CLASSIFICATION OF SIGNIFICANT WATER RESOURCES IN
THE
OLIFANTS WATER MANAGEMENT AREA (WMA)
OLIFANTS RIVER FORUM MEETING
Date: 7 December 2012
Venue: Loskop Dam, Mpumalanga
Time: 10:00
PRESENTATION CONTENT

Purpose of meeting

Overview of the Classification Process

Olifants Classification Study progress to date

Ecological characteristics

Water quality issues

Scenarios & Proposed Management Classes

Determination of RQOs

Stakeholder Engagement

Way forward
PURPOSE OF THE MEETING
• To engage with conservation sector as key
stakeholder on the Olifants WMA classification
project
• To further demistify the process of scenarios
development, evaluation and implications
• To provide the opportunity for sector to comment
and raise issues
• To introduce the RQOs project
INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Catchment
Vision
Societal values
and aspirations
Desired state of
water resources
Management
Class
Catchment Assessment
including current state
Determine RQOs and Reserve
Monitoring
Compliance
State
Catchment Management Strategy
Water Use Control
End of pipe
standards
Management
plans
Water use
authorisations
Resource
Source Directed
Management
Management
Strategy
Strategy
Allocation schedule
(quality and quantity)
Other
strategies
Strategic use;
International
obligations;
future use;
inter-basin transfers
THREE MANAGEMENT CLASSES
Class I
Minimally used
Class II
Moderately used
Class III
Heavily used
STUDY PROCESS: WHAT HAS BEEN DONE?
In accordance with the classification guidelines: 7 step process applies
Assessment of
WMA
Divided into
catchment areas
(IUAs) based on
socio-economic/
land use
characteristics/
water
resources(IUAs)
Data assessed
Status quo
understood
2
Value and
condition of
water
resources
Goods and
services
assessed
Economic
Framework
for decision
making
developed
3
Ecological
requirements
of water
resources
understood
and quantified
How much
water does the
ecology
require for
different
protection
levels
4
5
Models set up
with ecological
requirements
and water
requirements
Set other
scenarios
(future states)
and evaluate
within the
integrated
water resource
management
context of
WMA
Understand
the
implications of
different
protection
levels
Set and test a
sustainable
ecological
protection
level scenario
for water
resources
Stakeholder engagement
October 2010 to July 2012
6
Stakeholder Engagement
1
BACKGROUND TO THE OLIFANTS WATER
MANAGEMENT AREA
WHY THE NEED FOR CLASSIFICATION?

The Olifants WMA is a highly utilised and regulated catchment

Water resources are becoming more stressed due to an
accelerated rate of development and the scarcity of water
resources.

There is an urgency to ensure that water resources in the
Olifants River catchment area are able to sustain their level of
uses and be maintained at their desired states into the future.
IMPORTANT FEATURES OF THE OLIFANTS WMA

Level of development in the area is influenced by the
mineral deposits.

Main economic activity is concentrated in the mining and
industrial centres of Witbank and Middelburg, near
Phalaborwa and in the Steelpoort where a variety of
minerals are found.

Some of the largest thermal power stations in the world are
located in the Upper Olifants sub-area.
IMPORTANT FEATURES OF THE OLIFANTS WMA

Extensive irrigation occurs in the vicinity of Loskop Dam,
along the lower reaches of the Olifants River, near the
confluence of the Blyde and Olifants Rivers as well as in the
Steelpoort valley and upper Selati catchment.

Much of the central and north western areas of the WMA
are largely undeveloped, with scattered rural settlements.

The Olifants River is one of the highly regulated rivers in the
country, with several major dams constructed to supply
water for different uses within the WMA.
IMPORTANT FEATURES OF THE OLIFANTS WMA

There are a number of ecologically important areas within
the Olifants WMA and various conservation areas have been
proclaimed.

The most well known conservation area is the Kruger
National Park (KNP) located in the Lower Olifants sub-area
of the Olifants WMA.

There are also numerous pans and wetlands located in the
Upper Olifants sub-catchment.
DELINEATION OF IUAs

13 IUAS Delineated within the Olifants WMA)
INTEGRATED UNITS OF ANALYSIS (IUAs)
(11) Ga-Selati River
(7) Middle Olifants below Flag Boshielo
Dam to upstream of Steelpoort River
(10) Lower Olifants
(12) Lower Olifants within
Kruger National Park
(5) Middle Olifants up to below
Flag Boshielo Dam
(13) Blyde River
(9) Orighstad River
(4) Elands River
(8) Spekboom
(6) Steelpoort River
(3) Selons River
(2) Wilge River
(1) Upper Olifants
13 IUAs DELINEATED
ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
There are a number of ecologically important areas within the
Olifants WMA (various conservation areas have been
proclaimed).








