40ºC (mean annual 19ºC) Geology: Sand, sandstone, tillite, quartzite, quartzitic sand-stone, sand, mudstone, basalt and biotite Geology: Quartzite, quartzitic sandstone, Geology: Sand and quartzite schist and biotite granite quartzite, and schist granite. sandstone and mudstone Soils: Sand-loam and sand-clay- Soils: Loam-sand, sand-loam, sand- Soils: Sand-clay-loam, sand-clay, sand- Soils: Sand-clay-loam, clay, sand- Soils: Sand-clay-loam, sand-loam loam. clay-loam and sand-clay loam, clay-loam, andloam-sand clay, sand-loam, loam-sand and sand-clay * Includes snowfall

16 17 R C P S Desired health: i Desired health: e v r n e u e r t

r

F S s a - m F y F l e

s R t e e n g m Desired health: Desired health: G F m t i Fair Fair o s F F

- - n a F F -

2 o n 0 a f

0 d S P P 3 o r

u y D Fair Fair t h F F

Desired health:

e A Vaal f s r i

c

i

Orange r

a F tributaries Riet e

d Desired health: Desired health:

G Fair Modder

S t a P P F - - - PP PP PP PP P P F t F Desired health: F - Desired health: Desired health: Desired health: e - P P Fair Fair Desired health: 1 F 8 F F F F F

F Good F Fair Fair Fair Harts P P P Fair P P Desired health: P P - P P

F

ro Vet Groot Vet Fair

G G

li Vet Klein Desired health: P F Sand - Desired health: Desired health: - - G FF F Desired health: Desired health: Desired health: G P F Desired health: F Desired health: - - PP FF F F Good P P P P Fair Fair P F Good G Fair P P F Fair

Good P P P F

Fair

P Skoonspruit F Vals F Desired health: - FF FF P P - - FF FF Desired health: Desired health: Desired health: P P P Desired health: Desired health: Desired health: - - - F F FF FF Desired health: P - F F Fair P F G P Fair - P Fair Fair P F P P F Fair Fair Fair P Fair G P P F F Desired health: - F

F Desired health: -

FF FF

Caledon Renoster

P rneKraai Orange Desired health: Desired health: Desired health: P Fair P Desired health: P P Fair Imput from Southern Gauteng Desired health: Desired health: - - PP F G G F F - - - - G G P F FF 1 P 9

G Good PP F Klip Fair Fair Good F F Fair Fair

G

P

(Suikerbosrand)

Blesbokspruit Orange Liebenbergsvlei F Desired health: - F

Desired health:

As Wilge

P F Elands

F

Fair Namahadi Vaal G Klip Good P Desired health: Desired health: Desired health: Desired health: Desired health: G F - - GG G F - G FF P F Good Fair P Fair Fair Fair F Summary (continued)

What is the health of the rivers What can be done? in the Free State Region?

The overall health assessments of the Management actions related to the rivers in the Free State region catch- following are recommended: ments are fair to poor. Some of the upper reaches are good to fair, deterio- - Implement catchment management rating downstream as the impact of strategies human activities becomes more evident. - Manage and license water use Most of the rivers in the study area have - Combine and co-operate River Health no flow during the dry winter months. - Expand the biomonitoring capacity Programme initiatives within neigh- What are the consequences - Manage sewage works effectively and bouring provinces of poor river health? efficiently - upgrade sewage treatment Sand River works and test sewage effluent for - Control releases from water transfer compliance schemes in such a way as to minimise River health is an integrated measure of habitat degradation; consider alter- the conditions that are necessary for - Agriculture - water abstraction, irrigation - Identify sources of pollution and enforce native methods of transfer proper river functioning. A river that return flows, fertiliser use, ploughing of What drives the changes and the law functions well has the ability to supply puts pressure on river health? the floodplains, over-grazing and other - Manage releases from dams (also farm good quality water as well as other inappropriate farming practices - Zone and license mining activities dams and weirs) to simulate natural services which include food for humans flow patterns; consider the building of and , medicinal plants, building Main concerns in the study area include: - Damming of the rivers - unnatural flow new dams carefully (EIA) materials, self purification, flood as well regime as erosion control, cultural value and - Urban, peri-urban and informal develop- ments - urban and informal settlement runoff, - Artificial structures - roads, bridges, - Build fishways that would allow tourism and recreation. Healthy rivers point source discharges, illegal disposal of weirs and dams disrupt natural river migration of fish into new impound- also support a diverse variety of sewage effluent, poor maintenance and flow and cause loss of natural habitat ments and plant life. exceeding capacity of water treatment works - Transfer schemes - scouring of river beds - Plan new town and township devel- When river health deteriorates, some or opments carefully - they should not all of these functions and services are - Rural settlements - unplanned expansion, where water is released, transfer of species compromised or even lost. When, for overgrazing, gardens in riparian zone and impinge on rivers. Water should be - Alien vegetation in riparian zone - overgrazing of riparian vegetation. Removal used efficiently example, water quality declines, it may invasion and water loss of natural vegetation destabilises river banks become unfit for human consumption. - Determine environmental flow In more advanced stages of deterio- - Alien fish species - stocking and Expand the biomonitoring capacity ration, it may become unfit for irrigation - Mining operations - gold and coal mining, requirements and implement the transfer between catchments and industrial processes. This results in diamond diggings and sand mining - ecological reserve escalating water purification costs. destroys river banks and wetlands - Implement alternative farming Insufficient good quality water constrains socio-economic development. - Industries - pollution methods e.g. camp system where of water resources cattle are allowed to graze the riparian zone for short periods only. Typical 'workhorse' rivers have fair river Use efficient irrigation methods and health scores. When river health deterio- improved farming practices rates, becoming poor, river functions and services are lost. This impacts on the - Eradicate invasive alien plants and sustainability of the river ecosystem and rehabilitate degraded riparian habitats long-term environmental, economic and social security. - Stop the stocking of alien fish. The As River Indigenous species should not be Water transfers scour river Upgrade water treatment plants translocated outside their natural distri- beds and river banks where necessary. bution range 20 21 Upper Vaal Catchment Driving Forces

