THE EASTERN CAPE RIVER HEALTH PROGRAMME

(ECRHP)

Presentation byMiss T. Guzana Date: 25 February 2010

BACKGROUND

• Chapter 14 of the NWA (1998), places a duty on the Minister to, “as soon as practically possible, establish national monitoring systems that would allow for the collection of appropriate data and information that is necessary to assess various aspects of aquatic resources”, including the health of aquatic ecosystems (NWA, 1998: 137(2)(f)).

• The Department has, as a result, developed an overarching Framework for National Water Resources Quality Monitoring Programmes to ensure that all monitoring programmes comply with the requirements of the NWA and that these programmes are effectively and efficiently implemented.

CONT…• The National Aquatic Ecosystem Health Monitoring Programme (NAEHMP) forms

part of this portfolio in response to the Department’s drive to align its national water resources quality monitoring.

• The River Health Programme (RHP) forms part of the NAEHMP.

• The RHP is designed to develop the capacity and information base, enabling reporting on the ecological state of our river systems, in an objective and scientifically sound manner.

• The information generated by the RHP assists in identifying areas of sustainable utilization and unacceptable ecological deterioration.

• The programme is based on assessing the condition of biological communities of rivers (such as fish, aquatic invertebrates and riparian vegetation) as well as river habitats to provide and integrated measure or health of the river systems.

RIVER HEALTH PROGRAMME CATEGORIES

CONT…

THE RIVER HEALTH PROGRAMME IN THE EASTERN CAPE

• The programme initiated in 2000 on the Buffalo River System

• The target to implement the programme in all the rivers in the region:

To have sound knowledge of the ecological health To improve water quality and quantity To protect aquatic resources

• Signed MoUs with Walter Sisulu University (WSU) and Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) , to train experiential learners within the programme.

10 students from WSU were trained and obtained their National Diplomas in Analytical Chemistry. 1 student from NMMU completed a Masters degree in Botany.

STRUCTURE IN THE EASTERN CAPE

BIOMONITORING(River Health Programme)

2 X ADs

2XPr. Environmentalists

1 Ch Aq Technician1 Snr Environmentalist

3x Aq.Technicians

1 Auxiliary Officer

RESOURCE PROTECTIONActing Deputy Director

RESOURCE DIRECTED MEASURES(Reserve Determinations)

1 AD

STAKEHOLDER MANAGEMENT(Adopt-A-River Programme)

2x Expert Development Officers1 x Snr Hydrologist

INDICES USED IN THE EASTERN CAPE

• SASS 5• FISH• RIPARIAN VEGETATION• GEOMORPHOLOGY• WATER QUALITY

WATER MANAGEMENT AREA 12 (Mzimvubu-Keiskamma)

• River Health Programme implemented in 10 River systems: Mzimvubu – working with the OR Tambo Municipality Mthatha Buffalo – working with regional DEDEA in the conservation/protection of

endangered fish species i.e The Eastern Cape Rocky (endemic) and Barbus trevelyani

Keiskamma Mbashe Gonubie Nahoon Chalumna Great Kei Kwelera

STATUS OF WMA 12 RIVERS USING THE RHP CATEGORIES

STATUS OF WMA 12 RIVERS

0

20

40

60

80

100

WMA 12

ST

AT

US

Mzimvubu

Mthatha

Mbashe

Great Kei

Kwelera

Gonubie

Nahoon

Buffalo

Chalumna

Keiskamma

WATER MANAGEMENT AREA 15 (Fish-Tsitsikamma)

• River Health Programme implemented in 18 River systems: Kouga/Gamtoos – working with the Western Cape DWA Regional Office Kowie Kromme Bushmans – working with NMMU with the monitoring of the estuary Baviaans – working with “Working for Water” in the rehabilitation of the riparian

zone 11 Tsitsikamma Rivers – working with Rhodes University, University of

Stellenbosch, SANPARKS in the conservation/protection of macro-invertebrates. Great Fish Sundays Swartkops

STATUS OF WMA 15 RIVERS USING THE RHP CATEGORIES

STATUS OF WMA 15 RIVERS

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

RIVERS

ST

AT

US

Great Fish

Bushmans

Kowie

Sundays

Swartkops

Kromme

Kouga/Gamtoos

11Tsitsikamma Rivers

CONT…

• Data collection is done seasonally to better understand how the different systems work in the region.

• Ongoing updating of the Rivers database.

• Recommendations on water use licenses, inputs on Section 21 (c) and (i) of NWA.

• Technical inputs given to CME unit.

• Assisting Stakeholder Management with the Adopt-A-River Programme.

STAKEHOLDER MANAGEMENT

• Adopt-A-River Programme (River clean-ups).

• Awareness campaigns. • Using data obtained from the River Health Programme to prioritise stressed or

polluted rivers for the Adopt-A-River Programme.

• Formation of the Provincial Technical Task Team (PT3).

• Formation of the Provincial Task Team (PT2).

ADOPT–A-RIVER PROGRAMME

• To promote management of water resources at catchment level and river clean-ups

• Interested stakeholders trained by DWA officials in miniSASS, fish identification and on-site water quality testing.

• Kabega Primary School adopted the Baakens River in 2008 and the school has won gold in all science competitions.

• A database for schools in the region interested in the programme established.• The programme used in the Greening of Mthatha Project initiated by the KSD Local

Municipality. Through the Mthatha River clean-up, “Working for Water” secured funds from DBSA to remove the water hyacinth.

DWA STAKEHOLDERS

RIVER HEALTH PROGRAMME ADOPT-A-RIVER PROGRAMME

STATE OF RIVERS STATE OF A SITE/S OF A RIVER

DECISION MAKING AT REGIONAL LEVEL DECISION MAKING AT CATCHMENT LEVEL

RIVER REHABILITATION RIVER CLEAN-UP

PROTECTION OF ECOSYSTEM IMPROVED WATER QUALITY/QUANTITY

ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY SOCIETY

SUSTAINABLE WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENTIN THE REGION

THANK YOU!