Appendix A
Field Work at Kruger National Park
Appendix A 1
-
Proposal to Kruger National Park for
field research on aquifer dependent
ecosystems.
Appendix A 2
-
Summary of work carried out at
Phugwane site by Prof. Lorentz of
University of KwaZulu Natal.
Appendix A 3
-
Proposal for Ph.D studies to be carried
out at Phugwane site by Mr S. Levin of
University of Witwatersrand.
Appendix A 4
-
Terms of reference for contracted
research by M.Sc student, F. Ramusiya,
at University of Venda
Appendix A 5
-
DWAF Drilling specifications for KNP site
at Phugwane
Appendix A1
Proposal to Kruger National Park for
field research on aquifer dependent
ecosystems.
Groundwater Research Proposal KNP
1. Title of the project
Investigation of the ecological role of aquifers at Shingwedzi research site, Kruger
National Park.
2. Keywords
Groundwater, eco-hydrology, springs, deep sub-surface water, alluvial aquifers.
3. A Project Statement

Who is the project being developed for?
The project is being developed for the Water Research Commission (WRC) by the
CSIR in partnership with the University of Venda, University of the Witwatersrand,
University of KwaZulu Natal and the University of Cape Town. It is intended that the
outcomes of the project will also benefit the Kruger National Park and are aligned
with the functional processes objective for groundwater.

What is the project’s purpose?
The aims of the overall WRC project are to:
1. To produce on a national scale a summary of known and probable
groundwater
dependent
ecosystems
in
South
Africa,
based
on
geohydrological-type settings.
2. To guide catchment management agencies (CMAs) and Department of Water
Affairs (DWAF) in assessing the importance and vulnerability of groundwater
dependent ecosystems within each type setting. Output will focus on what is
currently understood of the role that groundwater plays in providing water,
habitat, nutrients and trace-elements to various ecosystems.
3. To test the application of the tools identified for measuring groundwater use
and dependency (previous project K5/1090). This is expected to include work
in ephemeral alluvial settings and hypogean karst habitats.
4. To identify significant knowledge gaps and to recommend a strategy for
further research to address key issue relating to groundwater dependent
ecosystems.
More details are given in the attached copy of the motivation for research on
Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems (Appendix 1) and a draft of the original
proposal to the Water Research Commission (Appendix 2).
Specifically, the work carried out in the KNP as part of this WRC project will aim to
characterise groundwater discharge and understand its role in supporting riparian and
savannah ecosystems on the Phugwane river in the northern part of the park.

What change will the project achieve?
The project aims to provide guidelines for resource managers to recognize the
ecological role of aquifers and protect groundwater that is required by the
environment. The specific study site at Kruger will give a better understanding of the
hydrogeological processes supporting riparian zones in ephemeral systems and
examine the hydrological links between the alluvial systems and deeper groundwater
resources. We will be testing the application of isotope and geophysical
investigations in this environment.

What are the overall time scales?
The project would aim to collect data over one annual cycle and provide an analysis
and interpretation of this. However, the monitoring infrastructure, particularly
boreholes and rainfall collectors, would be designed for long term service (>10 years)
and it is hoped the KNP will continue to monitor this site to provide long term data
which is needed for the development of a deeper understanding of aquifer-floodplainecosystem interactions.

What are the phase time scales?
The short time-scale of the project means that it will be completed in a single phase,
more details of the specific timing of activities is given in section 5.

Who will benefit from the project being achieved?
Catchment managers in South Africa will benefit from the WRC project providing
guidance on the allocation of groundwater for ecological requirements. This field
study will enable conservators in the KNP and collaborating scientists to understand
the role that aquifers may play in supporting keystone riparian ecosystems, and to
negotiate for groundwater resource quality objectives to be set at the boundaries of
these systems.
This project will contribute significantly to the groundwater functional processes
objective:

To evaluate the role and significance of ground water systems in local and
broader ecological structure and function and the KNP landscape and to monitor
long-term changes in the ground water-table level and its impact on surface water
and woody vegetation.

Who is the funding provider and what is the cost estimate of the
project?
Funding is provided by the WRC, DWAF and the CSIR. The total costs will be
approximately R250 000.