Kruger National Park
Mohlapitse River (Wolkberg caves, Tufa waterfalls)
Important gorges,
Transition from highveld to lowveld
Treur River and upper Blyde (Kruger to Canyons biosphere),
Selons River area,
Veloren Vallei nature reserve
Steelpoort area - the transition from mountain to bushveld and
the unique geology
ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Important fish, habitat and biota present in many
tributaries

Some of the smaller tributaries are ecological different to
the main stem and larger tributaries.

Olifants main stem river is a ‘hardworking’ river

Creates complex challenges
ECOLOGICAL CONDITION




Ecological assessment – 2001 (Reserve study) (16 sites)
Updates (reconnaissance, rapid assessments and desktop
assessments) – 2010
Ecological water requirements (EWRs) have been
quantified
DWA Eco-classification methodology applied to assess
ecological status
ECOLOGICAL CONDITION
11
10
12
7
9
5
4
6
8
13
IUA
1
2
3
3
4
5
6
2
1
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Catchment
name
Olifants
Klein Olifants
Wilge
Olifants
Olifants
Elands
Olifants
Steelpoort
Steelpoort
Dwars
Olifants
Watervals
Ohrigstad
Olifants
Blyde
Ga-Selati
Ga-Selati
Olifants
Olifants
Treur
EWR sites
EWR1
EWR3
EWR4
EWR2
EWR5
EWR6
EWR7
EWR9
EWR10
DWA-EWR1
EWR8
OLI-EWR5ex
OLI-EWR8
EWR11
EWR12
EWR14a
EWR14b
EWR16
EWR13
B60Dex
PES
REC
E
D
B
C
C
D
E
D
D
B/C
D
C
D
E
B
C
E
C
C
B
D
C
B
B
C
D
D
D
D
B/C
D
C
C
C
B
C
C
B
C
A/B
PREVALENT WATER QUALITY ISSUES

Salinity related impacts due to mining, power generation and industries in
the upper areas of the WMA are evident (EC and sulphate concentrations at
unacceptable levels).

Acid mine drainage (Upper Olifants)

Impacts by sewage works discharges are also a problem in the upper
catchment

There are specific water quality problems that were identified at
Middelburg Dam, some areas in the Witbank Dam Catchment, Wilge River,
Loskop Dam Catchment and in the Middle Olifants Catchment

Localised water quality problems are significant and still remain a major
concern (Eutrophication problems, Microbiological pollution)
IUAs IN WHICH ECOLOGICAL CONDITION IS
INFLUENCED BY
POOR WATER QUALITY
E
IUA 5 Middle Olifants up to and below
Flag Boshielo Dam
Some water quality Impacts – land
based activities
Middle reaches unacceptable WQ
(includes flow related impacts as well)
E
IUA 11 Ga-Selati River
Impacts from , mining, ubanisation.
Some WQ deterioration in lower parts
Upper Good WQ
Lower reaches Unacceptable WQ
D
D
E
D
IUA 1: Upper Olifants
Highly impacted – return flows/
discharges
Unacceptable WQ
WQ is in E category:
• Upper Olifants
• Middle Olifants (middle
reaches)
• Lower reaches of Ga-Selati
ECOSYSTEM SERVICES ASSESSED

Water resources (rivers and wetlands) in the Olifants WMA provide a
variety of ecosystem services:

