WFW - Rustenberg Rehab Plan - 0
WFW - Rustenberg Rehab Plan - 0
WFW - Rustenberg Rehab Plan - 0
PROJECT: RUSTENBURG
A21K, A22F, A24D
APRIL 2014
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REHABILITATION PLAN FOR THE RUSTENBURG WETLAND PROJECT, NORTH
WEST: PLANNING YEAR 2014
AS PART OF THE
FOR THE
MAIN REPORT
APRIL 2014
South African National Biodiversity Institute, South Africa. 2014. Rehabilitation Plan for the
Rustenburg Wetland Project, North West: Planning Year 2014. Prepared by Franci Gresse
and Grace Shihepo, Aurecon South Africa (Pty) Ltd as part of the planning phase for the
Working for Wetlands Rehabilitation Programme. SANBI Report No. 109664/8822
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South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI)
WORKING FOR WETLANDS: CONTEXT DOCUMENT
The programme is mandated to rehabilitate damaged wetlands and to protect pristine wetlands throughout South
Africa, with an emphasis on complying with the principles of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) and
using only local Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs). The EPWP seeks to draw significant numbers of
unemployed people into the productive sector of the economy, gaining skills while they work and increasing their
capacity to earn an income.
That which actually constitutes a wetland is often not fully understood. Common misconceptions have been that
wetlands must be wet, must have a river running through them, or must always be situated in low-lying areas.
The definition of a wetland is much broader and more textured: they are characterised more by soil properties
and flora than by an abundance of water.
Wetlands can therefore be seasonal and may experience regular dry spells (sometimes even staying dry for up to
several years), or they can be frequently or permanently wet. Wetlands can occur in a variety of locations across
the landscape (Plate A), and may even occur at the top of a hill, nowhere near a river. A pan, for example, is a
wetland which forms in a depression. Wetlands also come in many sizes; they can be as small as a few square
metres (e.g. at a low point along the side of a road) or cover a significant portion of a country (e.g. the Okavango
Delta).
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WORKING FOR WETLANDS: CONTEXT DOCUMENT
Plate A: A large, seasonal wetland identifiable by the characteristic flora. This wetland contained no
surface water at the time of the photograph.
Wetland ecosystems provide a range of ecological and social services which benefit people, society and the
economy at large:
Wetlands offer services such as water provision, regulation, purification and groundwater replenishment
are crucial in addressing objectives of water security and water for food security.
Wetlands play a critical role in improving the ecological health of an ecosystem by performing many
functions that include flood control, water purification, sediment and nutrient retention and export,
recharge of groundwater, as well as acting as vital habitats for diverse plant and animal species.
Wetlands provide ecological infrastructure, replacing the need for municipal infrastructure by providing
the same or better benefit at a fraction of the cost.
Wetlands retard the movement of water in the landscape, which offers the dual benefit of flood control as
well as a means of purification. The slow movement of water allows heavier impurities to settle and
phreatic vegetation and micro-bacteria the opportunity to remove pollutants and nutrients. For these
reasons, artificially created wetlands are often used in newer urban drainage systems to aid both
mitigation of flooding and improvement of water quality.
Wetlands function as valuable open spaces and create recreational opportunities for people that include
hiking, fishing, boating, and bird-watching.
Many wetlands also have cultural and spiritual significance for the communities living nearby.
Commercially, products such as reeds and peat are also harvested from wetlands (Plate B).
Wetlands are thus considered to be critically important ecosystems as they provide both direct and indirect
benefits to the environment and society.
Plate B: Commercial products made by locals from reeds harvested from wetlands.
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WORKING FOR WETLANDS: CONTEXT DOCUMENT
3. Wetland Degradation
It has been estimated that originally over 10% of the Republic of South Africa (RSA) was covered by wetlands;
however, this figure decreases significantly every year owing to unsustainable land-use practices. It is estimated
that more than 50% of South Africa’s wetlands have been destroyed through drainage of wetlands for crops and
pastures, poorly managed burning regimes, overgrazing, disturbances to wetland soils, vegetation clearing as
well as industrial and urban development (including mining activities).
Although wetlands are high-value ecosystems that make up only a small fraction of the country; they rank among
the most threatened ecosystems in South Africa. According to a recent Council of Scientific Research (CSIR)
study,1 South Africa’s remaining wetlands were identified as the most threatened of all South Africa’s ecosystems,
with 48% of wetland ecosystem types being critically endangered, 12% endangered and 5% vulnerable. Only
11% of wetland ecosystem types are well protected, with 71% not protected at all.
The remaining wetland systems suffer from severe erosion and sedimentation, undesirable plant species and
aquatic fauna infestations, unsustainable exploitation, artificial drainage and damming, and pollution. The
continued degradation of wetlands will impact on biodiversity, ecological function, and the provision of ecosystem
services with subsequent impacts on livelihoods and economic activity, as well as health and wellbeing of
communities. In the absence of functional wetlands, the carbon cycle, the nutrient cycle and the water cycle
would be significantly altered, mostly detrimentally.
Wetland rehabilitation and conservation should be at the heart of water management. It is necessary to prioritise
South Africa’s remaining wetlands such that those that offer valuable ecosystem services and are least impacted
by current pressures or threats are offered immediate attention to avoid further loss, conversion or degradation.
The guiding principles of the National Water Act, No. 36 of 1998, recognise the need to protect water resources.
In responding to the challenge of stemming the loss of wetlands and maintaining and enhancing the benefits they
provide, government has recognised that, in order to be truly effective, strategies for wetland conservation need
to include a combination of proactive measures for maintaining healthy wetlands, together with interventions for
rehabilitating those that have been degraded. These objectives are currently being expressed in a coordinated
and innovative way through the WfWetlands Programme.
The two main objectives of the WfWetlands Programme are wetland conservation in South Africa and poverty
reduction through job creation and skills development amongst vulnerable and marginalised groups.
Wetland conservation: The strategic framework of the WfWetlands Programme underlines the need for a more
refined planning process at catchment scale. Catchment scale planning seeks to promote ecosystem-scale
1
Nel J.L. and Driver A. 2012. South African National Biodiversity Assessment 2011: Technical Report. Volume 2:
Freshwater Component. CSIR Report Number CSIR/NRE/ECO/IR/2012/0022/A, Council for Scientific and
Industrial Research, Stellenbosch.
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WORKING FOR WETLANDS: CONTEXT DOCUMENT
outcomes, long-term custodianship, and the entrenchment of rehabilitation in broader local institutions and
frameworks. The recent move to a systematic wetland rehabilitation planning process has provided a fertile and
conducive platform for partnerships to be formed and/or strengthened as the process draws in a much wider
stakeholder base.
Wetlands are not easy ecosystems to map at a broad scale as they are numerous, often small and difficult to
recognise and delineate on remotely sensed imagery such as satellite photos. The WfWetlands Programme
houses the National Wetlands Inventory Project (NWI) which aims to provide clarity on the extent, distribution and
condition of South Africa’s wetlands. The project clarifies how many and which rivers and wetlands have to be
maintained in a natural condition to sustain economic and social development, while still conserving South
Africa’s freshwater biodiversity.
The National Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Areas (NFEPA) has used the NWI data to produce the most
comprehensive national wetland map to date, called the NFEPA Atlas. This atlas enables the planning of wetland
rehabilitation on a catchment scale.
Skills development: In the 12 years since its inception, the WfWetlands Programme has invested R530 million
in wetland rehabilitation and has been involved in over 900 wetlands, thereby improving or securing the health of
over 70 000 hectares of wetland environment. The WfWetlands Programme currently has a budget of
approximately R94 million per year, of which R32 million is allocated directly to paying wages. Being part of the
Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), the WfWetland Programme has created more than 12 800 jobs
and 2.2 million person-days of paid work. The local teams are made up of a minimum of 60% women, 20% youth
and 1% disabled persons.
Training and Capacity Building during the Working for Wetlands Programme
The WfWetlands Programme has established a working relationship with the Department of Public Works through
the Working for Water programme. This partnership provides accredited training in accordance with the special
public works Code of Good Practice agreements. Capacity building in the WfWetlands Programme operates
primarily at two levels:
o The first concerns the need to ensure the development of adequate capacity to rehabilitate, manage and
conserve wetlands in South Africa.
o The second relates to the commitment of the WfWetlands Programme as an EPWP to provide
appropriate training to its workers in order for them to exit the programme with marketable skills and
enhanced personal development.
Workers receive two days of training, either vocational or social development-related, for every 22 days worked.
Vocational training includes technical matters related to project activities, occupational health and safety, first aid,
fire awareness, and business skills (contractor development). Social development includes literacy, primary
health, personal finance, HIV/Aids and diversity awareness.
Wage information sourced from the best practice guidelines suggests that workers and contractors would be paid
daily rates of R 82 and R 2512 respectively and would be employed on limited term contracts, i.e. 24 months in a
five-year cycle. Employment of workers complies with the Ministerial Determination on Special Public Works
Programmes (Government Notice No. R 63, 25 January 2002) and the Code of Good Practice for Employment
and Conditions of Work for Special Public Works Programmes (Government Notice No. R 64, 25 January 2002).
2
Without a Supervisor
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WORKING FOR WETLANDS: CONTEXT DOCUMENT
Targets for employment specify that the programme’s workforce should comprise at least 60% women, 20%
youth and 2% disabled people.
The WfWetlands Programme engages with provinces, especially government departments and agencies
responsible for biodiversity and environment, and municipalities through individual projects. A stronger working
relationship with these spheres of government is being promoted through the programme’s emphasis on
partnerships. In particular, compatibility with Integrated Development Plans and rehabilitation project objectives
will be a key area of future focus. The WfWetlands Programme encourages municipalities to participate in
provincial wetland forums as these forums are the platform for the roll out of all the programmes’ processes,
including planning for future work. Provincial forums also offer support from the government departments and
private sectors that are represented. Partnerships with non-governmental organizations and the private sector are
also critical, requiring collaboration and cooperation with a wider range of stakeholders and role players in the
wetland management field.
5. Rehabilitation interventions
The successful rehabilitation of a wetland requires that the cause of damage or degradation is addressed, and
that the natural flow patterns of the wetland system are re-established (flow is encouraged to disperse rather than
to concentrate). Approximately 500 interventions are implemented every year in the WfWetlands Programme.
