coaltech upper olifants river catchment wetland inventory ...

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Gap analysis Although the wetlands in the UORC have been mapped extensively (mostly 1:50 000 scale), there is a lack of data on specific wetland attributes. The status of the wetlands in the UORC is not well known, with very few tools available to assess the wetland health on this scale. The species composition of only a few wetlands in the UORC is known with any detail resulting in only a generalised species list for wetlands in the catchment. Water quality data of very few wetlands in the UORC is available, with only a few studies conducted in the wetlands in the catchment.Although various species lists are available some flora and fauna species are only known to occur in wetlands in the area, with no reference as to which types of wetlands. The wetland boundaries are based on aerial photo interpretation and only selected site verification. This study is only a baseline study and should be refined. The wetland types should also be further defined by more detailed wetland studies. This study is not intended to replace site specific wetland studies. Database accuracy The database accuracy was determined during the field verification of the site visits. A total of 632 wetlands of various sizes were verified. Approximately 17% of the wetlands indicated in the database did not exist. Eighty-seven percent of these non-existant wetlands were seepage wetlands. In addition, a total of 133 wetlands observed in the field, but absent from the database, were delineated. The added wetlands only comprised 1.3% of the verified wetland area, an almost negligible difference. These wetlands were not observed on the aerial photographs, due to their small size. After site verification, the total area of wetlands in the UORC has been lowered from 3 105 km 2 to 2 147 km 2 , a difference of 31%. The total area of non-floodplain riparian wetlands and perennial pans changed little, but the total area of the artificial wetlands doubled in size, while the total seepage area halved. The floodplain riparian and non-perennial pans diminished in total area by 36% and 26%, respectively. The reason for these changes is in part due to faulty identification and delineation, but also in part due to the age of the aerial photographs. Although the aerial photographs are fairly recent (2004-2005) some wetlands has been destroyed in the meantime. Wetland Database for UORC - 6 -
The attributes allocated based on the aerial photo interpretation was also verified on site where possible. Sixty percent of the verified wetlands had an inaccurate status indicated in the database. This was due to the fact that the status was based on what could be observed on the aerial photographs and a large number of impacts are not necessarily visible on the aerial photographs. The attributes in the database has an overall accuracy of 60% and the wetland layer an accuracy of 70%. The addition of wetlands to the database was responscible for only 1.3% of the change in the wetland layer, whereas the deletion of wetlands included in the database, but not present in the field was responsible for the remainder of the difference. The way forward o The wetland layer, although baseline, is not intended as a static, once-off project and the data should be refined and updated on a regular basis. o The layer should be handed over to a host organisation capable of refining and Conclusion updating with site-specific information, e.g. SANBI. Limited literature is available on the wetlands in the UORC, but the literature available illustrates the importance of the wetlands within this catchment, in terms of services and functions. In addition, the wetlands are under threat from various activities within the catchment. Although it is not feasible to prevent all activities impacting on the wetlands from taking place, the activities can be managed to obtain the most beneficial combination of economic development and wetland conservation. A wetland database and a dam layer have been compiled for the catchment. The wetland layer is linked to a wetland database including various attributes such as wetland type, possible functions and status. The wetland database should, however, be viewed as a baseline study to guide decision making, and should not replace more detailed, site specific, wetland assessments. The attributes in the database has an overall accuracy of 60% and the wetland layer an accuracy of 70%. This database should be updated regularly by a host organisation, to continuously improve the accuracy of the data. Wetland Database for UORC - 7 -
Page 1 and 2: COALTECH UPPER OLIFANTS RIVER CATCH
Page 3 and 4: The following aspects are included
Page 5: The most common wetland types in th
Page 9 and 10: 6. DATABASE CONSTRAINTS............