- Urban and informal developments - runoff and point The four rivers that feed the Vaal Dam are and irrigation less than 1% of the land-use Wilge River, has its source in the high source discharges e.g. municipal sewage discharges, the Liebenbergsvlei, Wilge, Klip and Vaal in this area. Agricultural activities in the seepage from rubbish dumps rivers, their catchments covering 42 000 near Golden Gate Wilge catchment include the production National Park in the eastern Free State. square kilometres. The Vaal River rises north of cereals, e.g maize. Irish potato, sunflower - Industries - industrial effluent from Phutaditjhaba of Ermelo in Mpumalanga. The Klip River The largest part of the catchment lies in the and peach orchards are common. Other originates near the town of Memel in the Free State Province (60%) with the rest in land-uses include formal and informal settle- - Coal and gold mining - polluted seepage and water Drakensberg highlands, which separate theGauteng and Mpumalanga. Important ments, industrial areas and coal mining. abstraction Wilge River from the Vaal River. The highestdams in the area are the Grootdraai, Vaal, About 340 square kilometres of natural altitude in the upper Vaal catchment is Saulspoort and Sterkfontein dams. habitat is conserved in the Golden Gate - Agriculture - seepage and return flows The Namahadi River, tributary of the Wilge River in north- about 2 200m above sea level. The and adjacent Qwa Qwa National Park. eastern Free State, with the typical basalt-capped, sandstone Liebenbergsvlei originates in the Natural grassland comprises almost 64% - Water transfer schemes - modified flows mountains in the background. This is one of the few sites Drakensberg mountains in theClarens of the Vaal Dam catchment and it is The Working for Water Programme is very with good habitat diversity. region near Bethlehem and the Wilge utilised for livestock grazing by commercial active in the mountainous upper regions of River in the mountains beyond Harrismith. and small-scale farmers. Commercial the Wilge River near Harrismith and is also The Namahadi River, a tributary to the dryland farming takes up more than 32% involved in the Seekoevlei Wetland at Memel. Management Recommendations G-G FF - Manage the operation of water works to ensure that all Desired health: Fair effluent that is discharged is of a quality that meets acceptable standards

l F-FFP a v r - Identify sources of pollution and enforce the law. te a aal Desired health: Fair Vaal Dam W V - Communicate and create awareness through stake- F-GG F holder meetings. Thirteen catchment forums exist in the upper Vaal. K lip P-PPF Desired health: Good

Li - Clear alien vegetation from wetlands e W

b

e i

l

g n

Desired health: Fair b e

e - Ensure that flow releases from dams simulate natural The Katse Dam is the source of the water for the Lesotho

r

g F-F PP

s flow patterns and natural water temperatures by

v Highlands Water Project. F-G P l

e releasing surface water. i Desired health: Fair The National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) Desired health: Fair - Manage water transfer schemes in such a way as to requires an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) before E G-G F G minimise soil erosion and habitat degradation. Consider any new dam can be built.

l

A N a n the use of pipes to tranfer water between systems. s

P-F P F a d Golden Gate m s a Desired health: Good Nature h Fair a Sterkfontein Dam

Desired health: d 1997

Reserve i Phutaditjhaba 2000 Fika Patso Dam Total P Present Health F Recorded in 1997, not in 2000 The Vaal Dam has a capacity of Fair Desired health: Recorded in 2603 million cubic metres. The dam Desired health: Fair 2000, not in 1997 has 60 crest gates and a flood storage The Lesotho Highlands Water Project industrial users in 0 10 20 30 capacity of 25% above the 100% full releases 14 cubic metres per second into The overall health of the Klip River is goodthe area.domestic, The marginal agricultural riparian and vegetation supply level. To date the highest the As-Liebenbergsvlei-Wilge River. This to fair and theWilge is fair to poor, deteri- consists of grassland at most sites. Invertebrate Taxa peak inflow of 4800 cumecs was modified flow has resulted in degra- orating downstream, because of large The number of taxa sampled in the experienced during February 1996. dation and habitat destuction in the scale agricultural activities. The health of The Namahadi River headwaters are fair, As River declined between 1997 receiving rivers. Weirs are modified to the is also fair to poor. but the health deteriorates downstream. and 2000. During this period the The wall is long and low. The dam has slow the velocity of the water, prevent The naturally low habitat diversity water releases from Lesotho a very large surface area to volume further damage to the habitat and allow The upper Vaal tributaries play an restricts the availability for invertebrates began. Opportunistic species now ratio resulting in high evaporation for fish migration. important role in thewater supply for and results in low scores. flourish and sensitive species are losses. no longer found. 22 23 Vaal, Harts & Skoonspruit Catchments Driving Forces

This stretch of the Vaal River has two off- town of Lichtenburg, the larger part of the The Skoonspruit (sometimes spelt - Urban and informal developments - runoff and point takes for major water suppliers. Sedibeng catchment is situated in the Northern Cape Schoonspruit) drains part of the south source discharges e.g. municipal sewage discharges Water abstracts water from the Vaal River Province. The Harts River flows in a south- eastern region of the North West Province downstream of the Vaal - Vals confluence atwesterly direction via Barberspan and and enters the Vaal River downstream of - Diamond mining operations - sedimentation and Balkfontein. The MidVaal Water Company, Dam to Spitskop Dam, after which it the Vaal Dam near the town of Orkney. habitat modification of the Skoonspruit and Vaal river The Harts River downstream of Taung Dam. the main supplier to urban areas in the flows into the Vaal River near Dolomitic springs provide base flow to the banks North West Goldfields, abstracts water . upper reaches of the Skoonspruit. from the Vaal River upstream of Orkney. - Gold mining operations - mine seepage in the Vaal The Harts River plays an important role Natural habitatcomprises almost 70% of River and several tributaries such as the Bamboes Bloemhof Dam is situated on the stretch in the water supply to domestic and this region. Commercial dryland farming and Makwassie spruits of the Vaal River between the Free State agricultural users in the area. Land use takes up about 25% and irrigation less - Agriculture - abstraction from the Skoonspruit and and the North West and is also fed by in the area is predominantly urban (both than 2% of the land-use. Gold mining nutrient-rich irrigation return flows at the Vaalharts the Vet River (p28). This nutrient rich formal and informal) and agriculture dominates the economy in the Skoonspruit scheme dam is an angling mecca. In excess of (irrigated land as well as stock watering). catchment. Degraded areas cover about 600 tons of fish, mainly carp and barbel Industrial users receive water from the 2% of the area. Vlei areas occur in the are harvested per year. Vaalharts irrigation scheme. upper Skoonspruit catchment. Management Although the source of the Harts River is in Abstraction of water for irrigation. Section 21 of the National Water the North West Province near the G-G F P P Recommendtions F-F P P P Act (No. 36 of 1998) stipulates that water users must register and P-F P P G - Compliance monitoring of all sewage effluent apply for water use licences. The list of uses includes: Desired health:Good Desired health: Fair discharges - taking water from a water course; Desired health: Fair - storing water;

it k - Manage mining activities through the issuing of water F-FFP P ru o - engaging in a controlled activity such as using water p b s s use and effluent discharge licenses n e containing waste for irrigation of land. p l