The key purposes of implementing interventions include:
Restoration of hydrological integrity (e.g. raising the general water table or redistributing the water
across the wetland area);
Recreation of wetland habitat towards the conservation of biodiversity; and
Job creation and social upliftment.
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Methods of wetland rehabilitation may include hard engineering interventions such as:
Earth berms in conjunction with gabion systems to block artificial channels that drain water from or divert
polluted water to the wetland;
Concrete and gabion weirs to act as settling ponds, to reduce flow velocity or to re-disperse water
across former wetland areas thereby re-establishing natural flow paths;
Earth or gabion structure plugs to raise channel floors and reduce water velocity;
Concrete or gabion structures to stabilise head-cut or other erosion and prevent gullies; and
Gabion structures (mattresses, blankets or baskets) to provide a platform for the growth of desired
wetland vegetation.
Soft engineering interventions also offer successful rehabilitation methods, and the following are often used
together with the hard engineering interventions:
The re-vegetation of stabilised areas with appropriate wetland and riparian plant species;
The fencing off of sensitive areas within the wetland to keep grazers out and to allow for the
re-establishment of vegetation;
The use of biodegradable or natural soil retention systems such as eco-logs, plant plugs, grass or hay
bales, and brush-packing techniques;
In some instances, the use of appropriate fire management and burning regimes. The removal of
undesirable plant and animal species; and
Alien invasive plant clearing, which is an important part of wetland rehabilitation (and this is supported by
the Working for Water Programme).
Each Wetland Project is managed in three phases over a two-year cycle as shown in the flow diagram in Plate C.
The first two phases straddle the first year of the cycle and involve planning, identification, design and
authorisation of interventions. The third phase is implementation, which takes place during the second year.
The first phase is the identification of suitable wetlands which require intervention. The purpose of Phase 1 and
the associated reporting is to identify:
Priority catchments and associated wetlands/ sites within which rehabilitation work needs to be
undertaken; and
Key stakeholders who will provide meaningful input into the planning phases and wetland selection
processes, and who will review and comment on the rehabilitation proposals.
The Project Team currently comprises the SANBI Programme Manager who oversees the WfWetlands
Programme and Provincial Coordinators (PCs) who oversee the identification and implementation of projects in
their regions. They are supported by a small team based at the Pretoria Botanical Gardens who fulfil various roles
such as planning, monitoring and evaluation, implementation, Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and
training. Independent Design Engineers and Environmental Assessment Practitioners (EAPs) are appointed to
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WORKING FOR WETLANDS: CONTEXT DOCUMENT
undertake the planning, design and authorisation components of the project. The project team is assisted by a
number of wetland ecologists who provide scientific insight into the operation of wetlands and bring expert and
often local knowledge to the project teams.
The programme makes use of external support to implement its work. External implementing agents are
currently employed and some are Section 21 companies. Implementers are responsible for employing contractors
and their teams (workers), and ensuring that rehabilitation plans are adequately implemented. Funds are
transferred from SANBI to the implementing agents, who in turn pay contractors and their teams.
Plate C: The Working for Wetlands planning process (Phase 1 to Phase 3).
Phase 1 commences with a catchment and wetland prioritisation process for every province. The wetland
ecologist responsible for a particular province undertakes a desktop study to determine the most suitable
wetlands for the WfWetlands rehabilitation efforts. The involvement of Provincial Wetland Forums and other key
stakeholders is a critical component of the wetland identification processes since these stakeholders are
representative of diverse groups with shared interests (e.g. from government institutions to amateur ecological
enthusiasts). This phase also involves initial communication with local land-owners and other Interested and
Affected Parties (I&APs) to gauge the social benefits of the work. Aerial surveys of the areas in question may be
undertaken, as well as limited fieldwork investigations or site visits to confirm the inclusion of certain wetland
projects or units. Once wetlands have been prioritised and agreed on by the various parties, specific rehabilitation
objectives are determined for each wetland following a rapid wetland status quo assessment undertaken by the
wetland ecologist.
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South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI)
WORKING FOR WETLANDS: CONTEXT DOCUMENT
Phase 2 requires site visits attended by the fieldwork team comprising a wetland ecologist, a Design Engineer, an
Environmental Assessment practitioner, and a SANBI Provincial Coordinator. Other interested stakeholders or
authorities, landowners and in some instances the implementing agents may also attend the site visits on some
occasions. This allows for a highly collaborative approach, as options are discussed by experts from different
scientific disciplines, as well as local inhabitants with deep anecdotal knowledge. While on site, rehabilitation
opportunities are investigated. The details of the proposed interventions are discussed, some survey work is
undertaken by the engineers, and GPS coordinates and digital photographs are taken for record purposes.
Furthermore, appropriate dimensions of the locations are recorded in order to design and calculate quantities for
the interventions. At the end of the site visit the rehabilitation objectives together with the location layout of the
proposed interventions are agreed upon by the project team.
During Phase 2, monitoring systems are put in place to support the continuous evaluation of the interventions.
The systems monitor both the environmental and social benefits of the interventions. As part of the Phase 2 site
visit, a maintenance inventory of any existing interventions that are damaged and/or failing and thus requiring
maintenance is compiled by the PC, in consultation with the Design Engineer.
Based on certain criteria and data measurements (water volumes, flow rates, and soil types); the availability of
materials such as rock; labour intensive targets; maintenance requirements etc., the interventions are then
designed. Bills of quantity are calculated for the designs and cost estimates made. Maintenance requirements for
existing interventions in the assessed wetlands are similarly detailed and the costs calculated. The Design
Engineer also reviews and, if necessary, adjusts any previously planned interventions that are included into the
historical Rehabilitation Plans.
Phase 2 also comprises a reporting component where Rehabilitation Plans are prepared for each Wetland
Project. The Rehabilitation Plans include details of each intervention to be implemented, preliminary construction
drawings and all necessary documentation required by applicable legislation. The Rehabilitation Plans are
reviewed by various government departments, stakeholders and the general public before a specific subset of
interventions are selected for implementation.
Phase 3 requires that certain Environmental Authorisations are obtained before work can commence in the
wetlands (please see subsequent sections of this document for detail on Environmental Authorisations). Upon
approval of the wetland Rehabilitation Plans by DEA, DWA, and the directly affected landowners is obtained, the
work detailed for the project will be implemented within a year with on-going monitoring being undertaken
thereafter. The Rehabilitation Plans are considered to be the primary working document for the implementation of
the project via the construction/ undertaking of interventions3 listed in the Plan.
It is typically at this point in the process when the final construction drawings are issued to the Implementing
Agents (IAs). Seventeen Implementing Agents are currently employed in the WfWetlands Programme and are
responsible for employing contractors and their teams (workers) to construct the interventions detailed in each of
the Rehabilitation Plans. For all interventions that are based on engineering designs (typically hard engineered
interventions), the Design Engineer is required to visit the site before construction commences to ensure that the
original design is still appropriate in the dynamic and ever-changing wetland system. The Design Engineer will
assist the IAs in pegging and setting-out interventions. The setting-out activities often coincide with the Phase 1
activities for the next planning cycle. Phase 3 concludes with the construction of the interventions, but there is an
3
This could include soft options such as alien clearing, eco-logs, gabion structures as well as hard structures for
example weirs.
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on-going monitoring and auditing process that ensures the quality of interventions, the rectification of any
problems, and the feedback to the design team regarding lessons learnt.
Based on lessons learnt and project team discussions held during the National Prioritisation workshop in
November 2010 SANBI took an in-principle decision regarding work within floodplain systems.
Recognising the ecosystem services provided by floodplain wetlands and the extent to which they have been
transformed, SANBI do not intend to stop undertaking rehabilitation work in floodplains entirely. Instead, SANBI
propose to adopt an approach to the rehabilitation of floodplain areas that takes into account the following guiding
principles:
1. As a general rule, avoid constructing hard interventions within an active floodplain channel; and
rather
2. Explore rehabilitation opportunities on the floodplain surface using smaller (possibly more) softer
engineering options outside of the main channel.
When rehabilitation within a floodplain setting is being contemplated, it will be necessary to allocate additional
planning resources, including the necessary specialist expertise towards ensuring an adequate understanding of
the system and appropriate design of the interventions.
7. Environmental legislation
One of the core purposes of the WfWetlands Programme is the preservation of South Africa’s valuable wetland
systems through rehabilitation and restoration. The WfWetlands Programme operates within the context of the
Constitution of South Africa, Act No. 108 of 1996, whereby everyone has the right to have the environment
protected and conserved for the benefit of present and future generations. The following legislation (listed in
Table A) informs and guides the WfWetlands Programme in terms of its vision and objectives, whilst
simultaneously regulating the wetland rehabilitation activities which WfWetlands carries out.
South Africa has rigorous and comprehensive environmental legislation aimed at preventing degradation of the
environment, including damage to wetland systems. Development proposals within or near any wetland system
are subject to thorough bio-physical and socio-economic assessment as mandatory processes of related
legislation. These processes are required to prevent degradation of the environment and to ensure sustainable
and environmentally conscientious development.
The WfWetlands Programme requires that both hard and soft interventions are implemented in the wetland
system, and it is the activities associated with the construction of these interventions that triggers requirements
for various authorisations, licenses or permits. However, it is important to note that the very objective of the
WfWetlands Programme is to improve both environmental and social circumstances. The WfWetlands
Programme gives effect to a range of policy objectives of environmental legislation, and also honours South
Africa’s commitments under several international agreements, especially the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
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WORKING FOR WETLANDS: CONTEXT DOCUMENT
Of particular relevance in Table A is the following legislation and the WfWetlands Programme has put systems in
place to achieve compliance:
The National Environmental Management Act, No. 107 of 1998 (NEMA)
o In terms of Regulations pursuant to the NEMA, certain activities that may have a detrimental impact
on the environment (termed Listed Activities) require an Environmental Authorisation from the
Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA). The implementation of interventions will trigger NEMA
Listing Notices 1 and 3 (G.N. R544 and G.N R546 respectively). In order to meet the requirements of
these Regulations, it is necessary to undertake a Basic Assessment Process and apply for an EA.