Page 11 and 12: Addendums Addendum A - Plant specie
Page 13 and 14: Figure 1. Extent of the UORC (refer
Page 15 and 16: The aim of the wetland layer is to
Page 17 and 18: 3.3 Wetland biodiversity Wetlands p
Page 19 and 20: Table 1: Species of concern Species
Page 21 and 22: Species name Common name Hottentot
Page 23 and 24: Species name Common name Cordylus g
Page 25 and 26: 3.3.2 Birds Various bird species ut
Page 27 and 28: 3.3.6 Fish The UORC has a low diver
Page 29 and 30: Figure 2. Schematic illustration of
Page 31 and 32: 3.4.1.2 Floodplain riparian Floodpl
Page 33 and 34: 3.4.4 Other non-riparian wetlands O
Page 35 and 36: 3.5.1.2 Groundwater recharge Variou
Page 37 and 38: More important in the removal of me
Page 39 and 40: The flow velocity in the channel of
Page 41 and 42: The most important fishing activity
Page 43 and 44: 3.5.6.3 Livestock Diseases Various
Page 45 and 46: 3.6.2 Mining and Quarrying There is
Page 47 and 48: • Dwars-in-die-wegspruit at the l
Page 49 and 50: 3.6.4 Burning Wetlands are burnt on
Page 51 and 52: 3.6.9 Alien Fauna and Flora 3.6.9.1
Page 53 and 54: Category 3 plant invaders are plant
Page 55 and 56: o The Fish Assemblage Integrity Ind
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Figure 4. The ecoregions of the Oli
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Sixteen fish species (four of which
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Figure 5. Extent of the UORC accord
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3.9 Common wetland types in UORC Ac
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In a wetland assessment conducted a
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In a wetland study at Douglas Colli
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Figure 8. Status of assessed wetlan
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Figure 9. Portion of the wetland la
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Figure 11. Portion of the water bod
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Figure 13. Portion of the separated
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Figure 15. Portion of the wetland l
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Since the field verification site v
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Figure 18. Portion of the final wet
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Upon a request from DWAF the status
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5.8 Functions The functions likely
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5.11 Wetland types The entire catch
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6. DATABASE CONSTRAINTS The greates
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Figure 21. The wetland in the UORC
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8.2 Mapping o Small wetlands (of le
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The attributes in the attribute tab
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10. REFERENCES Abbott Grobicki (Pty
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Goudie, A.S. & Thomas, D.S.G. 1985.
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Merot, P., Squividant, H., Aurousse
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Wilson, R.T. 2003. Animal health an
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Addendum A - Plan species list Wetl
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var. lachnantha Lamiaceae Ajuga oph
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Asteraceae Berkheya onopordifolia B
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Poaceae Chloris pycnothrix Chloroph
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Poaceae Boraginaceae incompletus Cy
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Poaceae Echinochloa cruspavonis * *
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Asteraceae Gamochaeta subfalcata Y
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Sterculiaceae Sterculiaceae Poaceae
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Cyperaceae Kyllinga erecta Kyllinga
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Asteraceae Nidorella anamola Nympho
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Polygonaceae Apiaceae Poaceae Apiac
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Brassicaceae Rorippa nudiuscula * *
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Poaceae Setaria verticillata * Malv
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Asteraceae Ursinia nana * * * Lenti
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Addendum B - Mammal species list We
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Cynictis Yellow Carnivora penicilla
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Addendum C - Bird species list Wetl
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Actitis hypoleucos Actophilornis Co
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Ceryle rudis Nectarinia Pied Kingfi
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Eremopterix verticalis Estrilda ast
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Netta erythrophthalma Numida meleag
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Spizocorys conirostris Pinkbilled L
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Addendum D - Reptile species list W
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Elapidae Naja haje Egyptian cobra X
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Group Species name Common name Pipi
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Addendum F - Fish species list Wetl
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Austroglansis sclateri X X Barbus a
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Phylum Group Species name Common na
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Arachnida Tanycypris obtusa Hydroze
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gibba Daphnia pulex Simocephalus ca
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Ischnura senegalensis Pseuddgrion s
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Micronecta sp. Micronecta piccanin
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Hydraenidae Hydrophilida e Berosus
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MOLLUSCA Simulium adersi Simulium ?
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