Ecological Specialist Report PROJECT TITLE: Ecological Specialist Report for the Proposed Construction of a Slipway along the Mthatha River, Eastern Cape PROJECT LOCATION: South of Mthatha, Mthatha River, Nyandeni Local Municipality, Eastern Cape PROJECT ASSESSMENT TYPE: Ecological Specialist Report Prepared by: Prepared for: Submission date: Ms D.C. Vromans Mr B. Cobbing/ Ms S. van der Waal 3 May 2013 PO Box 133 Conservation Support Services Bathurst, 6166 PO Box 504, Grahamstown, 6140 Tel: 046 6250300/ 082 714 6904 61 New Street, Grahamstown, 6139 Email: [email protected] Tel: 46 6224526 Email: [email protected] Ecological Specialist Report SPECIALIST STATEMENT DETAIL This statement has been prepared with the requirements of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations and the National Environmental Management Act (107 of 1998), any subsequent amendments and any relevant other National and / or Provincial Policies related to ecological or biodiversity assessments in mind, such as the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (10 of 2004) and National Water Act (36 of 1998). Report Prepared By: Ms Deborah Vromans Expertise / Field of Study: MSc Botany (Estuaries), BA Environmental & Geographical Science, ND Horticulture, Botanical assessments (terrestrial, wetland and estuarine), Environmental Impact Assessments, Biodiversity and Planning Professional. I, Ms Deborah Vromans, declare that this report has been prepared independently of any influence or prejudice as may be specified by the National Department of Environmental Affairs Signed: Date: 19 April 2013 Report Reviewed By: Michelle Griffith Expertise / Field of Study: Registered EAP I, _________ declare that this report has been prepared independently of any influence or prejudice as may be specified by the National Department of Environmental Affairs. Signed: Date: May 2013 Acknowledgements: Thanks are extended to Tony Dold from the Selmar Schonland Herbarium (GRA), Albany Museum/Rhodes University (Grahamstown), for assisting with botanical identification. Ecological Specialist Report TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary 5 1. INTRODUCTION TO PROPOSED PROJECT ....................................................................................................... 9 2. MOTIVATION AND LOCATION OF PROPOSED PROJECT AND STUDY SITE ...................................................... 9 3. STUDY METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................................................ 12 4. THE BIO-PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT: A DESCRIPTION .................................................................................... 13 4.1. AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS (RIVERS, WETLANDS AND ESTUARIES) .......................................................... 14 4.1.1. RIVERS, ESTUARIES AND ASSOCIATED FISH .................................................................................... 14 4.1.2. WETLANDS ...................................................................................................................................... 17 4.2. TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS AND BIODIVERSTIY FEATURES................................................................. 26 4.2.1. VEGETATION (HABITAT TYPE) ......................................................................................................... 26 4.2.2. FAUNA ............................................................................................................................................. 30 4.2.3. BIRDS ............................................................................................................................................... 31 4.2.4. REPTIILES ......................................................................................................................................... 32 4.2.5. AMPHIBIANS ................................................................................................................................... 32 4.2.6. INSECTS ........................................................................................................................................... 32 5. LAND COVER, LAND USE ACTIVITIES AND ASSOCIATED LAND USE IMPACTS ............................................... 33 6. ECOLOGICALLY SENSITIVE AREAS ................................................................................................................. 34 7. SYSTEMATIC CONSERVATION PLANS PRODUCED FOR THE REGION ............................................................ 35 7.1. THE MAPUTOLAND-PONDOLAND-ALBANY (MPAH) HOTSPOT BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION PLAN, 2010 ............................................................................................................................................................ 35 7.2. THE EASTERN CAPE BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION PLAN’S (ECBCP) CRITICAL BIODIVERSITY AREAS (CBA) MAP, 2007 .............................................................................................................................................. 36 8. LEGISLATIVE CONTEXT .................................................................................................................................. 39 8.1. THE CONSTITUTION (108 OF 1996) ................................................................................................. 39 8.2. NATIONAL WATER ACT (NWA) 36 OF 1998 .................................................................................... 39 8.3. NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ACT (NEMA) 107 OF 1998 ...................................... 39 8.4. NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT: INTEGRATED COASTAL MANAGEMENT ACT (ICMA) 24 OF 2009 .................................................................................................................................................... 40 8.5. NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT: BIODIVERSITY ACT (NEMBA) 10 OF 2004 ............. 40 8.6. NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT: WASTE ACT (NEMWA) 59 OF 2008) ...................... 40 8.7. NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT: PROTECTED AREAS ACT (NEMPA) 57 OF 2003 ..... 40 8.8. NATIONAL FORESTS ACT (NFA) 84 OF 1998 .................................................................................... 41 8.9. ENVIRONMENT CONSERVATION ACT (ECA) 73 OF 1989 ................................................................ 41 8.10. CAPE NATURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION ORDINANCE (19 OF 1974) ........................... 41 8.11. PROVINCIAL NATURE CONSERVATION BILL (EASTERN CAPE) 2003 .................................................... 41 3 Ecological Specialist Report 8.12. CONSERVATION OF AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES ACT (CARA) 43 OF 1983 .................................... 41 9. ECOLOGICAL RISK/IMPACT ASSESSMENT ..................................................................................................... 42 9.1. ECOLOGICAL RISK/IMPACT ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY ................................................................ 42 9.2. POTENTIAL ECOLOGICAL RISKS/IMPACTS AND ASSESSMENT ............................................................. 45 9.2.1. IMPACT 1: LOSS OF VEGETATION (BIODIVERSITY LOSS) ................................................................. 45 9.2.2. IMPACT 2: SPREAD OF ALIEN INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES (BIODIVERSITY LOSS) ............................... 47 9.2.3. IMPACT 3: LOSS OF HABITAT (BIODIVERSITY LOSS) ........................................................................ 48 9.2.4. IMPACT 4: LOSS OF FAUNA (BIODIVERSITY LOSS) .......................................................................... 50 9.2.5. IMPACT 5: LOSS OF INVERTEBRATES (BIODIVERSITY LOSS) ............................................................ 52 9.2.6. IMPACT 6: MODIFICATION OF FLOW DYNAMICS AND FLOW PATTERNS (HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES)................................................................................................................................................... 54 9.2.7. IMPACT 7: TOPSOIL LOSS, SOIL EROSION AND SEDIMENT DEPOSITION (HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES)................................................................................................................................................... 55 9.2.8. IMPACT 8: EFFLUENT POLLUTION AND SOLID WASTE POLLUTION (BIODIVERSITY LOSS/HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES) ............................................................................................................... 57 9.2.9. IMPACT 9: DISTURBANCE OF IMPORTANT ECOLOGICAL PROCESS AREAS (BIODIVERSITY LOSS) ... 59 9.3. CONCLUSIONS AND SUMMARY OF POTENTIAL ECOLOGIAL IMPACTS/RISK AND RECOMMENDED MITIGATION MEASURES ................................................................................................................................... 62 10. REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................................ 68 4 Ecological Specialist Report EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Conservation Support Services (CSS) was appointed by the Gamtoos Irrigation Board to undertake a Basic Assessment in terms of Section 24 of the National Environmental Management Act (107 of 1998). The Basic Assessment is for the construction of a new proposed boat launching site or slipway, positioned on the Mthatha River, just south-east of Mthatha in the Eastern Cape (Nyandeni Local Municipality, OR Tambo District Municipality). An ecological assessment for the proposed slipway is the subject of this report and will provide input into the Basic Assessment Report. Numerous artificial pools have developed due to past cultivation in the study site, as a result of furrows