This was previously undertaken on an annual basis per Province as the Wetland Projects became
known. However as from 2014, an application is now made per Province for Wetland Projects
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required in the next few planning cycles (anywhere from one to three planning cycles depending on
the information gained through the Catchment Prioritisation Process).
o Basic Assessment Reports (BARs) will be prepared for each Province where work is proposed by
the WfWetlands Programme. These BARs will present all Wetland Projects that are proposed in a
particular province, together with information regarding the quaternary catchments and the wetlands
that have been prioritised for the next few planning cycles (anywhere from one to three planning
cycles depending on the information gained through the Catchment Prioritisation Process). The EA’s
will be inclusive of all Listed Activities that may be triggered and will essentially authorise any typical
wetland rehabilitation activities required during the WfWetlands Programme implementation phase.
o A condition of the EA’s is that Rehabilitation Plans will be prepared every year after sufficient field
work has been undertaken in the wetlands that have an EA. These Rehabilitation Plans will be made
available to registered Interested and Affected Parties (I&APs) before being submitted to DEA for
approval. The Rehabilitation Plans will describe the combination and number of interventions
selected to meet the rehabilitation objectives for each Wetland Project, as well as an indication of the
approximate location and approximate dimensions (including footprint) of each intervention.
The National Water Act, No.36 of 1998 (NWA)
o In terms of Section 39 of the NWA, a General authorisation4 (GA) has been granted for certain
activities that are listed under the NWA that usually require a Water Use License; as long as these
activities are undertaken for wetland rehabilitation. These activities include ‘impeding or diverting the
flow of water in a watercourse5’ and ‘altering the bed, banks, course or characteristics of a
watercourse6’ where they are specifically undertaken for the purposes of rehabilitating7 a wetland for
conservation purposes. SANBI are required to register the ‘water use’ in terms of the GA.
The National Heritage Resources Act, No. 25 of 1999 (NHRA)
o In terms of Section 38 of the NHRA; any person who intends to undertake a development as
categorised in the NHRA must at the very earliest stages of initiating the development notify the
responsible heritage resources authority, namely the South African Heritage Resources Agency
(SAHRA) or the relevant provincial heritage agency. These agencies would in turn indicate whether
or not a full Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) would need to be undertaken. Should a permit be
required for the damaging or removal of specific heritage resources, a separate application will be
submitted to SAHRA or the relevant provincial heritage agency for the approval of such an activity.
SANBI has engaged with SAHRA regarding the wetland planning process and has committed to
achieving full compliance with the heritage act over the next few years.
4
Government Notice No. 1198, 18 December 2009
5
Section 21(c ) of the NWA, No. 36 of 1998
6
Section 21(i) of the NWA, No. 36 of 1998
7
Defined in the NWA as “the process of reinstating natural ecological driving forces within part of the whole of a
degraded watercourse to recover former or desired ecosystem structure, function, biotic composition and
associated ecosystem services”
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Annexures
Appendix A: Wetland Status Quo Assessment
Appendix B: General Construction Notes
Appendix C: Design Drawings
Appendix D: Environmental Authorisation
Appendix E: Landowner Agreements
Appendix F: Construction Environmental Management Plan
Appendix G: National Stakeholder Database
Appendix H: Provincial Stakeholder Database
List of Tables
The legislation protecting the environment in South Africa was not written with the intention of preventing wetland
rehabilitation efforts, but rather at curtailing development in sensitive environments. It is important to remember
that the WfWetlands Programme is not a development proposal, and although this programme technically
requires authorisations, licenses and permits, such rehabilitation projects were never meant to be sent through
legislative processes aimed at preventing negative environmental impact.
In terms of the environmental management principles of the National Environmental Management Act, No. 107 of
1998 (NEMA), certain activities that may have a detrimental impact on the environment (termed Listed Activities)
require Environmental Authorisation (EA) from the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA). The WfWetlands
Programme will require that interventions be implemented and/or constructed in the wetland systems to ultimately
restore some of the more natural wetland functions that have been lost to unsustainable land use practices or
development. The implementation of certain interventions triggers Listing Notices 1 and 3 (G.N. R544 and G.N
R546 respectively).
In order to meet the requirements of the Regulations pursuant to NEMA, it was necessary to undertake a Basic
Assessment Process. Basic Assessment Report (BARs) were prepared and these reports presented all Wetland
Projects for each Province, together with information regarding the quaternary catchments and the wetlands that
were prioritised for the next few planning cycles (anywhere from one to three planning cycles depending on the
information gained through the Catchment Prioritisation Process).
The EA that has been applied for will be inclusive of all Listed Activities that may be triggered whilst implementing
the wetland rehabilitation interventions. Essentially this EA would authorise any typical wetland rehabilitation
activities on condition that the specific intervention proposals are submitted in a Rehabilitation Plan to DEA for
approval.
The Rehabilitation Plans for each Wetland Project will be prepared annually after sufficient field work and
stakeholder consultation has been undertaken in the wetlands that have an EA. These Rehabilitation Plans will
be submitted to DEA for approval as a condition of the EA for the respective Provincial BAR.
Aurecon acknowledges the authorship of any information contained in this document from
previous planning years, to the previous provider: Land Resources International (LRI).
This Report must be read in conjunction with the following reports for this project:
1. Other Phase 2 Planning Reports which include the:
a. North West Basic Assessment Report (2014), and the
b. Wetland Status Quo Assessments (Appendix A of this report).
VII. DISCLAIMER
o This Rehabilitation Plan is for the Rustenburg Wetland Project in the North West
Province. The plan is to be used to implement the interventions identified as
necessary to rehabilitate the Rustenburg wetlands, and is to be approved by the
Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) as part of the conditions of Environmental
Authorisation (EA).
o The intervention points and wetland boundary polygons provided in this report are
based on the shapefiles that have been provided by the South African National
Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). The datasets included in the Phase 1 Reports have
been updated by the Wetland ecologists and verified by the SANBI Provincial Co-
ordinators (PCs). All reasonable efforts have therefore been made to ensure that the
data is accurate. However Aurecon South Africa (Pty) Ltd (Aurecon) does not accept
responsibility for any remaining inaccuracies in the spatial data provided to us, which
may be reflected in this report.
o Aurecon accepts responsibility for the engineering design to the extent that this is
based on available information. The available information is limited to what could be
interpreted during a single site visit of no longer than a few hours. No geotechnical,
topographical, geomorphologic and other engineering related surveys have been
undertaken to inform the design. This is non-standard engineering practice and
therefore Aurecon is indemnified by the Client and does not accept responsibility for
Wetland Rehabilitation Plan April 2014
Rustenburg Wetland Project, North West
xiv
the associated risk of failure from the above limitations or any damages that may
occur.
o This Rehabilitation Plan must not be amended without prior consultation and approval
from DEA, the responsible Aurecon Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP),
Engineer, SANBI PC and the SANBI Planning, Evaluation and Monitoring Manager.
o All changes must be motivated using the standard change request form
supplemented with additional information as necessary.
o Aurecon is indemnified against any associated damages and accepts no liability
associated with the construction and implementation of engineering interventions due
to Aurecon being instructed to have limited contact with the implementer during the
construction phase resulting in our inability to diligently supervise and assess any
progress.
o The Client confirms that by accepting these drawings or reports, he acknowledges
and accepts the abovementioned limitation of Aurecon’s liability.
RECEIVED
FOR FOR
NAME TITLE PRIOR TO
ACTION INFORMATION
RELEASE
PROPONENT
Umesh Programme
Bahadur Manager:
Working for
Wetlands
Eric Implementation
Munzhedzi Manager
Malaika SANBI
Koali- Provincial
Lebona coordinator
NATIONAL STAKEHOLDERS
LANDOWNERS
The WfWetlands Programme forms part of the EPWP which seeks to draw significant
numbers of unemployed into the productive sector of the economy. These individuals gain
skills while they work thus increasing their capacity to earn an income. Rehabilitation efforts
are thus focused on wetland conservation and the appropriate use of wetlands in a way that
attempts to maximize employment creation, support for small business and the transfer of
skills to the unemployed and poor.
In the 12 years since its inception, the WfWetlands Programme has invested R530 million in
wetland rehabilitation and has been involved in over 900 wetlands thereby improving or
securing the health of over 70 000 hectares of wetland environment. The WfWetlands
Programme has created more than 12 800 jobs and 2.2 million person-days of paid work.
Local people are recruited to work and targets for employment specify that the programme’s
workforce should comprise at least 60% women, 20% youth and 2% disabled people.
Each Project is managed in three phases over a two-year cycle. The first two phases (Phase
1 and Phase 2) straddle the first year of the cycle and involve planning, identification, design
and authorisation of interventions. The third phase (Phase 3) is implementation of specific
interventions to achieve rehabilitation, and this takes place during the second year. SANBI is
currently managing 35 Wetland Projects countrywide, and approximately 500 interventions
within these Wetland Projects will be implemented to meet the objectives of the Programme.
1
1.1.2 Methods of rehabilitation
The successful rehabilitation of a wetland requires that the cause of damage or degradation
is addressed, and that the natural flow patterns of the wetland system are re-established
(and flow is encouraged to disperse rather than to concentrate). The main aims of the
WfWetlands Programme are:
Restoration of hydrological integrity (e.g. raising the general water table or
redistributing the water across the wetland area);
Recreation of wetland habitat towards the conservation of biodiversity;
Job creation and social upliftment.
Rehabilitation activities range from stabilising degradation to the more ambitious restoration
of wetlands to their original conditions. Typical activities within the Wetland Projects include:
Earth berms in conjunction with gabion systems to block artificial channels that drain
water from or divert polluted water to the wetland;
Concrete weirs to act as settling ponds, to reduce flow velocity or to re-disperse water
across former wetland areas thereby re-establishing natural flow paths;
Concrete, earth or gabion structures plugs to raise channel floors and reduce water
velocity;
Concrete or gabion structures to stabilise head-cut or other erosion and prevent
gullies; and
Gabion structures (mattresses, blankets or baskets) to provide a platform for the
growth of desired wetland vegetation.
Soft engineering interventions also offer successful rehabilitation methods, and the following
are often used together with the hard engineering interventions:
The re-vegetation of stabilised areas with appropriate wetland and riparian species;
The fencing off of sensitive areas within the wetland to keep grazers out and to allow
for vegetation to become re-established;
The use of biodegradable or natural soil retention systems such as eco-logs, plant
plugs, grass or hay bales, and brush-packing techniques.