Barberspan o li B o K

Desired health: Fair k

S Johan Neser Dam - Initiate a combined hyacinth clean-up programme with Klerksdorp F-F P F P the mines and municipalities in the Skoonspruit area F Taung Dam Desired health: Fair - Identify all polluters in the region Desired health: Fair rts Ha F-FFP F - Manage water use, and thus reduce over-irrigation, through P the issuing of water abstraction licences. No new schemes Bloemhof Dam Desired health: Fair should be set up until a water balance has been set up. Vaal Desired health: Fair Spitskop Dam Vaalharts Weir F-FFF F - Monitor the Harts River downstream of Spitskop Dam as well as upstream of Taung Dam

Desired health: Fair A mine tailings dam in the Vaal River catchment. According to F-F F - Develop a River Health Programme for the area that the National Water Act, discharging waste or water containing includes combined initiatives between Free State, waste into a water resource should be registered and licensed. North West and Gauteng Provinces Desired health: Fair This also applies to waste material that is allowed to drain passively into a water resource. Present Health - Manage water releases from the Barrage to benefit the The overall health of the lower Harts Despite the dolomitic springs which feed Vaal River downstream River is fair to poor. Good rains flush the the river, the upper Skoonspruit is in a poor Taung Dam, but all the sediment is condition and the RHP team is investigting The Bloemhof Dam has a The overall health of the middle and trapped in the Spitskop Dam. This resuts the reason for this. The Johan Neser dam capacity of 1264 million cubic lower Vaal River is fair to poor. The Vaal in the dam becoming relatively shallow overflows most of the time and fish scores metres. The dam has 20 crest River downstream of the Vaal Barrage is and nutrient rich. Urban runoff in the below the dam are good. The health of gates and a flood storage the lower Skoonspruit varies according to impacted and controlled by activities and area and return flows from capacity of 18% above the 100% flow rates. During the rainy season, fish are effluent discharges from southern the Vaalharts irrigation scheme affect full supply level. The highest abundant in the turbid, high flows. No fish Gauteng. The Klip River and Blesbok Spruit the health of the Harts River. Areas peak inflow of 6200 cumecs was are sampled during low flows when systems drain large areas of southern downstream of Taung Dam have experienced during March 1988. Gauteng affected by urban development, treated effluent is the main source of water diverse habitats and diverse marginal in this section of the river. mining, industrialisastion and farming. vegetation. 24 25 Vals & Renoster Catchments Driving Forces - Urban development - Petrus Steyn Town and Mamafubedu township in the upper Renoster River catchment with their The 6 650-square-kilometre Renoster Serfontein Dam, near Kroonstad. There a smaller component for rural domestic consequent influences such as pollution and overgrazing, lead River catchment has a population of are many smaller weirs along its length supplies and stock watering. to increased turbidity and sedimentation. Water abstraction for about 100 000 of which almost two resulting in unnatural flows. The Vals domestic use at Kwakwatsi Waterworks reduces the river flow thirds live in urban areas. catchment has a total population of About 60% of the land-use in the significantly and magnifies the seasonal variability of river flows. 190 000, of which more than half live in Renoster and Vals river catchments Koppies Dam, the only large dam on the urban areas. comprises natural grassland that is - Agriculture - farming practises such as crop cultivation on the river Renoster River, was constructed primarily used for cattle grazing. Waterbodies bank and overgrazing of the river vegetation leads to erosion and for irrigation purposes. Tributaries of the Urban water user requirements consist and urban developments comprise less siltation. Excessive use of fertiliser causes eutrophication. Renoster River include the Rietspruit, mainly of water for Kroonstad. Most of than 1% of the catchments. The Doring, Geluk and Eland Rivers. the other water users are irrigation, with remainder of the land-use is dryland - Alien plants - blue gum trees, poplars and willows invade the cultivated crops, predominantly maize riparian habitat, reducing the naturally occurring aquatic biodi- The Vals River catchment (7 870 square and wheat. Irrigated cultivation land- versity and result in increased erosion and significant water loss via kilometres) has one large dam, the use comprises less than 1% of these evapotranspiration. The aquatic fern,Azolla , invades in-stream catchments. habitats and can cover the surface of standing, nutrient rich pools. The improper disposal of sewage such as overflows of the Kroonstad sewage works is not only a human health risk, but causes eutrophication which leads to Renoster Management fish kills. According to the National Water Act (No. 36 of 1998) sewage treatment works must be registered Koppies Dam Recommendations P-P P and licensed as water users. Vals - Manage sewage works effectively and efficiently Desired health: Fair - Plan urban developments so notas to impinge on the rivers Research on Artificial Substrates - Determine Environmental Flow Requirements (EFR) and develop Kroonstad Stream habitat has been P-FFP P Petrus Steyn an ongoing monitoring programme Serfontein Dam modified to such an extent - Manage water flows throughout the length of the river - release that one weir follows the next Desired health: Fair water to maintain the aquatic ecosystem below Koppies Dam with no stones in current. These deep water flowing P-FFF F - Implement alternative farming methods - protect riparian habitats can only be sampled vegetation by implementing the camp system whereby cattle are for macroinvertebrates using Desired health: Fair only allowed to graze the riparian zone for a short period of time artificial substrates. Nylon mesh bags filled with rocks P-F G P F - Zone cultivated fields - ensure that riparian zones are not and suspended in the river encroached upon: this should result in less fertiliser create such artificial sampling sites, which invertebrates Desired health: Fair entering rivers during rainy periods Present Health colonise. - Rehabilitate degraded riparian habitats - they should maintain their natural function During the wet summer months, the movement of fish and invertebrates. and the juveniles of larger fish species - Eradicate invasive alien plants, especially in Renoster River is transformed into a and rockbarbel such as , moggel the riparian zone. Working for Water turbid stream and during the dry are very scarce as they tend to favour and the Orange River mudfish species. should implement programmes to control Construction of Koppies Dam summer months the river is reduced to a large rivers such as the Orange, Vaal, invasive alien trees was completed in 1912. In 1979 series of small pools. There is almost no Caledon and Kraai rivers. Several large weirs regulate the flow the dam wall was raised to flow in this relatively small river regime of the Vals River. Downstream of 5,94m, increasing the capacity - Control alien species (such asAzolla ) with to more than 47 million cubic downstream of Koppies Dam. Koppies The upper reaches of the Vals River are Kroonstad the river deteriorates due to biological agents metres. The length of the dam Dam and several weirs significantly in good health, almost natural, with water abstraction and sewage effluent wall is 2,4km. Water is released reduce the amount of runoff that flows flows during rainy periods. Shallow discharges. through a canal system back to to the lower reaches of the river. areas dry out during dry periods. The the original river channel. No Minimal water is thus available to low flows lead to poor SASS scores. The overall health of the Vals River is water is released downstream of maintain the functioning of the system Deep pools are the only refugia for fish poor; habitat availability is poor and the dam except during natural downstream of Koppies Dam. These populations during dry periods. Species many invasive alien plants are present. flooding events. dams also act as barriers to the sampled include the chubbyhead 26 27 Sand & Vet Catchments Driving Forces

