coaltech upper olifants river catchment wetland inventory ...

5.3 Type
Six wetland types have been included in the wetland layer. The wetlands were not further
divided, due to the difficulties associated with classifying wetlands on an aerial photograph.
The six types are perennial pans, non-perennial pans, seepage, floodplain riparian, non-
floodplain riparian and artificial wetlands. Wetlands were only included under the artificial
wetlands if the wetlands were obviously artificial. A number of artificial wetlands may
therefore be included under the other wetland types, but has not been indicated as such,
because they are not clearly identified on the aerial photographs. The wetland types were
based on the wetland classification used by Palmer et al (2002).
5.4 Threats
The threats included are the threats visible on the aerial photographs. The threats include
disturbance such as agriculture, infrastructure, developments and damming. The most
significant impacts are agriculture and infrastructure, with approximately 94% and 85% of the
wetland area impacted by these activities, respectively. Approximately 53% of the wetlands
are visibly impacted by damming, 37% by alien vegetation and by development, 20% by
mining and less than 0.5% by industry and trampling. Wetlands may be impacted by
activities such as mine water decanting and industrial pollution for great distances
downstream of the activity. These impacts are mostly not visible on the aerial photographs
and are therefore not included. Impacts on ground water quality and quantity is also not
visible and could not be included. The impact of these activities may be far reaching and the
impacts from mining and industry are probably more extensive than indicated in the
database.
5.5 Status
The five categories indicating the status of the wetland are on a gradient from 1 to 5, with 1
indicating a wetland that is destroyed and 5 a wetland in pristine condition. This is the most
inaccurate of the attributes included in the table. The status of the wetlands is based on the
aerial photographs and only a small portion of field verification. The status therefore could
not be determined with much accuracy.
Wetland Database for UORC - 82 -