Appendix O2 - Biophysical Report.pdf - Zitholele.co.za

February 2011 ii 12619TABLE OF CONTENTSSECTIONPAGE1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................ 11.1 Project Background ................................................................................ 11.1.1 Alternative 1 (AB, BC, CD, DE, EF2, FG, GH, HI, IJ) ................ 11.1.2 Alternative 2 (AM, MN, NL, LH, HI, IJ)....................................... 31.1.3 Alternative 3 (AP, PO, OI, IJ) .................................................... 31.1.4 Stakeholder Identified Alternatives ............................................ 41.2 Study Area Delineation ........................................................................... 41.3 Study Scope ........................................................................................... 61.4 Study Approach ...................................................................................... 61.5 Project Personnel ................................................................................... 61.6 Assumptions and Limitations .................................................................. 62 TOPOGRAPHY .......................................................................................... 72.1 Data Collection ....................................................................................... 72.2 Regional Description .............................................................................. 73 SOILS ...................................................................................................... 113.1 Data Collection ..................................................................................... 113.2 Regional Description ............................................................................ 113.3 Site Description .................................................................................... 113.3.1 Shallow (Rocky) Soils ............................................................. 153.3.2 Agricultural Soils ..................................................................... 173.3.3 Transitional Soils .................................................................... 203.3.4 Clay Soils ................................................................................ 253.3.5 Disturbed Soils ........................................................................ 274 AGRICULTURAL POTENTIAL (LAND CAPABILITY) ............................. 294.1 Data Collection ..................................................................................... 294.2 Regional Description ............................................................................ 294.3 Site Description .................................................................................... 295 SURFACE WATER .................................................................................. 355.1 Data Collection ..................................................................................... 355.2 River Catchments and Crossings ......................................................... 355.3 Sensitivities .......................................................................................... 406 WETLAND AND RIPARIAN ZONE DELINEATION ................................. 426.1 Data Collection and Methodology ......................................................... 426.1.1 Riparian Zones vs. Wetlands .................................................. 426.2 Terrain Unit Indicator ............................................................................ 436.3 Soil Form Indicator ............................................................................... 436.4 Soil Wetness Indicator .......................................................................... 446.5 Vegetation Indicator .............................................................................. 446.6 Delineated Wetlands and Buffer Zones ................................................ 447 TERRESTRIAL ECOLOGY...................................................................... 497.1 Data Collection ..................................................................................... 49ZITHOLELE CONSULTING