The population in the Sand-Vet The future demography of the Sand-Vet The Sand-Vet GWS supplies water via a - Mining activities and irrigation return flows are the major catchment area is concentrated in the area will be largely influenced by system of canals fed by Allemanskraal contributing factors to the high salt concentrations in the main urban areas of Welkom and economic opportunities and potential. and Erfenis Dams. Sedibeng Water rivers. Virginia. The Welkom area is the gold Urban populations in this area may obtains most of its raw water from the mining capital of the Free State. Of the decline as a result of the anticipated Vaal River; the remainder is abstracted - Agriculture and urban development - water abstracted from the various canal systems is used by the Sand/Vet Irrigation almost 600 000 people in the Sand-Vet decline in mining activity in the area and via a canal from the Sand River system. scheme, as well as for domestic supply by Sedibeng Water area, more than two thirds live in urban a lack of other economic stimulants. The Welkom-Virginia area is the main areas. urban centre supplied by Sedibeng Major dams in this area are the Water. The Sand-Vet GWS is the most - Sewage works in the area are notorious for spills caused About 52% of the 7 500 square Allemanskraal Dam on the Sand River important irrigation area in the Middle by poor maintenance and under-capacity. kilometres of the Sand River catchment and Erfenis Dam on the Vet River. Vaal Water Management Area. The Sand River at the Meloding sampling site near Virginia. comprises grassland and bossieveld. - Alien fish species - stocking of bass has displaced Dryland crops cover 42% and urban The Sand-Vet Government Water Water in this region is used mainly for indigenous fish species including red data species such areas almost 2%. Scheme (GWS) and Sedibeng Water are irrigation, mining and domestic as the largemouth yellowfish currently meeting the require- purposes. A number of towns also Natural grassland and bossieveld cover ments of consumers and abstract water from local groundwater Management 66% of the upper and 33% of the other water users in the resources. The surface water resources lower Vet River catchment. Dryland Free State Goldfields and of the Vet River Catchment are already Recommendations crops cover 31% of the upper and the Lower Vet River fully allocated to existing water users. 63% of the lower catchment, Catchment. Water users in the Free State Goldfields - Compliance monitoring of sewage works - develop while the total irrigated area is rely heavily on water imported from the methods to reduce sewage work failures less than 1%. Dams, wetlands Vaal River by Sedibeng Water to meet and pans cover 3% of the their water demands. - Broad-based monitoring of the Sand/Vet rivers, Vet River catchment and including the riparian vegetation (RVI) urban areas 1%. F-FFP P - Identify the source of the excessive salt built-up in the Mining activities have several impacts on water resources. Bloemhof Dam Welkom area According to the National Water Act (No. 36 of 1998) all Desired health: Fair G-PPF F water users must register and apply for water use licences. V - Implement the catchment management strategy These water uses include: et - storing water Desired health: Good Welkom - Determine and implement ecological reserve and - engaging in a stream flow reduction activity and apply environmental flow requirements S Virginia - discharging waste or water containing waste P F - disposing of waste in a manner which may detrimentally - Assess the distribution and impact of bass and impact on a water resource F F P bluegill sunfish in the catchment - DTEEA should Allemanskraal Dam - altering of bed, banks, course or characteristics of a river Desired health: Fair initiate awareness programmes - impeding or diverting river flow Desired health: Fair Klein Erfenis Dam v e G t r F P P Present Health o o The Sand/Vet Catchment Management Committee t v e t Desired health:Good The National Water Act makes provision major recommendations was to establish to the establishment of a Catchment for the establishment of Catchment a committee with representatives from Management Agency. The mission of The Sand-Vet River system is in fair to poor Management Agencies in 19 different all the stakeholder groups in the catchment this Catchment Management health. This small river system is heavily flow during the dry The reaches above the Allemanskraal and Catchment Management Areas in South to drive the implementation of the Committee is to advise the Department regulated and impacted by catchment winter months is made Erfenis dams have flow only duringthe Africa. The philosophy behind this is to Catchment Management Plan. of Water Affairs and Forestry on the activities. Very little or no flow is released up of treated sewage summer rains. During the dry months, eventually transfer responsibilities for the management of surface and ground out of the dams for environmental effluent, increasing the obligation for some reaches dry up. Others maintain a management of all water resources in a In 1998 the committee was established water resources within the Sand-Vet requirements, because of the great sewage treatment works to operate slight flow, sufficient to sustain the pools catchment to the users in that catchment. and since then has met at quarterly catchment. This should be done in a demand for irrigation and domestic use. efficiently. This flow is sometimes supple- that serve as refugia for fish. Fish health intervals to discuss relevant issues and manner that supports the water require- mented with irrigation return flows and is good to fair during the summer rainy The Sand and Vet Rivers are part of the plan future actions. ments of each sector, thus promoting Canals transfer water to irrigation schemes industrial effluent. Water seepage through season. During winter low flows, salt Middle Vaal Catchment Management the prosperity of the area; and simulta- and the nearby towns of Welkom, the Allemanskraal Dam wall provides base encrusts the rocks in the middle reach Area. In September 1997 a Catchment The Catchment Management Committee neously protects the resources and Virginia, Odendaalsrus and Hoopstad. In flow that sustains the aquatic habitats for while the upper reaches are often dry. some sections of these rivers, the entire a short distance downstream. Management Plan was developed for is a precursor to the Catchment Manage- environments in order to achieve the Sand and Vet Rivers. One of the ment Forum which will eventually lead sustainability. 28 29 Modder & Riet Catchments Driving Forces - Extensive agriculture - irrigation (water abstraction), ploughing of the floodplains, over-grazing and incorrect farming practices The Modder River catchment comprises above the confluence of the Modder use is natural grassland and bossieveld). - Artificial structures - road construction, bridges, weirs, dams, etc. an area of about 17 400 square and Klein Modder. The rest of the kilometres. The Modder River, with its Modder River catchment is relatively flat Dryland agricultural activities make up - Urban development - abstraction, stormwater runoff and source at an altitude of 1 600 metres in and very little runoff occurs. Numerous some 21% of the land-use, with urban treated sewage discharges, illegal disposal of sewage the hills near , joins the Riet pans are found in the low-gradient areas covering 2% of the area. effluent, mainly due to poor maintenance and exceeding the River at Ritchie (1 340 metres). Above western half of the Modder River capacity of sewage treatment works Rustfontein Dam several small tributaries catchment. These pans are filled in the The Local Municipality of Mangaung, - Sand mining and diamond diggings join the Modder River. Below Rustfontein summer after rainfall but hardly ever comprising Bloemfontein, Botshabelo Dam, the tributaries that originate in overflow. This area therefore contributes and Thaba Nchu, is spread out along The Rustfontein Dam inflow, southwest of Botshabelo. densely populated areas around very little to the run-off into the river. the upper and middle reaches of the Botshabelo are the Klein Modder River, Modder River. Sepane Spruit, Koring Spruit and Agricultural practices such as grazing Koranna Spruit. Dams in the Modder contribute less to erosion and sediment Domestic, agricultural and industrial River include the Rustfontein and yield than horticulture does. For the Riet water users are heavily reliant on the Krugersdrift dams. and Modder River catchments, much of Modder River. According to some the area is used for cattle and game estimates they are already exploiting the Most of the natural runoff into the farming in the west and sheep farming Modder River to the limits of sustainability. Modder River is from areas located towards the east (up to 75% of the land- Excessive sewage loads entering sewage treatment works that P-PPF P P are either too small, or are operated inefficiently, result in poor levels of treatment, such as in the upper Modder River near Dewetsdorp (above). If this effluent is then discharged into a P-P F F P P river system it can cause a wide variety of problems. It is an Desired health: Fair F-PPF P P offence to pollute a water resource (NWA, Section 151).