The removal of undesirable plant and animal species as part of the Working for Water
initiative. Alien invasive plant clearing is an important part of wetland rehabilitation;
2
In some instances, the use of appropriate fire management and burning regimes.
For more information on the WfWetlands Programme, please refer to the WfWetlands
Context Document included in the front of this report.
Aurecon South Africa (Pty) Ltd (Aurecon) has been appointed to undertake the project
activities and associated reporting required by the WfWetlands Programme. The Aurecon
team comprises design engineers and environmental assessment practitioners (EAPs) who
undertake the planning, design and authorisation components of the project. The Aurecon
Team is assisted by an external team of Wetland Ecologists who provide scientific insight
into the operation of wetlands and bring expert and often local knowledge of the wetlands.
The project team is also complimented by the SANBI Provincial Coordinators (PCs) who are
each responsible for provincial planning and implementation.
Based on this process, the following quaternary catchments (and associated wetland
systems) were identified for the 2014/2015 planning cycle in the North West Province (Table
1):
3
Table 1: North West Wetland Projects
A basic EIA application has been lodged with the National DEA on the 4 March 2014 for the
undertaking of listed activities in terms of NEMA. The DEA will issue an EA that will permit
the WfWetlands Programme to undertake wetland rehabilitation in the abovementioned
wetland systems within the North West Province. This Rehabilitation Plan focusses on the
Rustenburg Wetland Project and is to be submitted to DEA for their approval as a condition
of the EA.
Detailed wetland status quo assessment reports and design drawings are included as
Appendix A of this report. Upon approval of this Rehabilitation Plan by both DEA and the
directly affected landowners, the work detail for the project will be implemented within a year
with on-going monitoring being undertaken from thereon.
8
This could include soft options such as alien clearing, eco-logs, gabion structures as well as hard structures, for
example weirs.
4
Table 2: Project Scope
5
2 GENERAL METHODOLOGY
Each Wetland Project is managed in three phases over a two-year cycle as shown in the flow
diagram in Figure 1 below. The first two phases straddle the first year of the cycle and
involve planning, identification, design and authorisation of interventions. The third phase is
implementation, which takes place during the second year.
2.2 Phase 1
The wetland ecologist responsible for the North West Province undertook a desktop study to
determine the most suitable wetlands for the WfWetlands rehabilitation efforts. The
involvement of Provincial Wetland Forums and other key stakeholders was a critical
component of the wetland identification processes since these stakeholders are
representative of diverse groups with shared interests (e.g. from government institutions to
amateur ecological enthusiasts). This phase also involved initial communication with local
land-owners and other interested and affected parties to gauge the social benefits of the
work. The following wetlands were prioritised and agreed to by the various parties for the
Rustenburg Wetland Project:
1. Rietfontein Wetland
2. Pilanesberg Wetland
1
Figure 1: The three phases that must be undertaken for the successful rehabilitation of wetlands
2
2.3 Phase 2
2.3.1 Site visits
Phase 2 required site visits were attended by the fieldwork team comprising a wetland
ecologist, a design engineer, an EAP, and a SANBI provincial coordinator. The landowner at
the Rietfontein wetland also attended the site visit. This allowed for a highly collaborative
approach to be used, as options were discussed by experts from different scientific
disciplines, as well as local inhabitants with deep anecdotal knowledge. The following site
visits were undertaken for the Rustenburg Wetland Project:
1. Pilanesberg Wetland: 1-3 October 2014
2. Rietfontein: 30 September 2014 and 26 February 2014
At the end of the site visit the rehabilitation objectives together with the location layout of the
proposed interventions were agreed upon by the project team.
During Phase 2, monitoring systems were put in place to support the continuous evaluation
of interventions. The systems monitor both the environmental and social benefits of the
interventions. As part of Phase 2 site visit, a maintenance inventory of any existing
interventions that were damaged and / or failing and thus requiring maintenance was
compiled by the PC, in consultation with the Design Engineer.
3
b. Set rehabilitation objectives and choose appropriate measures for achieving
the objectives
Rehabilitation objectives were informed by the above assessments (e.g., if the primary threat
to the wetland was identified as headcut erosion threatening to propagate through the
wetland then an appropriate rehabilitation objective would be to halt propagation of the
erosion headcut). The engineer was assisted by the wetland ecologist in selecting
appropriate interventions to achieve the identified rehabilitation objectives.
The same approach was used for the assessment of the different threats/impacts that would
be addressed through rehabilitation. In this instance, the situation without rehabilitation (i.e.
no intervention or status quo) was compared to the situation with rehabilitation. For health,
both situations were scored on a scale of 0 (critically altered) to 10 (pristine), and this was
undertaken for the hydrology, geomorphology and vegetation components of health.
The benefit achieved is the improvement in relation to the maximum score. For example, in
areas threatened by headcut erosion which are to be rehabilitated by halting the spreading of
the headcut, the benefits in terms of health would be determined based on the difference
between the current health and the projected health if the headcut proceeded to erode
through the threatened area. In such a case, stopping the expansion of the headcut would
presumably secure the current situation.
Refer to Appendix A which contains the Wetland Status Quo Assessment Reports.
4
Any previously planned interventions that had not been implemented or included into the
previous planning cycle reports were assessed and included into the current year’s selection,
if appropriate to the re-assessed rehabilitation objectives for the wetland. Agreed cost/benefit
ratios in terms of ‘Rands per hectare of rehabilitated wetland’ were taken into account, along
with operational considerations and larger scale project objectives.
After the appropriate intervention options were selected by the planning team, the engineer,
in consultation with the wetland ecologist determined the most appropriate designs and
locations for the identified interventions in order to achieve the rehabilitation objectives for
the wetland in question. GPS coordinates and digital photographs – sufficiently detailed to
clearly identify the selected locations were then taken for record purposes. Appropriate
dimensions of the locations were measured in order to be able to design and calculate
quantities for the interventions.
The accepted naming convention which has been applied to all interventions (old and new)
is explained below with examples being provided as well.
A00A-00-000-00 (new),
An additional two digits will therefore be added to the end of each of the intervention
numbers to indicate maintenance on this specific intervention and/ or whether the structure is
new (00) for tracking purposes. All new interventions will have a default of 00.
5
Should built structures require maintenance, they would be numbered numerically beginning
with ‘01’ e.g. 01, 02, 03, etc. for each year that maintenance is undertaken on the
intervention. In addition, the new naming convention also added a ‘200’ digit in the front of
the intervention number to avoid confusion from previously named interventions.
2.3.4 Collection of Monitoring & Evaluation Baseline and Basic Assessments Data
In accordance with WET-Rehab-Evaluate (Cowden & Kotze, 2007) the collection of baseline
monitoring information is important to allow for the evaluation of the performance of wetland
rehabilitation activities. Monitoring and evaluation facilitate the dissemination of lessons
learnt and provide a means of reporting on the success of specific wetland rehabilitation
initiatives. The monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of an identified wetland rehabilitation
project’s performance is therefore considered vital to inform the evaluation of wetland
rehabilitation success. Baseline monitoring needs to be carried out prior to the
implementation of rehabilitation activities to provide comparable data for monitoring at a later
stage, following the wetland rehabilitation.
While the engineer was working on measurement of the intervention locations, the wetland
ecologist gathered the additional data required for M&E baselines which included the
following:
Photographs and GPS co-ordinates of the identified problems;
Fixed-point photography (in accordance with the guidelines outlined in WET-Rehab-
Evaluate: Cowden & Kotze, 2007);
WET-Health information (allowing the comparison of wetland ecological integrity
before and after rehabilitation activities); and
Details relating to the estimated hectare equivalents.
Any additional data/information required for the assessment of the potential impacts of the
proposed interventions and construction activities was also collected by the wetland ecologist
and the EAP to inform the Basic Assessments.
At the end of the site visit a location layout of the agreed interventions and rehabilitation
objectives was signed off by the SANBI PC and landowner, as indicated by SANBI Signoff 2
in Figure 1.
6
Construction materials were selected based on a range of site specific criteria
including expected velocities, availability of materials such as rock, labour intensive
targets, maintenance requirements etc.
Interventions were designed based on the above to meet the objectives for wetland
rehabilitation.
The intervention designs were drafted to show, at a minimum, a plan view, a
longitudinal section and front elevation at appropriate scales, and appropriate
dimensions. A legend indicating basket sizes was included for gabion structures to
improve design clarity for the implementers.
Bills of quantities were calculated for the designs and cost estimates were made
based on unit costs and norms for each project area, as agreed with the SANBI PC.
The estimated budget allocation towards labour was indicated.
Maintenance requirements for existing interventions in the assessed wetlands were
similarly detailed and the anticipated costs calculated.
The engineer also reviewed and, if necessary, adjusted any previously planned interventions
that are included into the current rehabilitation plan.
The Final Rustenburg Rehabilitation Plan was submitted to the SANBI PC and wetland
ecologist for review before it was made available to stakeholders for comment. Any
comments received during the comments period were taken into account in the finalisation of
the Rehabilitation Plans.
a. Reporting Format
All relevant information acquired during the assessments and field visits has been included in
this document and its appendices in a hierarchy as shown in Figure 2 below.
All intervention locations are given in geographical coordinates, (degrees, minutes
and seconds), based on the WGS84 datum.
Mapping was done in Albers Equal Area Conic projection, WGS84 datum. The grids
displayed on all maps are geographic and measured in Degrees Minutes and
Seconds. The scale bar on each map is based on Albers Equal Area Conic projection
and measured in metres.
7
Figure 2: Hierarchy used in the Wetland Rehabilitation Plan
8
3 PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Seven wetlands were identified within the Pilanesberg National Park for rehabilitation
purposes. These wetlands are located within the upstream reaches of quaternary
catchments Pilanesberg A22F and A24D and are comparable with one another based on the
low occurrence of landscape transformation within the protected area. Further downstream,
once outside of the Park, differences between the two catchments become more prominent,
with urban development and platinum mining activities in quaternary catchment A22F being
more common.
Quaternary catchment A22F is located in the Elands River catchment area, with the Mankwe
River forming the closest river tributary of the Elands River system (Driver et al,. 2004). Six of
the seven watercourses in the project are located within this catchment. Quaternary
catchment A24D is located in the Bierspruit catchment area, with the non-perennial
Wilgespruit forming the closest river tributary. Only one of the seven watercourses in the
project, the Tlhware Wetland, is located within this catchment. Both quaternary catchment
A22F and A24D is located within the Crocodile and Marico West Water Management Area.