Where will the study area for the project be?
The study area is to the west of Shingwedzi on the Phugwane River and will be
located as close as possible to the sites being used for the existing studies in the area:
Dr Simon Lorentz’ hillslope moisture movement study and Mr Shaun Levick’s study
of patterns of vegetation heterogeneity on the old alluvial floodplains of the
Shingwedzi River system (includes sites on the Phugwane River).

How will the study benefit the Kruger National Park, specifically the
KNP objectives?
Little is known about the environmental role of groundwater and its interactions with
the Park’s ecosystems. This project will help in establishing a better understanding of
groundwater as an ecosystem driver in the park, particularly in drought-prone areas,
and will guide further monitoring of groundwater levels and quality. If groundwater
is seen to be important, the KNP will have a scientific basis for negotiating
groundwater boundary conditions to be maintained for ecological use within the park.
This is going to be increasingly important as development pressures increase on
previously un-exploited aquifers in the vicinity of, or even within, the park.
This project therefore focuses on the set of sub-objectives for groundwater functional
processes that relate to this natural role:

To evaluate the role and significance of groundwater in the KNP
landscape

To examine interactions between soil moisture (esp in the unsaturated
zone), vegetation and climate [continuation of Lorentz-type work].
It is intended that the monitoring that is started as part of this project will provide
baseline monitoring for determining long term changes in groundwater systems and
their consequent ecological impact, thereby assisting in the realization of the further
sub-objectives:

To establish links between groundwater levels in known
unimpacted areas and climate change (XLINK): [groundwater
“memory” can aggregate many years of conditions; do we
have a big enough suitable area?]

To examine “spring lines” for overall patterns of change, as
potential barometers of groundwater change.
4. Work Procedure
Existing boreholes and springs in the area will be visited and sampled.
Geophysics studies will be carried out, with 50cm electrode pegs inserted in to the
ground at 2m intervals and a small current applied. This takes approximately 3
hours per traverse and each traverse is approximately 120 m long. An estimated 6
traverses may be completed in the dry season and in the wet season.
Dedicated groundwater monitoring boreholes will be required at the study site and
these will be emplaced either by hand augering (shallow holes up to 5m deep) or
drilling with a drilling rig (holes from 10 to 80m deep). Monitoring boreholes will
be sited close to existing tracks for access. Once finished the boreholes will be
consist of a 15cm high pipe with a locked cap protruding from the ground. This
may be covered in a small wooden box for protection or otherwise protected from
damage by the wildlife.
Data loggers will be placed in the boreholes to provide time series data on
changing water levels. The data will be downloaded and samples taken from the
boreholes approximately every 3 months.
Some twig samples may be taken from trees close to boreholes for isotope
analysis to confirm the source of the water and to estimate the depth of the root
systems. These samples will be sampled and analysed in co-operation with Dr E
February of the University of Cape Town who is doing isotope-based research on
the water sources of different tree species.
5. Major milestones
Site reconnaissance, field mapping and geophysical siting of
June 2004
boreholes.
Review of existing hydrogeological data.
June 2004
DWAF appointment of driller.
July 2004
Establishment of boreholes and monitoring infrastructure.
July 2004
Acquisition of monitoring data – groundwater levels, water quality,
July 2004 – July 2005
isotopes.
Presentation of preliminary data to science network meeting.
April 2005
Submission of paper to international journal.
August 2005
Submission of M.Sc. to University of Venda.
November 2005
6. Project risk
There are two levels of risk:

Medium risk – There may be delays in getting the borehole drilling started and
getting the boreholes in the locations and to the depths we would like them to be. This
part of the project will be supported by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry
and so is not entirely under our control. There is also a risk of the loss of equipment
and other infrastructures because of the activities of wildlife, fires or flood damage.
There may also be problems in locating zones or areas where the basement aquifer
discharges into the floodplain which are close enough to the sites being used by the
existing research projects in the area.