Desired health: Fair Desired health: Fair

F-P F F P P Management r A mine tailings dam in the Riet River catchment. According e to the National Water Act (No. 36 of 1998), a water user Kimberleydd Krugersdrift Dam Recommendations Mo must apply for a water use licence at the DWAF Regional Desired health: Fair office. F-F P F - Finalise the Catchment Management Strategy and implement it as soon as possible Rie t - Improve sewage treatment methods and ensure Desired health: Fair BloemRfuosntftoeinntein Dam consistent application. Botshabelo F-F P F Tierpoort Dam - Reduce phosphate and nitrate loads to control Kalkfontein Dam eutrophication - identify point and diffuse sources Slaking Bloemfontein’s Thirst Desired health: Fair - Control alien riparian vegetation F-P F F P Establish Environmental Flow Requirements De Wetsdorp - In 1896 the municipality of Bloemfontein looked to the - Conduct EIAs for all new mining developments and Modder River to satisfy the city’s growing demand for water, Desired health: Good rehabilitate mining areas and built a weir at Sannaspos. This was followed by Present Health - License irrigation schemes Mazelspoort Dam (1904), Mocke’s Dam (1913) and Rustfontein Dam (1955). In 1975 Bloemfontein began drawing water from the Caledon River via a 107-kilometre FAII pipeline, supplemented in 1999 by the Novo Caledon-Modder fair The overall health of the Modder River encroaches on rivers downstream of Largemouth yellowfish have been 70 - transfer scheme. is poor. Numerous natural and anthro- weirs and dams, where the current is sampled in dams. poor pogenic (human) influences have not strong enough to dislodge the 50 - Keeping it Clean accelerated changes in the structural, rhizome mat. Areas of sediment Alien fish species include the common very poor species composition and functional deposition are particularly favourable to carp and the mosquito fish. 30 - To ensure that good-quality water returns to the Modder characteristics of the vegetation along the establishment of reed beds. 0 - the river as reflected in the driving Many alien plant species occur in the 2001 2002 2003 River, the Mangaung Local Municipality operates six forces. The fish population of the Modder River riparian zone along the Modder River. sewage treatment works that together discharge more is fair to poor. The Orange River mudfish Some of these alien species are invasive According to fish monitoring data, the fish population than 100 million litres of treated effluent into the Modder The common reed (Phragmites australis) is the most widespread fiish species. and a cause for concern. has showed an alarming deterioration in the upper River and its tributaries daily. Modder River since 2001. 30 31 Orange, Caledon & Kraai Catchments Driving Forces - Damming - Gariep, Vanderkloof, Katse and Mohale dams The Orange River originates in Lesotho Major dams on the Orange River comprises almost 33% of the catchment. have changed the lower Orange River into a highly regulated as the Senqu River and contributes close include the Katse, Mohale, Gariep and Stock grazing is the main land-use for system. The resultant unnatural flow patterns are a major to 60% of surface water yield in the Vanderkloof dams. The Welbedacht the Orange and Kraai River catchments. contributing factor in the changing habitat and the outbreak Upper Orange Water Management Dam on the Caledon River is of blackfly downstream of the Gariep and Vanderkloof dams. Area (WMA). Large transfer schemes downstream of the town of . The lower Orange River and tributaries - Agriculture - over-grazing and incorrect farming practices on characterize this catchment, with 70% of are in the process of being monitored erodable soils in the mountain catchment areas lead to siltation the yield transferred to other WMAs. Major towns in this almost 75 000 by Northern Cape Department of square kilometre area include Wepener, Agriculture, Land Reform, Environment - Urban development - water abstraction and sewage Transfers out of the Upper Orange close to Lesotho’s border, and Colesberg and Conservation. This monitoring effluent spills ( and ) The Caledon River near . WMA include transfers to the Upper in the Northern Cape. programme is developed in conjunction - Alien fish species, e.g. trout in upper Kraai River, compete Vaal WMA (Lesotho Highlands Water with the Free State River Health with and predate on indigenous fish species. Project), to the Fish/Tsitsikamma WMA About 60% of the 22 000 square Programme. (Orange-Fish Tunnel) and to the Lower kilometres of the Caledon catchment is Vaal WMA (Orange-Vaal Transfer) and grassland and bossieveld. Dryland crop Management State Fish Hatchery from the Orange and Caledon Rivers to production, mainly wheat and maize, Recommendations The only operational, state the adjacent Modder-Riet catchment. Clarens managed, fish hatchery that focusses on research and devel- P-FFF F G - Consider the building of any new dams carefully F G opment of indigenous fish - Ensure that releases from in-stream dams simulate natural species is situated near Gariep Douglas Desired health: Fair Desired health:Fair flow patterns. Dam. Results from the research provide in-depth information O Katse Dam ra P-FFP P P Investigate methods to compensate for the effects of the nge - regarding the breeding biology Mohale Dam release of cold water from the bottom of Gariep Dam for of these indigenous species. This LESOTHO Desired health: Fair power generation - normal summer water temperatures information is used when devel- favour fish spawning oping in-stream flow require- F G Wepener ments for different rivers. Welbedacht Dam - Stop the stocking of alien fish through the implementation Senqu Desired health:Fair of the international yellowfish conservation initiative Vanderkloof Dam on Caled - Establish environmental flow requirements for the Orange P-P F G G-G G and Kraai rivers - include releases from the Katse Dam into the Orange River Orange Desired health: Fair Gariep Dam K ra Desired health:Good Colesberg ai Subsistence fishing has taken on P-F new dimensions - including the F G illegal building of stone ‘kraals’ to trap fish when Eskom releases Desired health:Fair The National Environmental Act water in pulses from the dam. Desired health:Good (NEMA) requires an Environmental Present Health upper Orange River system. Other than in this area consists of rocky rapids/ Impact Assessment (EIA) before any this reduced flow in the Orange River, theand deep pools. Flow patterns in the new dam can be built. Size and site available habitat upstream of the Gariep Orange River are dependent on water restrictions should be enforced. Dam is relatively unimpacted and the releases from the Gariep as well as The overall health of the Caledon River is overall health of this reach is good. Ten Vanderkloof dams by Eskom. Reed beds fair upstream of the Welbedacht Dam indigenous fish species have been recordedform in sheltered areas. and poor downstream. The Caledon here, of which the largemouth yellowfish catchment has almost 100% grassland and rockbarbel flourish. Alien species are The upper Kraai River is in near natural The Vanderkloof Dam has cover but poor management practices- carp, trout, bass and bluegill sunfish. health. The stocking of trout is one of the a capacity of 3171 million result in high sediment yields. The slope few problems. Ten indigenous fish species cubic metres. To date, the as well as the erodability of the soils in The cold, sediment-poor water released with healthy populations occur and the highest peak inflow of 6700 the upper Caledon catchment lead to from the Gariep Dam has a scouring effect flow regime is natural. Below Barkly East The Gariep Dam (left), the largest dam on cumecs was experienced increased sediment deposition. on the river downstream of the dam wall the health of the river deteriorates slightly the Orange River and in the RSA, has a during February 1988. Both the Vanderkloof and Gariep and existing sandbanks have been scoured. due to the inflow of treated sewage capacity of 5341 million cubic metres. The dams are used for hydro- The Katse Dam and other dams in Lesotho The cold water prevents spawningof fish effluent. Turbidity increases during rainy highest peak inflow experienced to date electric power generation. take a great deal of the water from the except during late January. The habitat periods due to poor farming practices. was 11600 cumecs during February 1988. 32 33 Water Quality & Algae Algae

