SOLAR RESERVE SA (PTY) LTD Proposed Construction of a 132kV Power Line and Associated Infrastructure for the evacuation of power from the Proposed Kalkaar Concentrating Solar Thermal Power Project on the Remainder of Portion 1 of the Farm Kalkaar 389 near Jacobsdal, Free State and Northern Cape Provinces Impact Assessment Report DEA Reference No.: 14/12/16/3/3/1/1577 Issue Date: 9 December 2016 Revision No.: 3 Project Number: 13620 – Kalkaar Power Line Date: 9 December 2016 Proposed Construction of a 132kV Power Line and Associated Infrastructure for the evacuation of power from the Proposed Kalkaar Document Title: Concentrating Solar Thermal Power Project on the Remainder of Portion 1 of the Farm Kalkaar 389 near Jacobsdal, Free State and Northern Cape Provinces:Impact Assessment Report Author: Shaun Taylor Revision Number: 3 Checked by: Andrea Gibb Approved: Kelly Tucker Signature: For: SiVEST Environmental Division COPYRIGHT IS VESTED IN SiVEST IN TERMS OF THE COPYRIGHT ACT (ACT 98 OF 1978) AND NO USE OR REPRODUCTION OR DUPLICATION THEREOF MAY OCCUR WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE AUTHOR SOLARRESERVE SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION OF A 132KV POWER LINE AND ASSOCIATED INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE EVACUATION OF POWER FROM THE PROPOSED KALKAAR CONCENTRATING SOLAR THERMAL POWER PROJECT ON THE REMAINDER OF PORTION 1 OF THE FARM KALKAAR 389 NEAR JACOBSDAL, FREE STATE AND NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCES IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT Contents Page 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................. 1 2 METHODOLOGY FOR IMPACT ASSESSMENT .......................................................................... 2 2.1 Determination of Significance of Impacts ............................................................................. 2 2.2 Impact Rating System.............................................................................................................. 3 2.2.1 Rating System Used To Classify Impacts ......................................................................... 3 3 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT ................................................................................ 8 3.1 Biodiversity Impacts ................................................................................................................ 8 3.1.1 Broad-Scale Vegetation Patterns ...................................................................................... 8 3.1.2 Habitats ........................................................................................................................... 11 3.1.2.1 Kimberly Thornveld ..................................................................................................... 11 3.1.2.2 Northern Upper Karoo ................................................................................................. 13 3.1.2.3 Vaalbos Rocky Shrubland ........................................................................................... 14 3.1.2.4 Pans ............................................................................................................................ 14 3.1.2.5 Modder River ............................................................................................................... 16 3.1.3 Listed & Protected Plant Species .................................................................................... 17 3.1.4 Critical Biodiversity Areas & Broad-Scale Processes ..................................................... 17 3.1.5 Faunal Communities ....................................................................................................... 18 3.1.5.1 Mammals ..................................................................................................................... 18 3.1.5.2 Reptiles ....................................................................................................................... 19 3.1.5.3 Amphibians ................................................................................................................. 19 3.1.6 Site Sensitivity Assessment ............................................................................................ 20 3.1.7 Impact Assessment ......................................................................................................... 22 3.1.7.1 Planning Phase impacts ............................................................................................. 22 3.1.7.2 Construction Phase impacts ....................................................................................... 22 3.1.7.2.1 Impacts on vegetation and protected plant species .................................................... 22 3.1.7.2.2 Direct Faunal impacts ................................................................................................. 23 3.1.7.3 Operation Phase impacts ............................................................................................ 25 3.1.7.3.1 Degradation of ecosystems ........................................................................................ 25 3.1.7.4 Decommissioing and Closure Phase impacts ............................................................ 26 3.1.7.4.1 Direct Faunal impacts ................................................................................................. 27 3.1.7.4.2 Degradation of ecosystems ........................................................................................ 28 3.2 Avifauna Impacts ................................................................................................................... 29 3.2.1 Important Bird Areas ....................................................................................................... 29 3.2.2 Coordinated Avifaunal Roadcount (CAR) Data ............................................................... 32 3.2.3 Primary vegetation divisions (biomes) ............................................................................ 33 3.2.4 Description of bird habitat classes................................................................................... 33 3.2.4.1 Savanna ...................................................................................................................... 34 3.2.4.2 Nama Karoo ................................................................................................................ 34 3.2.4.3 Pans ............................................................................................................................ 34 3.2.4.4 Vulture breeding areas ................................................................................................ 35 3.2.4.5 Agricultural lands ......................................................................................................... 35 3.2.4.6 Rivers .......................................................................................................................... 35 3.2.4.7 Ridges ......................................................................................................................... 35 3.2.4.8 High Voltage lines ....................................................................................................... 36 3.2.5 Avifauna in the Study Area .............................................................................................. 37 3.2.6 Description of Expected Impacts ..................................................................................... 39 3.2.7 Displacement of priority species due to disturbance and habitat transformation during the construction and de-commissioning of the 132kV sub-transmission line (construction and de- commissioning) ............................................................................................................................. 39 3.2.8 Collisions with the earthwire of the 132kV power line (operational) ................................ 39 3.2.9 Electrocution .................................................................................................................... 39 3.2.10 Impact Assessments ................................................................................................... 40 3.2.10.1 Construction Phase ..................................................................................................... 40 3.2.10.2 Operational Phase ...................................................................................................... 44 3.2.10.3 De-commissioning Phase ........................................................................................... 51 3.3 Wetland Impacts ..................................................................................................................... 55 3.3.1 Results ............................................................................................................................. 55 3.3.2 Field Verification Results ................................................................................................. 59 3.3.3 Freshwater Resource Delineation and Sensitivity Mapping ............................................ 66 3.3.3.1 Delineation .................................................................................................................. 66 3.3.4 Freshwater Impacts ......................................................................................................... 68 3.3.4.1 Loss of Habitat and Ecological Condition ................................................................... 68 3.3.4.2 Changes to Ecological Sociocultural Service Provision.............................................