The Riefontein wetland is located in quaternary catchment A21K which is located in the
Sterkstroom River catchment area that forms part of the Crocodile West and Marico Water
Management Area. The Sterkstroom River forms a confluence with the Crocodile River at the
north-eastern border of quaternary catchment A21K. Two prominent dams are present within
the catchment, namely:
Buffelspoort Dam: located in the upper margin of the catchment; and
Roodekop-jes Dam: located at the confluence of the Sterkstroom and Crocodile
Rivers.
9
The catchment covers an area of approximately 86 383 ha, with the Magaliesberg Mountain
Range forming a prominent catchment divide along its southern boundary. The Magaliesberg
Protected Natural Environment, under the auspices of North West Parks Board, is a
protected area along the Magaliesberg range, which provides a green corridor that links the
catchment to other protected areas: Vaalkop Dam Nature reserve in the east and Marico-
Bosveld Nature Reserve to the west thereof. Other forms of landuse within the catchment
includes agriculture (irrigated and dryland cultivation), dams, silviculture and urban
Wetlands selected: The wetlands within the Rustenburg Wetland Project that have been
identified for rehabilitation efforts for this planning cycle are listed in the table below (Table 4).
10
Figure 3: Topographic map showing A21K quaternary catchment’s locality
Wetland Rehabilitation Plan April 2014
Rustenburg Wetland Project, North West
11
Figure 4: Topographic map showing A22F quaternary catchment’s locality
Wetland Consent
Property SG Key Owner
Number Obtained
A21K-02 T0JQ00000000035600049 Magaliesvallei Ontwikkelings BK 10/10/2013
North West Parks and Tourism
A22F-01 B0JQ00000000009200002 01/10/2013
Board
North West Parks and Tourism
A22F-02 B0JQ00000000009200003 01/10/2013
Board
North West Parks and Tourism
A22F-03 B0JQ00000000009200002 01/10/2013
Board
North West Parks and Tourism
A22F-04 B0JQ00000000009200002 01/10/2013
Board
North West Parks and Tourism
A22F-05 B0JQ00000000004800006 01/10/2013
Board
North West Parks and Tourism
A22F-06 B0JQ00000000005400001 01/10/2013
Board
North West Parks and Tourism
A24D-01 B0JQ00000000004800006 01/10/2013
Board
14
Table 6: Projected values
Projected Total % Increase Projected
Current
Wetland Area hectare projected on current hectare
hectare
No. (ha) equivalents hectare hectare equivalents
equivalents
gained equivalents equivalents secured
A21K-02 8.8 5.1 4.1 6.8 61.2 4.1
A22F-01 76.7 39 48 53 90 83
A22F-02 52.3 32 41 48 85 41
A22F-03 6.5 4 5.2 6.1 85 5.2
A22F-04 40.2 23 31 37 83 31
A22F-05 47.3 18 31 34 91 31
A22F-06 15.3 9 6 11.5 52 6
A24D-01 8.6 6.1 7.5 7.9 94 7.5
Please note that important factors such as biodiversity, species habitat, sense of place
cultural significance etc. are not incorporated into hectare equivalents and therefore the full
value of the system is not quantified. For the purpose of this report and due to the reasons
above, the above table (Table 6) only reflects the amount of hectares physically gained as a
result of the interventions.
15
Priority Wetland number Wetland name Rationale
7 A22F-06 Pilanesberg Manyane separation being between
wetland and non-wetland
8 A24D-01 Pilanesberg Tlhware
watercourses. The number
of interventions and
interpretations of the activity
(severity) of erosion features
were used to help rank the
assessed wetlands. The
process is largely subjective
in nature and therefore open
to interpretation.
16
Table 8: Summary of the new interventions
Inter vention
Descri pti ve nam e Pr oposed acti on Refer ence document
number
NEW
Concrete weir A21K-02-203-00 Construct concrete drop-inlet weir Rustenburg Rehabilitation Plan:
April 2014
Concrete weir A21K-02-204-00 Construct concrete drop-inlet weir Rustenburg Rehabilitation Plan:
April 2014
Gabion weir A21K-02-205-00 Construct gabion drop-inlet weir. LB key wall to be joined with Rustenburg Rehabilitation Plan:
RB key wall of intervention A21K-02-206-00 April 2014
Concrete weir A21K-02-206-00 Construct concrete drop-inlet weir. RB key wall to be joined Rustenburg Rehabilitation Plan:
with LB key wall of intervention A21K-02-205-00 and extended April 2014
RB key wall of intervention A21K-02-209-00
Earthworks A21K-02-210-00 Fill, slope and re-vegetate eroded channel embankment Rustenburg Rehabilitation Plan:
April 2014
Earthworks A21K-02-211-00 Fill, slope and re-vegetate eroded off-channel headcut Rustenburg Rehabilitation Plan:
April 2014
Stone masonry weir A21K-02-212-00 Construct stone masonry drop-inlet weir on gabion base Rustenburg Rehabilitation Plan:
April 2014
Wetland Rehabilitation Plan April 2014
Rustenburg Wetland Project, North West
17
Inter vention
Descri pti ve nam e Pr oposed acti on Refer ence document
number
18
Inter vention
Descri pti ve nam e Pr oposed acti on Refer ence document
number
Earthworks A22F-03-201-00 Fill, slope and re-vegetate headcut Rustenburg Rehabilitation Plan:
April 2014
Pilanesberg Kubu (A22F-04)
Earthworks A22F-04-201-00 Widen dam breach, cut slope and re-vegetate Rustenburg Rehabilitation Plan:
April 2014
Earthworks A22F-04-202-00 Widen dam breach, slope headcut and re-vegetate Rustenburg Rehabilitation Plan:
April 2014
Earthworks A22F-04-203-00 Widen dam breach, cut slope and re-vegetate Rustenburg Rehabilitation Plan:
April 2014
Earthworks A22F-04-204-00 Fill headcut Rustenburg Rehabilitation Plan:
April 2014
Earth plug A22F-04-205-00 Earth plug Rustenburg Rehabilitation Plan:
April 2014
Earthworks A22F-04-206-00 Fill, slope and re-vegetate headcut Rustenburg Rehabilitation Plan:
April 2014
19
Inter vention
Descri pti ve nam e Pr oposed acti on Refer ence document
number
Earthworks A22F-05-201-00 Fill, slope and re-vegetate headcut Rustenburg Rehabilitation Plan:
April 2014
Earthworks A22F-05-202-00 Fill, slope and re-vegetate headcut Rustenburg Rehabilitation Plan:
April 2014
Earthworks A22F-05-203-00 Widen dam breach, slope headcut and re-vegetate Rustenburg Rehabilitation Plan:
April 2014
Pilanesberg Manyane (A22F-06)
Earthworks A22F-06-201-00 Rock pack and slope headcut Rustenburg Rehabilitation Plan:
April 2014
Pilanesberg Tlhware (A24D-01)
Earthworks A24D-01-201-00 Fill, slope and re-vegetate headcut Rustenburg Rehabilitation Plan:
April 2014
Earthworks Fill, slope and re-vegetate headcut Rustenburg Rehabilitation Plan:
A24D-01-202-00
April 2014
Earthworks A24D-01-203-00 Widen dam breach, cut slope and re-vegetate Rustenburg Rehabilitation Plan:
April 2014
Earthworks A24D-01-204-00 Fill and slope headcut Rustenburg Rehabilitation Plan:
April 2014
Earthworks A24D-01-205-00 Fill, slope and re-vegetate headcut Rustenburg Rehabilitation Plan:
April 2014
20
Table 9: Summary of the interventions requiring maintenance or redesigns
Ol d
New
inter vention
Descri pti ve nam e Inter vention Pr oposed acti on Refer ence document
number (i f
number
appli cabl e)
MAI NTENANCE
21
4 RIETFONTEIN WETLAND – A21K-02
The wetland (see Table 9) has been classified as a channelled valley bottom wetland with a
size of approximately 8.8 ha. However, the channels might be a recent feature due to
erosion. Seep zones and a spring are also present within the delineated wetland area, but
the general character of the system is still regarded as a channelled valley bottom with
seepage zones. This results in the presence of riparian woody vegetation, such as Buddleja
salviifolia along portions of the channel, and obligated hydrophytes, such as Gunnera
perpensa on areas characterised by seepage.
As a result, the wetland has a relative high sensitivity to change in the local hydrology. The
wetland is located on the Gold Reef Mountain Bushveld vegetation unit, described by
Mucina & Rutherford (2006). Gold Reef Mountain Bushveld has a Least Threatened
Conservation Status (Mucina & Rutherford, 2006). The wetland does not overlap with natural
or artificial wetland habitat identified in the National Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Area
(NFEPA) database.
During 2012/ 2013 a veldfire and subsequent heavy rain events initiated a serious erosion
threat at the Rietfontein wetland A21K-02. The wetland falls within a conservancy and
protected area, but has been modified through water abstraction from a spring for irrigation
and domestic use. The influence of catchment land use and transformation on water inputs
are considered to be of low impact. However, the steep nature of the catchment with its
shallow soils and exposed rock surfaces contribute towards wetland deterioration over time
in the absence of interventions.
22
Table 10: Summary of the wetland details
Figure 6: Gunnera purpensa, a hydrophyte that is a species of conservation concern, was recorded within the
wetland (top left and right). Other prominent species within the wetland included the ferns Cyathea cf. dregei and
Pteridium aquilinum (bottom left and right).
23
Figure 7: Site photos of the upstream (top four photos) and downstream (bottom four photos) sections of the
Rietfontein wetland
24
4.3 Wetland problems
The wetland has been subjected to a number of impacts that have changed the ecological
processes, especially in the lower portion of the wetland where multiple headcut branching is
occurring. Upstream catchment related impacts and conditions (e.g. a steep catchment with shallow
soils and exposed bedrock) have a reduced effect on the downstream wetland due to its
position in the headwaters. The influence of catchment land use (i.e. conservation) and
transformation on water inputs are considered to be of low impact. However the steep nature
of the catchment with its shallow soils and exposed rock surfaces will contribute to
deterioration over time without intervention. Furthermore, there are a number of clearly
identifiable impacts within the wetland unit itself which are currently affecting the patterns of
water movement and retention within the wetland. These include water abstraction, and an
extensive drainage channel linked to gully incision (plus some headcut erosion) that
encourages draining of the wetland. These impacts have resulted in a significant change to
water distribution and retention patterns within the wetland.