Normally, algae are an essential The Cyanobacteria, or “blue- Water Quality Renoster River component of life in water green algae”, are a particular Silt loads in the Renoster River above bodies. However, they respond nuisance in eutrophic storage Koppies Dam were low and the pH rapidly and predictably to nutrient reservoirs for drinking water Water quality analysis provides an slightly alkaline. The dam contained enrichment. Excessive growth in supply, because they cause taste assessment of the suitability of water excessive amounts of phosphate at eutrophic systems results in the and odour problems, and for aquatic ecosystems and human times, and this tendency continued algal blooms that have become a sometimes even toxicity. downstream. Algal populations use. For the RHP, phosphate, very visible water quality problem nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, suspended responded to the higher nutrient concentrations by forming nuisance- in South Africa. solids, dissolved oxygen, pH and blooms. conductivity were measured in a sample from each monitoring site.

Algae and Fish Kills Harts River Although nutrients are essential to the health of aquatic The Harts River pH was ecosystems, excessive nutrient loadings can impair water quality and habitat by encouraging the growth of neutral and the oxygen Namahadi River levels good. Dissolved aquatic weeds and algae. See the Trophic Status box for The headwaters of the Wilge nitrogen, phosphate and the four broad classifications of trophic status. River were generally well salt concentrations were oxygenated, with neutral pH and high in the downstream When large numbers of plants die and decay, they low turbidity. Exceptions reaches of the river, where deplete the dissolved oxygen in the water. One of the occurred downstream of sewage algae also reached nuisance results is an increase in the number of fish kills. treatment works, where high levels at certain times. nutrient concentrations Certain species of Cyanobacteria or “blue-green algae” encouraged excessive growth of occasionally produce that kill livestock and fish. algae. They can also affect human health.

Modder River The average phosphate concentrations in the Modder River were high and at Trophic status classification most sites exceed the limit for eutrophi- cation. Extremely high phosphate concentrations (>1 mgP/L) at Bishop's Low in nutrients and not over-productive in terms of aquatic animal and plant Weir and Glen, downstream of Oligotrophic life. Bloemfontein, probably originated from sewage treatment works. The inorganic Intermediate levels of nutrients, fairly productive in terms of aquatic animal nitrogen concentration in the study area Mesotrophic and plant life and showing emerging signs of water quality problems. was also high, causing unacceptable water quality conditions in the lower Rich in nutrients, very productive in terms of aquatic animal and plant life Modder River. Massive algal blooms Eutrophic and showing increasing signs of water quality problems. occur in these parts of the Modder River. Very high nutrient concentrations where plant growth is determined by Hypertrophic Algal growth in the Harts River near Pampierstad. physical factors such as water turbulence and light availability. Water quality problems are serious and can be continuous. 34 35 What is the Current State of Wetland Information Vleis & Pans our Wetlands? Management System (WIMS) As yet, no nationally co-ordinated system To ensure that data contributes to the to monitor or assess the condition of What is being Done? effective and efficient management of wetlands exists. South Africa may already wetlands, the Department of Tourism, What is a Wetland? have lost about half of its wetlands: Environmental & Economic Affairs is devel- while we do not know the original The Free State Department of oping a comprehensive wetland infor- number, nor the state of those Tourism, Environmental & Economic mation system (WIMS). The WIMS will The word "wetland" includes a wide remaining, we do know that they are Affairs will typically use the spatial data integrate geographical and descriptive data to help evaluate the functions and variety of damp habitats, from estuaries threatened and that we continue to lose of the National Wetland Inventory to to temporary pans. Wetlands form in them. values of wetlands. The Department of identify key wetlands for field study of: Tourism, Environmental & Economic Affairs those parts of the landscape that are - wetland type will use these evaluations to saturated for long enough and often DEAT is currently compiling a national - wetland use enough to change the morphology of inventory of wetlands, an important - catchment land-use - determine wetland functions of the water result in many pans the soil and the communities of plants component of South Africa's obligations - disturbance containing enough salt residues for - target areas for protection and animals that live on and in those Why are Pans important? under the Ramsar Convention on - species composition commercial exploitation. - identify wetlands for further study soils. Wetlands. South Africa is also obliged to - threats include wetland preservation in national This information will enhance planning Pans dry out seasonally, so the organisms and management actions, not only of The National Water Act defines The value of pans is ecological. Their conservation programmes and land-use Scientists are also developing a living in them need to be able to survive wetlands, but also the catchments in wetlands as being transitional between special ecosystems support all manner of planning, and to advocate the wise use monitoring system for wetlands that wet and dry conditions. Species eminently which they lie. terrestrial and aquatic systems, where panveld plants and animals, including of wetlands. By the mid-2004, the first will allow them to deduce wetland the water table is usually at or near the adapted to this regime are the fairy shrimps, round of mapping of the location of status and changes from plant tadpole shrimps and clam shrimps, all aquatic invertebrates, amphibians and surface, or the land is periodically reptiles, small and large mammals, local Free State wetlands should be complete. indicator species and communities. covered with shallow water, and which members of the euphyllopod (true leaf- legged) crustacean group. Their drought- birds and large flocks of migratory birds. normally supports vegetation adapted to resistant eggs survive in the dry mud of a life in saturated soil. pan until the next rains,whereupon they rapidly develop and produce the next Threats to our Wetlands What kind of Wetlands do generation of eggs before the water Pans we have in the Free State? evaporates and the cycle is repeated. Pans are confined mainly to the drier The two major threats to wetlands are lack western part of South Africa. Wetlands are commonly referred to as of conservation and incorrect exploitation. Favourable rock types for pan marshes or vleis in the Free State. For this Why are Wetlands formation include shale outcrops of report, we will limit our discussion to vleis Important? - While pans are common, there is no the Dwyka formation or Ecca group. and pans of the kind that you are likely to panveld nature reserve in this area to Pans could be the result of a encounter in the Free State and vicinity. Wetlands perform a variety of hydro- conserve representative types of pan. disruption in the drainage patterns logical functions such as water purifi- - The correct utilisation of pans and vleis due to tectonic action, climatic The wetlands of the wetter northeastern cation, stream flow regulation, ground enhances their value, and their wise and changes through geological times, or Free State, especially in the Vaal Dam water exchange and reduction of flood sustainable utilisation is encouraged. fortuitous structures such as basin- catchment, are typically the well-watered, peaks. They also have social and Unfortunately, many disturbances that shaped dolerite sills. biological value: many people rely on marshy type that we know as vleis. In the threaten wetlands are related to specific wetland plants for handcrafts and drier west, seasonal pans predominate. inappropriate activities that include These ephemeral lakes occur in semi-arid cultural events, and three of South Africa's Vleis may be temporarily, seasonally or drainage, overgrazing, damming, and arid regions where the annual evapo- critically endangered bird species are permanently saturated, ranging from ploughing, mining, polluting, infilling, ration exceeds precipitation. Seasonal dependent on wetlands for their survival. palustrine (saturated soil) to lacustrine catchment modification and urban fluctuations of shallow groundwater levels (pond or lake). Each vlei is unique and encroachment. can result in seepage of groundwater into dynamic. Good agricultural practices are the pan floor, where it evaporates, concen- essential for the retention of this type of trates and becomes saline, often leaving a wetland. Rehabilitation of a wetland thin crust of salt.