Low – The student may be unable to complete their M.Sc. study because of academic
or logistical or other difficulties and problems.
7. Provide clear, brief details against the following headings

Senior researcher contact details
Ms Christine Colvin, Hydrogeologist, CSIR, Water Programme, Tel: +27 21 888 2432,
Cell 083 462 9619, Fax: +27 21 888 2682, PO Box 320, Stellenbosch, 7599, South
Africa. ccolvin@csir.co.za
ID - 6802240911183

Co-workers contact details
Dr Dave Le Maitre – Terrestrial ecologist, CSIR, Terrestrial Programme, Tel: +27 21 888
2407, Fax: +27 21 888 2684, PO Box 320, Stellenbosch, 7599, South Africa.
dlmaitre@csir.co.za
ID – 5505155068185
Mr John Odiyo - Earth Sciences Department, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, 0950.
Cell number: 084 372 4227

Location/s of project, in which areas will the project be carried out
The study will be done on portion of a cross section running from the floodplain of the
Phokwane River up the adjacent hillslope in the vicinity of the studies being conducted by
Dr S Lorentz and Mr S Levin. The final location will be determined by several factors
including: proximity to existing experimental study sites, geological and geohydrological
indicators of discharge of basement aquifer groundwater into the floodplain, vegetation
with potential access to groundwater and access for the drilling of boreholes (see also
section 3). The lengths of the transect(s) will depend on the circumstances but would be
roughly 100-300 m.
8. Background information
The WRC proposal for the project is included with a draft chapter on aquifer dependent
ecosystems in South Africa written for an Australian text book.
Appendix 1. Motivation – A Programme for Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems
Christine Colvin and David Le Maitre, CSIR.
There is an urgent need for scientific research into groundwater dependent ecosystems
in South Africa. We currently have a poor level of understanding of the positive role
groundwater plays in providing water, nutrients and habitat to wetland, coastal,
terrestrial and river environments. These ecosystems are gaining recognition as an
integral part of the water resource. Their water requirements, in terms of varying
quality and quantity of water through the seasons, need to be taken into account by
catchment managers. We need to improve the approaches we use to assess how the
South African environment is dependent on groundwater so that water managers can
make well informed decisions in water allocation to all users.
The investigation of groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs) is gaining
momentum worldwide, and South Africa is well positioned to make a significant
contribution to this field of study:
 We have the necessary capacity in terms of hydrogeological and ecological
expertise to conduct leading edge research in this area. However, funding
should aim to ensure that knowledge base is rapidly transferred to a broad
group of water managers, regulators and scientists and that further capacity is
developed.
 The legal context in which we now operate aims to enable sustainable,
integrated management of our water resources for optimal beneficial use. For
the first time, we are attempting to estimate the total allocatable water
resources of our catchments, and it is imperative that groundwater’s ecological
role is more fully understood.
 We are currently undergoing dramatic institutional change, with the
devolution of water management responsibility to Catchment Management
Agencies. The new structures should be able to incorporate new principles
and practices aligned to sustainable IWRM, more readily.
 The Water Research Commission has laid a solid foundation in terms of its
funding of research on groundwater and vegetation interactions, the
implementation of the Resource Directed Measures and the planned update of
WR90 to include groundwater. We need to ensure that the recommendations
from previous research are carried forward.
Our historical focus on the role of groundwater has been primarily for human
consumption. Most groundwater protection policies are geared towards protecting
this single use. We now recognize that groundwater plays a complex role in
supporting the environment on which we depend. Hydrogeologists have some
experience in attempting to predict environmental impacts of various activities as part
of the EIA process. Thus far this process has been fairly piecemeal and subjective as
there are no all encompassing guidelines for assessing groundwater’s role in the
environment and potential impacts on dependent and sensitive ecosystems. For many
potentially impacting activities, such as urban development and rural land-use
changes, no EIA is needed and the impact on groundwater and its dependent
ecosystems is rarely considered.
In some areas of the world, subtle changes to GDEs are seen to have significant effect
on the hydrological cycle. The Australian dry land salinity crisis, with the potential to
ruin millions of hectares of land, reduce biodiversity and devastate urban
infrastructure through flooding and rising water tables, is a case in point.
A coordinated programme groundwater research is needed to address the following
key questions:

How is the South African environment dependent on groundwater?

What is the nature and extent of groundwater dependency?

How can we best manage our land and water resources to sustain the critical
role of groundwater?

What are the critical groundwater parameters necessary for ecosystem
functioning and what impacts them?
The start-up phase of this programme should include scoping the key areas of research
which are expected to have the greatest impact on the South African environment.
We should include marine, terrestrial and aquatic ecologists conservation biologists in
this process as well as hydrogeologists.