Please note that the location of the interventions described in Section 4.7 may change as a
result of changes in the landscape (due to continued erosion, for example) during the time
period that has lapsed between the initial planning site visit and the actual implementation
thereof.
9
Status follows the latest Red Data Plant Book of South African Plants (Raimondo et al., 2009), and the
continuously updated online Red List of SANBI (http://redlist.sanbi.org, accessed in January 2014). Conservation
Status Category assessment according to IUCN Ver. 3.1 (IUCN, 2001).
25
Table 11: Summary of proposed new interventions, A21K-02
26
Figure 8: Wetland map, A21K-02 with proposed new wetland interventions indicated
27
4.6 Design selection and sizing
The objective of the interventions is to prevent further erosion in the existing drain and create
control points to control the surface water flow to spread into the surrounding wetlands. The
most appropriate and cost effective method of doing this was considered to involve:
The construction of hard structures (concrete, gabion or stone masonry weirs) in the
main channel with spillways set at a level that would allow for varying levels of back
flooding, preventing further erosion of the channel. The hard structures are meant to
create controlled surface water flow points to accommodate the drop in elevation in
the channel.
Construction of a combination of gabion and earth key wall, as part of the control
structures, would divert surface water flows during high flow conditions through the
drop inlet structures. .
Earth back filling and re-vegetation is specified to fill off-channel headcuts caused by
high surface water flows re-entering the main channel.
Some rock pack berms were specified for possible later implementation in the main
channel to act as sediment trap.
Material selection considered the foundation conditions, design parameters,
limitations, suitability for possible future adjustments and the labour content for
construction cost.
28
4.7 Intervention designs
4.7.1 Intervention: A21K-02-203-00
29
4.7.1.2 Construction Notes
General construction notes as set out in Appendix B apply, along with all construction notes
shown on design drawings.
During construction best management practices for especially deep excavation should be
adhered to, in order to stabilise probable unstable soil conditions. Please refer to “National
guidelines and methods for wetland rehabilitation” part of the Wetland Management Series
(WRC Report TT341/09, March 2009).
Provision should be made for the draining of sub-surface seepage water during construction.
Diversion channels (to divert flow around construction site) should be avoided as far as
possible and consulted with the Engineer prior to excavation as this may escalate to further
erosion due to the nature of surrounding soil conditions.
Flash flooding may occur during summer months and therefor priority should be given to
complete construction during winter months to prevent excessive erosion, damage to
equipment, loss of material, injury to workers etc. Care should be taken to complete
construction as per engineering site instructions.
The Engineer will include site specific instructions in the site instructions to be issued prior to
construction of this intervention.
Please refer to section 4.8 for a detailed description for the proposed mitigation measures
regarding Cyathea cf. dregei (tree fern) and Gunnera purpensa (river pumpkin).
30
4.7.3 Intervention: A21K-02-204-00
31
4.7.3.2 Construction Notes
General construction notes as set out in Appendix B apply, along with all construction notes
shown on design drawings.
During construction best management practices for especially deep excavation should be
adhered to, in order to stabilise probable unstable soil conditions. Please refer to “National
guidelines and methods for wetland rehabilitation” part of the Wetland Management Series
(WRC Report TT341/09, March 2009).
Provision should be made for the draining of sub-surface seepage water during construction.
Diversion channels (to divert flow around construction site) should be avoided as far as
possible and consulted with the Engineer prior to excavation as this may escalate to further
erosion due to the nature of surrounding soil conditions.
Flash flooding may occur during summer months and therefor priority should be given to
complete construction during winter months to prevent excessive erosion, damage to
equipment, loss of material, injury to workers etc. Care should be taken to complete
construction as per engineering site instructions.
The Engineer will include site specific instructions in the site instructions to be issued prior to
construction of this intervention.
Please refer to section 4.8 for a detailed description for the proposed mitigation measures
regarding Cyathea cf. dregei (tree fern) and Gunnera purpensa (river pumpkin).
32
4.7.4 Intervention: A21K-02-205-00
33
Item Units Quantity Unit Cost Item Cost
Rock pack m³
45.00 R 3 052.80 R 137,376.00
(berms)
Reno gabions m³
(toe of rock 24.00 R 3 834.00 R 92,016.00
berms)
Concrete
m³ 110.00 R 6 500.00 R 715,000.00
capping
Total R 2,175,562.80
General construction notes as set out in Appendix B apply, along with all construction notes
shown on design drawings.
During construction best management practices for especially deep excavation should be
adhered to, in order to stabilise probable unstable soil conditions. Please refer to “National
guidelines and methods for wetland rehabilitation” part of the Wetland Management Series
(WRC Report TT341/09, March 2009).
Provision should be made for the draining of sub-surface seepage water during construction.
Diversion channels (to divert flow around construction site) should be avoided as far as
possible and consulted with the Engineer prior to excavation as this may escalate to further
erosion due to the nature of surrounding soil conditions.
Flash flooding may occur during summer months and therefor priority should be given to
complete construction during winter months to prevent excessive erosion, damage to
equipment, loss of material, injury to workers etc. Care should be taken to complete
construction as per engineering site instructions.
The Engineer will include site specific instructions in the site instructions to be issued prior to
construction of this intervention.
Please refer to section 4.8 for a detailed description for the proposed mitigation measures
regarding Cyathea cf. dregei (tree fern) and Gunnera purpensa (river pumpkin).
34
4.7.5 Intervention: A21K-02-206-00
35
4.7.5.2 Construction Notes
General construction notes as set out in Appendix B apply, along with all construction notes
shown on design drawings.
During construction best management practices for especially deep excavation should be
adhered to, in order to stabilise probable unstable soil conditions. Please refer to “National
guidelines and methods for wetland rehabilitation” part of the Wetland Management Series
(WRC Report TT341/09, March 2009).
Provision should be made for the draining of sub-surface seepage water during construction.
Diversion channels (to divert flow around construction site) should be avoided as far as
possible and consulted with the Engineer prior to excavation as this may escalate to further
erosion due to the nature of surrounding soil conditions.
Flash flooding may occur during summer months and therefor priority should be given to
complete construction during winter months to prevent excessive erosion, damage to
equipment, loss of material, injury to workers etc. Care should be taken to complete
construction as per engineering site instructions.
The Engineer will include site specific instructions in the site instructions to be issued prior to
construction of this intervention.
Please refer to section 4.8 for a detailed description for the proposed mitigation measures
regarding Cyathea cf. dregei (tree fern) and Gunnera purpensa (river pumpkin).
36
4.7.6 Intervention: A21K-02-207-00
37
4.7.6.2 Construction Notes
General construction notes as set out in Appendix B apply, along with all construction notes
shown on design drawings.
During construction best management practices for especially deep excavation should be
adhered to, in order to stabilise probable unstable soil conditions. Please refer to “National
guidelines and methods for wetland rehabilitation” part of the Wetland Management Series
(WRC Report TT341/09, March 2009).
Provision should be made for the draining of sub-surface seepage water during construction.
Diversion channels (to divert flow around construction site) should be avoided as far as
possible and consulted with the Engineer prior to excavation as this may escalate to further
erosion due to the nature of surrounding soil conditions.
Flash flooding may occur during summer months and therefor priority should be given to
complete construction during winter months to prevent excessive erosion, damage to
equipment, loss of material, injury to workers etc. Care should be taken to complete
construction as per engineering site instructions.
The Engineer will include site specific instructions in the site instructions to be issued prior to
construction of this intervention.
Please refer to section 4.8 for a detailed description for the proposed mitigation measures
regarding Cyathea cf. dregei (tree fern) and Gunnera purpensa (river pumpkin).
38
4.7.8 Intervention: A21K-02-208-00
General construction notes as set out in Appendix B apply, along with all construction notes
shown on design drawings.
39
During construction best management practices for especially deep excavation should be
adhered to, in order to stabilise probable unstable soil conditions. Please refer to “National
guidelines and methods for wetland rehabilitation” part of the Wetland Management Series
(WRC Report TT341/09, March 2009).
Provision should be made for the draining of sub-surface seepage water during construction.
Diversion channels (to divert flow around construction site) should be avoided as far as
possible and consulted with the Engineer prior to excavation as this may escalate to further
erosion due to the nature of surrounding soil conditions.
Flash flooding may occur during summer months and therefor priority should be given to
complete construction during winter months to prevent excessive erosion, damage to
equipment, loss of material, injury to workers etc. Care should be taken to complete
construction as per engineering site instructions.
The Engineer will include site specific instructions in the site instructions to be issued prior to
construction of this intervention.
Please refer to section 4.8 for a detailed description for the proposed mitigation measures
regarding Cyathea cf. dregei (tree fern) and Gunnera purpensa (river pumpkin).
40
4.7.9 Intervention: A21K-02-209-00
41
4.7.9.1 Bill of quantities: A21K-02-209-00
General construction notes as set out in Appendix B apply, along with all construction notes
shown on design drawings.
During construction best management practices for especially deep excavation should be
adhered to, in order to stabilise probable unstable soil conditions. Please refer to “National
guidelines and methods for wetland rehabilitation” part of the Wetland Management Series
(WRC Report TT341/09, March 2009).
Provision should be made for the draining of sub-surface seepage water during construction.
Diversion channels (to divert flow around construction site) should be avoided as far as
possible and consulted with the Engineer prior to excavation as this may escalate to further
erosion due to the nature of surrounding soil conditions.
Flash flooding may occur during summer months and therefor priority should be given to
complete construction during winter months to prevent excessive erosion, damage to
equipment, loss of material, injury to workers etc. Care should be taken to complete
construction as per engineering site instructions.
The Engineer will include site specific instructions in the site instructions to be issued prior to
construction of this intervention.
Please refer to section 4.8 for a detailed description for the proposed mitigation measures
regarding Cyathea cf. dregei (tree fern) and Gunnera purpensa (river pumpkin).
42
4.7.10 Intervention: A21K-02-210-00
General construction notes as set out in Appendix B apply, along with all construction notes
shown on design drawings.