Topographical maps show that the area Advancement of an active The linear distribution of pans suggests the covered by this report has about 13 750 erosion area is prevented by influence of pre-existing river systems on pans greater than one hectare in size (the sloping the erosion area and pan formation. For example, some geolo- eight largest each exceed 1000 hectares). then covering it with hyson- gists link the formation of the pans of Many pans occur on former drainage lines, cells. Subsurface water the northwestern Free State to Rivers and Dams or areas that are not often flooded. Others seeps through the concrete differential disruption of the are in areas of closed drainage, with no filled honey comb-shaped Pans ancient Kimberley River that outflow (endorheicpans). The high evapo- hyson-cells. used to flow through the ration rate combined with the shallowness International boundaries area. 36 37 Glossary Further Reading

Orange River Alien species Fauna and flora introduced intentionally or by Flora The collective term for plants growing in a particular Chutter, M. (1995). Aquatic Invertebrates. Orange River Development Project Planning Study. Environmental Review of the accident from other countries. Not all alien species are area. . DWAF, Pretoria. Orange Water Management Area. invasive or undesirable. Davies & Day (1998). Vanishing Waters. UCT Press. Geomorphology The study of the structure of physical features Aquatic biomonitoring The monitoring of the condition of of the earth especially in relation to the underlying geological DepartmentVaal Water Managementof Water Affairs Area. & Forestry. (2003). Development of Internal Strategic Perspectives for the Central Region: Upper organisms in rivers, wetlands and lakes in order to gauge structure. Workshop 2. Starter Document. Compiled for DWAF by PDNA, V3, WMB & WRP. the overall quality of the aquatic environment. Hotspot refers to an area where high levels of species richness, Department of Water Affairs & Forestry. (2003). Development of Internal Strategic Perspectives for the Central Region: Middle Workshop 2. Starter Document. Compiled for DWAF by PDNA, V3, WMB & WRP. Aquatic Invertebrates A broad collective term for the endemism as well as threat to their survival, coincide. insects, larvae, crustacea and other small animal life inhab- Department of Water Affairs and Forestry. (1996). South African Water Quality Guidelines Volume 7: Aquatic Ecosystems. First iting rivers and lakes: "invertebrate" means "lacking a Indigenous species Fauna and flora occurring naturally in an Edition. DWAF Pretoria. http://www.dwaf.gov.za/Dir_WQM/docsFrame.htm backbone" and excludes amphibians, fish, birds and area. mammals. Department of Water Affairs & Forestry. (1991). Vaal Dam Pamphlet. Issued by the Communications Services, Department of Water Affairs & Forestry, Private Bag X313, Pretoria. 0001. In-sstream refers to “within the river channel”. Biodiversity The structure, composition and functions of living Dickens, C.W.S. and Graham, P.M. (2002). The South African Scoring System (SASS) Version 5 rapid bioassessment method for organisms, and the ecological complexity of habitats in MAP (Mean Annual Precipitation) Average rainfall (including rivers. African Journal of Aquatic Science 27: 1 - 10. which they occur. snow, hail and fog condensation) over a year. Gerber, A. and Gabriel, M.J.M. (2002). Aquatic Invertebrates of South African Rivers. Field Guide & Illustrations. http://www.dwaf.gov.za/iwqs/biomon/aquabugsa/aquabugfield.htmSouth Africa Biota are plants and animals. MAR (Mean Annual Runoff) Average yearly available stream flow at a point in the river which has been calculated over a Grobler, D.F. & De Villiers, P. (1998). Habitat Integrity Assessment of the Sand River, Free State Province, Desired health An indication of the envisioned ecological long period of time (usually 50 years or more), assuming a . Draft Report. DWAF state of the river determined by considering the ecological constant level of development. importance and sensitivity of the specific river ecosystems. Henderson, L. (2001). Alien Weeds and Invasive Plants. Mac Image, Pretoria. nMAR (natural Mean Annual Runoff) Average yearly available Kleynhans, C.J. (1997). A Summarised and Preliminary Assessment of the Habitat Integrity of the Ecological sensitivity refers to the ability of a specific stream flow at a point in the river which has been calculated Vaal River from the Klein Vaal Confluence to the Orange River Confluence. IWQS, DWAF. ecosystem to tolerate disturbances and to recover from over a long period of time (usually 50 years or more), in Region C, Vaal. Appendices certain impacts. Lack of sensitivity, however, does not always undeveloped conditions. Marx, H.G., Dyson, L.L. & van Heerden, J. (2003). Verification of rainfall forecasts for the Vaal Dam catchment infer the ability to recover. for the summer rainfall seasons of 1994 to 1998. Water SA 29 (2): 195-200. Present health A measure of the present ecological state of the Midgley, D.C., Pitman, W.V. & Middleton, B.J. (1994). Surface Water Resources of South Africa 1990, Volume 2, Drainage Ecologically sound Maintaining the integrity of interrelations river during the time of the survey. This is expressed as a river . WRC report 298/2.1/94. Water Research Commission. Pretoria. between living things and their surroundings. health category that reflects how much the river has changed from its natural state. Mike Oettle. Armoria patriae, Free State Province. http://uk.geocities.com/landswapen/9prov/FS.html Ecosystem A natural system in which living organisms O’Keefe, J. H. (Ed). (1986). of SA Rivers. Report no 131. FRD, Pretoria. interact with their surroundings through the processes of Refugia Places where individual organisms can escape the production, consumption and decomposition: an aquatic effects of disruption of their environment until conditions Palmer, R. & Chutter, M. (2000). As River: Rapid Determination of Resource Directed Measures, Including Ecological Design ecosystem could range in scale from a puddle of water to a improve: refugia include patches of damp mud and entire Paramers for Proposed Weirs and Dams. AfriDev whole lake. river channels. Partridge, T.C., Maud, R.R. (Ed). (2000) The Cenozoic of Southern Africa. Oxford Monographs on Geology and Geophysics, No. 40. Oxford University Press. Environmental flow requirement (EFR) The flow needed to Riparian habitat refers to the habitat on the river bank. maintain a river in a pre-determined state of health. River Biodiversity Conservation. http://www.csir.co.za/rivercons Riparian zone The area adjacent to a river or water body that Environmental impact assessment (EIA) Investigation of the forms part of the river ecosystem. The riparian zone plays an River Health Programme Report Series. http://www.csir.co.za/reports.html. Director, RQS, Private Bag X313, Pretoria, 0001. actual and potential impacts of a proposed action or devel- essential role in the functioning of the river ecosystem. It is Seaman, M.T., Roos, J.C. & Watson, M. (2001-2003) State of Modder River - Biomonitoring Reports 1-10. Report to Bloem Water opment on an area. characterised by frequent inundation or sufficient flooding to by the Centre for Environmental Management, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa. support vegetation distinct from the surrounding area. Fauna The collective term for animals living in a particular Skelton, P.H. (1993). Freshwater of Southern Africa. Southern Book Publishers, Halfway House. area. State of the Environment Report. http://www.ngo.grida.no/soesa/nsoer/issues/water/state3.htm Venter, G.C. (2000). Water Quality of the Upper Orange River. MSc Thesis, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein.

