coaltech upper olifants river catchment wetland inventory ...

3.9 Common wetland types in UORC
According to Palmer et al (2002) the most extensive wetland type in the catchment are the
riparian wetlands. Since riparian wetlands are associated with rivers and streams, the total
length of the rivers in the catchment is the most important contributing factor towards making
the riparian wetlands the most extensive wetland type (22%).
The seasonally inundated channelled valley bottom floodplains with footslope seepage
wetlands are the wetland types with the largest individual wetlands (Palmer et al 2002).
Although wetlands in this type are few, they account for 18% of the wetland area indicated in
Palmer et al (2002).
Numerous pans occur in the study area, but account for only a small percentage of the total
wetland area (5%). The non-permanent pans are more numerous than the permanent pans,
but account for a smaller total area (less than 4%). The permanent pans in the UORC are
larger than the non-permanent pans (Palmer et al 2002).
Artificial wetlands (dams and weirs) are the most common wetlands in the study area,
accounting for almost 50% of the wetlands recorded in Palmer et al (2002). Some of the
dams and weirs are small and the total area therefore, account for 11% of the total wetland
area.
3.10 Status of wetlands within the UORC
Various wetland assessments were conducted on the wetlands in the UORC for
developments, mining expansions etc. The results from some of these assessments are
included below to give a general indication of the status of the wetlands in the UORC. A map
(Figure 7) is included to indicate the location of the wetlands discussed in relation to the
catchment.
Wetland Database for UORC - 63 -