43
During construction best management practices for especially deep excavation should be
adhered to, in order to stabilise probable unstable soil conditions. Please refer to “National
guidelines and methods for wetland rehabilitation” part of the Wetland Management Series
(WRC Report TT341/09, March 2009).
Provision should be made for the draining of sub-surface seepage water during construction.
Diversion channels (to divert flow around construction site) should be avoided as far as
possible and consulted with the Engineer prior to excavation as this may escalate to further
erosion due to the nature of surrounding soil conditions.
Flash flooding may occur during summer months and therefor priority should be given to
complete construction during winter months to prevent excessive erosion, damage to
equipment, loss of material, injury to workers etc. Care should be taken to complete
construction as per engineering site instructions.
The Engineer will include site specific instructions in the site instructions to be issued prior to
construction of this intervention.
Please refer to section 4.8 for a detailed description for the proposed mitigation measures
regarding Cyathea cf. dregei (tree fern) and Gunnera purpensa (river pumpkin).
44
4.7.11 Intervention: A21K-02-211-00
45
4.7.11.2 Construction Notes
General construction notes as set out in Appendix B apply, along with all construction notes
shown on design drawings.
During construction best management practices for especially deep excavation should be
adhered to, in order to stabilise probable unstable soil conditions. Please refer to “National
guidelines and methods for wetland rehabilitation” part of the Wetland Management Series
(WRC Report TT341/09, March 2009).
Provision should be made for the draining of sub-surface seepage water during construction.
Diversion channels (to divert flow around construction site) should be avoided as far as
possible and consulted with the Engineer prior to excavation as this may escalate to further
erosion due to the nature of surrounding soil conditions.
Flash flooding may occur during summer months and therefor priority should be given to
complete construction during winter months to prevent excessive erosion, damage to
equipment, loss of material, injury to workers etc. Care should be taken to complete
construction as per engineering site instructions.
The Engineer will include site specific instructions in the site instructions to be issued prior to
construction of this intervention.
Please refer to section 4.8 for a detailed description for the proposed mitigation measures
regarding Cyathea cf. dregei (tree fern) and Gunnera purpensa (river pumpkin).
46
4.7.12 Intervention: A21K-02-212-00
47
Item Units Quantity Unit Cost Item Cost
Re-vegetate m³ 25.00 R 17.00 R 425.00
Earth Works
(Backfill to m³ 5.00 R 371.00 R 1,855.00
Spillway)
Total R 577,984.35
General construction notes as set out in Appendix B apply, along with all construction notes
shown on design drawings.
During construction best management practices for especially deep excavation should be
adhered to, in order to stabilise probable unstable soil conditions. Please refer to “National
guidelines and methods for wetland rehabilitation” part of the Wetland Management Series
(WRC Report TT341/09, March 2009).
Provision should be made for the draining of sub-surface seepage water during construction.
Diversion channels (to divert flow around construction site) should be avoided as far as
possible and consulted with the Engineer prior to excavation as this may escalate to further
erosion due to the nature of surrounding soil conditions.
Flash flooding may occur during summer months and therefor priority should be given to
complete construction during winter months to prevent excessive erosion, damage to
equipment, loss of material, injury to workers etc. Care should be taken to complete
construction as per engineering site instructions.
The Engineer will include site specific instructions in the site instructions to be issued prior to
construction of this intervention.
Please refer to section 4.8 for a detailed description for the proposed mitigation measures
regarding Cyathea cf. dregei (tree fern) and Gunnera purpensa (river pumpkin).
48
4.8 Construction Environmental Management Plan issues
The proposed rehabilitation is to be undertaken on privately owned land and the project
team should access the site and manage the site in accordance with the WfWetlands Best
Management Practices and specific requirements of the landowner. The implementation of
these interventions must also take into account all relevant provisions of WfWetlands Best
Management Practices and the Construction Environmental Management Plan, the
recommendations of the approved Basic Assessments and EA for the project.
The general construction notes, the Construction phase EMP (CEMP) are included as
Appendix B and F.
49
4.9 Wetland management recommendations
The system is currently utilised for nature conservation and will continue as such. The
proposed rehabilitation interventions will not only affect the ecological integrity of the broader
wetland system but will also have a number of positive impacts on the supply of goods and
services provided by the wetland.
However, all geotextiles will have to be maintained after rainfall and fire events, while weirs
must be inspected after the rain season. Sections that have been re-vegetated after
construction must be monitored on a quarterly basis to ensure that the areas have stabilised.
Ideally the water pipeline system through the wetland should be repaired, closed and
maintained by the landowner to help prevent drainage along the open furrow and possible
future erosion from occurring.
50
FPP Number A21K-02-201-00
Latitude 25°50'11.7''S
GPS Location (DMS)
Longitude 27°22'30.6''E
Description of Photography Point
Type/ Orientation: Photo taken direction east (facing downstream).
51
4.10.3 Baseline WET-Health data
The assessment of the current level of ecological integrity of the wetland system provides a
baseline assessment for comparative assessments that would be carried out for monitoring
purposes 3 years after completion of the wetland rehabilitation activities. The following WET-
Health information was collected for the wetland (Refer to Appendix A):
52
5 PILANESBERG: NTSHWE WETLAND – A22F-01
The Pilanesberg Ntshwe wetland forms part of headwater systems for this quaternary
catchment and consists primarily of seeps. Wetland condition and rehabilitation opportunities
were investigated in seepage and unchannelled valley bottom wetland areas which mainly
displayed wetland conditions ranging from marginal temporary to seasonally wet.
53
5.2 Site photos
Figure 19: Site photos of Ntshwe Wetland, note the problems identified within the wetland.
54
interventions should be implemented within the wetland (number 1 first). The “priority” as
depicted in the table indicates the relative importance of each intervention across the project
as a whole – if interventions have to be omitted for any reason, those with the lowest priority
(highest number) across the whole project should be omitted first.
Please note that the location of the interventions described in Section 5.7 may change as a
result of changes in the landscape (due to continued erosion, for example) during the time
period that has lapsed between the initial planning site visit and the actual implementation
thereof.
55
Figure 20: Wetland map, A22F-01 with proposed new wetland interventions indicated.
56
5.6 Design selection and sizing
The objective of the interventions is to prevent further erosion due to surface water run-off
especially during end of the dry season after the first few rain storms when vegetation is not
yet grown back after winter. The most appropriate and cost effective method of doing this
was considered to involve:
Earth works that include backfilling, sloping and re-vegetation of the affected areas.
To reduce possible future recurrence of erosion, actions were also considered to
reduce the concentration of surface water flow (e.g. widening of breach in a dam
wall.
Due to the position and size of the erosion no hard interventions were considered.
57
5.7 Intervention designs
5.7.1 Intervention: A22F-01-201-00
General construction notes as set out in Appendix B apply, along with all construction notes
shown on design drawings. The Engineer will include site specific instructions in the site
instructions to be issued prior to construction of this intervention.
Wetland Rehabilitation Plan April 2014
Rustenburg Wetland Project, North West
58
5.7.2 Intervention: A22F-01-202-00
General construction notes as set out in Appendix B apply, along with all construction notes
shown on design drawings. The Engineer will include site specific instructions in the site
instructions to be issued prior to construction of this intervention.
59
5.7.3 Intervention: A22F-01-203-00
General construction notes as set out in Appendix B apply, along with all construction notes
shown on design drawings. The Engineer will include site specific instructions in the site
instructions to be issued prior to construction of this intervention.
60
5.7.4 Intervention: A22F-01-204-00
General construction notes as set out in Appendix B apply, along with all construction notes
shown on design drawings. The Engineer will include site specific instructions in the site
instructions to be issued prior to construction of this intervention.
61
5.7.5 Intervention: A22F-01-205-00
General construction notes as set out in Appendix B apply, along with all construction notes
shown on design drawings. The Engineer will include site specific instructions in the site
instructions to be issued prior to construction of this intervention.
62
5.7.6 Intervention: A22F-01-206-00
General construction notes as set out in Appendix B apply, along with all construction notes
shown on design drawings. The Engineer will include site specific instructions in the site
instructions to be issued prior to construction of this intervention.
63
5.7.7 Intervention: A22F-01-207-00
64
5.7.7.2 Construction Notes
General construction notes as set out in Appendix B apply, along with all construction notes
shown on design drawings.
The Engineer will include site specific instructions in the site instructions to be issued prior to
construction of this intervention.
65
5.7.8 Intervention: A22F-01-208-00
General construction notes as set out in Appendix B apply, along with all construction notes
shown on design drawings. The Engineer will include site specific instructions in the site
instructions to be issued prior to construction of this intervention.
Wetland Rehabilitation Plan April 2014
Rustenburg Wetland Project, North West
66
5.7.9 Intervention: A22F-01-209-00
General construction notes as set out in Appendix B apply, along with all construction notes
shown on design drawings. The Engineer will include site specific instructions in the site
instructions to be issued prior to construction of this intervention.
67
5.7.10 Intervention: A22F-01-210-00
General construction notes as set out in Appendix B apply, along with all construction notes
shown on design drawings. The Engineer will include site specific instructions in the site
instructions to be issued prior to construction of this intervention.
68
5.7.11 Intervention: A22F-01-211-00
The diversion is to be constructed at an angle across the channel to divert flows to the east
of the channel. Also see Section 4.7.8.2. General construction notes as set out in Appendix
B apply, along with all construction notes shown on design drawings.
69
5.8 Construction Environmental Management Plan issues
The proposed rehabilitation is to be undertaken on privately owned land and the project
team should access the site and manage the site in accordance with the WfWetlands Best
Management Practices and specific requirements of the landowner. The implementation of
these interventions must also take into account all relevant provisions of WfWetlands Best
Management Practices and the Construction Environmental Management Plan, the
recommendations of the approved Basic Assessments and EA for the project.
The establishment of a good vegetation cover at intervention sites are important, especially
in recently disturbed areas that are expected to be more prone to the encroachment of alien
plants. In order to achieved revegetation of indigenous species the localised broad casting of
Eragrostis tef is recommended along with manual scarification (e.g. through the use of
rakes). E. tef is an annual species that can grow in a wide variety of soil conditions and is
quickly replaced by indigenous species. No fertilisers need to be applied with E. tef, as it can
grow in nutrient poor soils. The application of fertilisers and nutrients in wetlands and other
watercourses may create unfavourable growing conditions for indigenous species that are
adapted to soils with an expected low nutrient status.