Water Management Area Reports. Overview of water resources and utilization - September 2003. http://www.dwaf.gov.za/documents.

38 39 Highlights, Challenges and Opportunities

Less than a decade ago, the Free - One of the main challenges for the are covered by the programme, the State River Health team set out to provincial team will be to strengthen team would like to expand their efforts and networks to include the less achieve an ambitious task: to set capacity within the biomonitoring network. When the existing network impacted systems, such as the Kraai up biomonitoring protocols for all loses a single person who assists with River. The aim is for biomonitoring on the rivers in the Free State and biomonitoring, it has serious impacts on such rivers to provide proactive inputs surrounds, to link biomonitoring the continuity of data collection and has into managing the protection and results to water resource wider consequences in terms of training responsible development for these river systems. River systems such as the Kraai management, and to develop and new staff and the time it takes to get new people ‘up to speed’. Leveraging are perceived to provide valuable river sustain the networks required to capacity for biomonitoring is not a trivial services to society, services that are support these activities. Already, task, but can be supported by wider different (e.g. recreation and tourism much of this is happening. All buy-in and commitment to the opportunities) to those offered by rivers major rivers in the area have a programme, especially by the private that are already highly impacted (e.g. the Mooi River) where services such as biomonitoring protocol (some will sector. However, for this to happen effectively, new partners will have to the assimilation and transport of waste be expanded to include the full suiteunderstand their roles and see explicit and effluent are important. Again, of indices, or more sampling sites) benefits from their involvement before partnerships and resource commitment and many have a well-populated they will enter into a formal agreement. (human and financial) flowing from In summary, the Free State River Health team has these, are critical for mobilising the full database. In some cases, biomoni- In some areas, such as the Sand-Vet, laid a sound platform for achieving their vision and toring results have helped to catchment forums have been an suite of players required to extend and effective mechanism to help forge these sustain a strong biomonitoring network. this vision is in many ways already being realised. influence management decisions. relationships and encourage trust and In order to sustain and enhance this momentum River health reporting achievements joint understanding of each others’ - The third challenge relates to turning and to overcome some of the obstacles mentioned include a poster, a communication water resource-related needs and goals. river health results into management here, the provincial team may consider the for rural communities and this The team has expressed a particular actions. Sometimes, biomonitoring results are available but do not drive following: State-of-Rivers report. Strong need for the agricultural and mining communities to become more involved. management decisions. The River Health working partnerships exist Programme does not have legal “teeth” - Develop formal partnerships to strengthen the between regional DTEEA, regional - Initially, the provincial team prioritised and even though the programme is network of river health champions and actively DWAF, the Centre for and focused their biomonitoring efforts strongly supported by legislation, the address the challenges presented by shortage of use of biomonitoring data relies on the Environmental Management at on the Free State rivers that suffer the capacity for biomonitoring. most serious impacts. Now that these perceived value of this information to the University of the Free State resource managers. and the local Water Boards. There - Engage all partners in the strategic adaptive are also signs that relationships One method for solving this problem is management cycle to facilitate a closer integration with municipalities and the private the adaptive management cycle (p 11). of functions and goals between those responsible sector are emerging as they find This cycle would enable the management and biomonitoring teams for biomonitoring, those who manage the water ways to assist each other in their to jointly integrate new information from resource and those who use it. river health and water resource monitoring with decision-making and management concerns. These are operational management. The Free exciting achievements for the State is very fortunate that at regional provincial team and they will be level, there is already a strong relationship between the biomonitoring Contact details: looking to build on these. Part of champion, DTEEA and the resource this process will be concerned Department of Water Affairs and Forestry manager, DWAF. PO Box 528 The State-of-Rivers poster of the with overcoming challenges and Bloemfontein Modder River. (January 2002). capitalising on opportunities along 9300 the way. 40 Department of Water Affairs and Forestry Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism

Water Research Commission

Sand-VVet Catchment http://www.csir.co.za/rhp/