Domestic water use

Grazing

Livestock watering

Harvested products

Carbon Sequestration

Tourism

Recreation

Aesthetic value

Education

Flood attenuation

Angling
5
Set scenarios
(future states)
and evaluate
within the
integrated
water resource
management
context of
WMA
Understand
the
implications of
different
protection
levels
DEFINE SCENARIOS FOR PROTECTION
AND USE
AND EVALUATE
APPROACH FOLLOWED FOR SCENARIO ANALYSIS (1)
 Confirmation
of alternate scenario configurations
 Select and implement required Ecological Water Requirement
 This defines the target level of protection; and specifies the flow
 regime at each node to achieve a particular EC (A, B, C or D)
 Configuration of Yield Model
 Configure and input data on water resources according to
 scenario parameters
 This includes water use, releases, infrastructure configurations,
operating rules.
 Running of yield model (simulation) with scenarios
(applicable parameters)
 EWR and water use requirements
APPROACH FOLLOWED FOR SCENARIO ANALYSIS (2)
•Analysis of yield results: Water surpluses/deficits per IUA
•Application of yield (water requirement) per scenario into economic model
•Assessment of water quality implications of scenarios (fitness for use)
•Assessment of Ecological consequences of scenarios
SCENARIOS EVALUATED FOR THE OLIFANTS WMA
Scenario
Ecological Condition
1
PES Scenario
EWRs implemented for Present Ecological
State Ecological Categories (as scenario 4)
2
REC Scenario
EWRs implemented for Recommended
Ecological Category (REC) (as scenario 5)
3
Maximum water use scenario
EWRs implemented for Ecological Category D
throughout the system
4
Future growth PES scenario
EWRs implemented for Present Ecological
State Ecological Categories (as scenario 1)
5
Future growth REC scenario
EWRs implemented for Recommended
Ecological category (REC) (as scenario 2)
6
Scenario 4 plus release of excess treated mine
water to river system
EWRs implemented for Present Ecological
State Ecological Categories (as scenario 4) +
plus additional treated mine water
SUMMARY OF SCENARIO IMPLICATIONS
Scenario
Scenario
Description
Ecological condition for
WMA
Water Balance
(Million m3/annum)
Water
Quality
GDP
Water prices
1
PES
Scenario
Sustain and improve
ecological integrity. Improve
water quality.
60
(is required is implement the PES
ecological condition)
+
-
+
Increase ecological integrity
REC Scenario
to higher protection levels.
(Recommended
Ecological Reserve) Improve water quality.
171
(is required is implement the REC
ecological condition)
++
--
++
2
Maximum use
scenario
Ecological integrity is at the
lowest protection level
9
(is required is implement a D category
ecological condition)
-
-
0
Future growth
PES scenario
Sustain and improve
ecological integrity with
future growth. Improve
water quality.
219
(is required is implement the PES
ecological condition with 2035 water
requirements)
+
-
+++
5
Future growth
REC Scenario
Increase ecological integrity
to higher protection levels
with future growth. Improve
water quality.
330
(is required is implement the PES
ecological condition with 2035 water
requirements)
++
--
++++
6
Scenario 4 plus
additional flow in
Middle Olifants River
due release of excess
volume of treated
mine water
Improve ecological integrity
and water quality (above
Reserve requirements) with
future growth
219
(is required is implement the PES
ecological condition with 2035 water
requirements. However 55m3/a
additional excess treated mine water
is released to meet water
requirements in Middle Olifants)
++
-
+++
3
4
IMPLEMENTATION CONSIDERATIONS
All scenarios will require:


Management of water quality, which includes source directed
measures, regulatory and institutional structures.

Monitoring and compliance management.

Implementation and updating of the Reconciliation Strategy

Water Quality Management Plan
Scenario 6:


Additional mine water will be conveyed in the river system and
requires management and monitoring to ensure that it reaches
the required points in the system
PROPOSED MANAGEMENT CLASSES
III
(7) Middle Olifants below Flag Boshielo Dam to
upstream of Steelpoort River
II
II
II
II
I
III
II
(4) Elands River
(12) Lower Olifants within
Kruger National Park
(10) Lower Olifants
III
(5) Middle Olifants up to below Flag
Boshielo Dam
Sc 4 and 6
(11) Ga-Selati River
I
(13) Blyde River
II
III
(9) Orighstad River
III
(6) Steelpoort River
(8) Spekboom
II
PES
EWR
(3) Selons River
II
(2) Wilge River
III
(1) Upper Olifants
Implement EWRs: additional
water needed
water quality improvement
cost of water may increase
ecological protection occurs
higher flow than EWR
IN SUMMARY

All scenarios will improve the system ecological health (by
implementation of EWRs, additional flow, improved WQ in some
cases)

A MC of III is an improvement from status quo (no water for the
ecology at present)

In IUAs 1 (Upper Olifants), 7 (Middle Olifants) and 11 (Ga Selati)
current state is improved from an ecological category of E to a D (Class
III).
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

3 Project Steering Committee meeting s

2 Socio-economic Technical task team meeting

Stakeholder Consultation meetings

Technical Task Group meeting with MPTA and SANPARKS– Delineation of IUAs

SANPARKS – Representative in the Interdepartmental Inland Water Ecosystem Liaison Committee

All issues and responses are being captured in a register (ongoing)

Public 60 day comment period – Gazetting Process

Sector Engagement meetings in January 2013

Variety of documents produced available on the DWA web site:
www.dwa.gov/za/rdm/WRCS/default.aspx
WAY FORWARD
In accordance with the classification guidelines: 7 step process applies
6
Stakeholder
engagement
Steps
2
1
5
4
3
Understand
scenarios and
implications
for the WMA
Determination
of the RQOs
Prepare
proposals for
consideration
by Minister of
DWA
(consideration
of all input and
comments):
Gazette
proposed
classes & RQOs
(60 day
comment
period)
Recommenda
tions for
management
classes
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