The general construction notes, the Construction phase EMP (CEMP) are included as
Appendix B and F.
70
5.10.2 Baseline WET-Health data
No WET-Health analyses were performed for any of the targeted wetlands and watercourses
within Pilanesberg Nature Reserve. This was due to an approach that primarily focussed on
the use of soft rehabilitation interventions. Consequently a more simplistic wetland status
quo assessment approach was followed.
71
6 PILANESBERG: NTSHWE 2 WETLAND – A22F-02
River System Name Mankwe River within the Elands River Catchment
Area
Land Use in Catchment Wetland and the catchment area is situated in a
formal conservation area
Land Use in Wetland Conservation
Wetland size 52 ha
Figure 32: An old plough line that has developed into an erosion channel
72
6.2 Site photos
Figure 33: Site Photos of the Ntshwe 2 Wetland (top left: north; top right: east; bottom left: south; bottom right:
west)
73
depicted in the table indicates the relative importance of each intervention across the project
as a whole – if interventions have to be omitted for any reason, those with the lowest priority
(highest number) across the whole project should be omitted first.
Please note that the location of the interventions described in Section 6.7 may change as a
result of changes in the landscape (due to continued erosion, for example) during the time
period that has lapsed between the initial planning site visit and the actual implementation
thereof.
74
Figure 34: Wetland map, A22F-02 with proposed new wetland interventions indicated.
75
6.7 Intervention designs
6.7.1 Intervention: A22F-02-201-00
76
6.7.1.2 Construction Notes
General construction notes as set out in Appendix B apply, along with all construction notes
shown on design drawings.
The Engineer will include site specific instructions in the site instructions to be issued prior to
construction of this intervention.
77
6.7.2 Intervention: A22F-02-202-00
78
6.7.2.2 Construction Notes
General construction notes as set out in Appendix B apply, along with all construction notes
shown on design drawings.
The Engineer will include site specific instructions in the site instructions to be issued prior to
construction of this intervention.
79
6.7.3 Intervention: A22F-02-203-00
General construction notes as set out in Appendix B apply, along with all construction notes
shown on design drawings. The Engineer will include site specific instructions in the site
instructions to be issued prior to construction of this intervention.
80
6.7.4 Intervention: A22F-02-204-00
81
6.7.4.2 Construction Notes
General construction notes as set out in Appendix B apply, along with all construction notes
shown on design drawings.
The Engineer will include site specific instructions in the site instructions to be issued prior to
construction of this intervention.
82
6.7.5 Intervention: A22F-02-205-00
General construction notes as set out in Appendix B apply, along with all construction notes
shown on design drawings. The Engineer will include site specific instructions in the site
instructions to be issued prior to construction of this intervention.
83
6.7.6 Intervention: A22F-02-206-00
84
6.7.6.2 Construction Notes
General construction notes as set out in Appendix B apply, along with all construction notes
shown on design drawings.
The Engineer will include site specific instructions in the site instructions to be issued prior to
construction of this intervention.
85
6.8 Construction Environmental Management Plan issues
The proposed rehabilitation is to be undertaken on privately owned land and the project
team should access the site and manage the site in accordance with the WfWetlands Best
Management Practices and specific requirements of the landowner. The implementation of
these interventions must also take into account all relevant provisions of WfWetlands Best
Management Practices and the Construction Environmental Management Plan, the
recommendations of the approved Basic Assessments and EA for the project.
The establishment of a good vegetation cover at intervention sites are important, especially
in recently disturbed areas that are expected to be more prone to the encroachment of alien
plants. In order to achieved revegetation of indigenous species the localised broad casting of
Eragrostis tef is recommended along with manual scarification (e.g. through the use of
rakes). E. tef is an annual species that can grow in a wide variety of soil conditions and is
quickly replaced by indigenous species. No fertilisers need to be applied with E. tef, as it can
grow in nutrient poor soils. The application of fertilisers and nutrients in wetlands and other
watercourses may create unfavourable growing conditions for indigenous species that are
adapted to soils with an expected low nutrient status.
The general construction notes, the Construction phase EMP (CEMP) are included as
Appendix B and F.
86
6.10.2 Baseline WET-Health data
No WET-Health analyses were performed for any of the targeted wetlands and watercourses
within Pilanesberg Nature Reserve. This was due to an approach that primarily focussed on
the use of soft rehabilitation interventions. Consequently a more simplistic wetland status
quo assessment approach was followed.
87
7 PILANESBERG KGAMA WETLAND SYSTEM – A22F-03
88
7.2 Site photos
Figure 41: Site Photos of the Kgama Wetland (top left: north; top right: east; bottom left: south; bottom right: west)
89
across the project as a whole – if interventions have to be omitted for any reason, those with
the lowest priority (highest number) across the whole project should be omitted first.
Please note that the location of the interventions described in Section 7.7 may change as a
result of changes in the landscape (due to continued erosion, for example) during the time
period that has lapsed between the initial planning site visit and the actual implementation
thereof.
Total R 2 391.28
90
Figure 42: Wetland map, A22F-03 with the proposed new wetland intervention indicated.
91
7.7 Intervention designs
7.7.1 Intervention: A22F-03-201-00
92
7.7.1.1 Bill of quantities: A22F-03-201-00
General construction notes as set out in Appendix B apply, along with all construction notes
shown on design drawings.
The Engineer will include site specific instructions in the site instructions to be issued prior to
construction of this intervention.
The establishment of a good vegetation cover at intervention sites are important, especially
in recently disturbed areas that are expected to be more prone to the encroachment of alien
plants. In order to achieved revegetation of indigenous species the localised broad casting of
Eragrostis tef is recommended along with manual scarification (e.g. through the use of
rakes). E. tef is an annual species that can grow in a wide variety of soil conditions and is
quickly replaced by indigenous species. No fertilisers need to be applied with E. tef, as it can
grow in nutrient poor soils. The application of fertilisers and nutrients in wetlands and other
watercourses may create unfavourable growing conditions for indigenous species that are
adapted to soils with an expected low nutrient status.
The general construction notes, the Construction phase EMP (CEMP) are included as
Appendix B and F.
93
been reseeded or treated with shade cloth/ biojute). Sections that have been re-vegetated
must be monitored on a quarterly basis to ensure that the areas have stabilised.
94
8 PILANESBERG: KUBU WETLAND – A22F-04
95
8.3 Site photos
96
8.5 Summary proposed interventions
Table 19 provides a summary of the interventions identified for the Pilanesberg Kubu
wetland. The “implementation order” as depicted in the table indicates the timing order in
which interventions should be implemented within the wetland (number 1 first). The “priority”
as depicted in the table indicates the relative importance of each intervention across the
project as a whole – if interventions have to be omitted for any reason, those with the lowest
priority (highest number) across the whole project should be omitted first.
Please note that the location of the interventions described in Section 8.7 may change as a
result of changes in the landscape (due to continued erosion, for example) during the time
period that has lapsed between the initial planning site visit and the actual implementation
thereof.
97
Figure 45: Wetland map, A22F-04 with proposed new wetland interventions indicated.
98
8.7 Intervention designs
8.7.1 Intervention: A22F-04-201-00
99
8.7.1.1 Bill of quantities: A22F-04-201-00
General construction notes as set out in Appendix B apply, along with all construction notes
shown on design drawings.
The Engineer will include site specific instructions in the site instructions to be issued prior to
construction of this intervention.
100
8.7.2 Intervention: A22F-04-202-00
101
8.7.2.2 Construction Notes
General construction notes as set out in Appendix B apply, along with all construction notes
shown on design drawings.
The Engineer will include site specific instructions in the site instructions to be issued prior to
construction of this intervention.
102
8.7.3 Intervention: A22F-04-203-00
103
8.7.3.2 Construction Notes
General construction notes as set out in Appendix B apply, along with all construction notes
shown on design drawings.
The Engineer will include site specific instructions in the site instructions to be issued prior to
construction of this intervention.
104
8.7.4 Intervention: A22F-04-204-00
General construction notes as set out in Appendix B apply, along with all construction notes
shown on design drawings. The Engineer will include site specific instructions in the site
instructions to be issued prior to construction of this intervention.
105
8.7.5 Intervention: A22F-04-205-00
106
8.7.5.2 Construction Notes
General construction notes as set out in Appendix B apply, along with all construction notes
shown on design drawings.
The Engineer will include site specific instructions in the site instructions to be issued prior to
construction of this intervention.
107
8.7.6 Intervention: A22F-04-206-00
General construction notes as set out in Appendix B apply, along with all construction notes
shown on design drawings. The Engineer will include site specific instructions in the site
instructions to be issued prior to construction of this intervention.
108
8.8 Construction Environmental Management Plan issues
The proposed rehabilitation is to be undertaken on privately owned land and the project
team should access the site and manage the site in accordance with the WfWetlands Best
Management Practices and specific requirements of the landowner. The implementation of
these interventions must also take into account all relevant provisions of WfWetlands Best
Management Practices and the Construction Environmental Management Plan, the
recommendations of the approved Basic Assessments and EA for the project.
The establishment of a good vegetation cover at intervention sites are important, especially
in recently disturbed areas that are expected to be more prone to the encroachment of alien
plants. In order to achieved revegetation of indigenous species the localised broad casting of
Eragrostis tef is recommended along with manual scarification (e.g. through the use of
rakes). E. tef is an annual species that can grow in a wide variety of soil conditions and is
quickly replaced by indigenous species. No fertilisers need to be applied with E. tef, as it can
grow in nutrient poor soils. The application of fertilisers and nutrients in wetlands and other
watercourses may create unfavourable growing conditions for indigenous species that are
adapted to soils with an expected low nutrient status.
The general construction notes, the Construction phase EMP (CEMP) are included as
Appendix B and F.
109
9 PILANESBERG: TLHWARE WETLAND – A24D-01
Prior to the establishment of the Pilanesberg National Park, dryland cultivation took place
within these wetlands. Cultivation practices such as ploughing, including ridge and furrow
practices, has resulted in the development of erosion channels. Currently grazing and the
game paths further contribute to erosion in the already disturbed wetland soils. In addition,
old dam walls have been breached to reduce the number of water bodies for game, which
poses a risk to flow concentration and potential scour damage during high rainfall events at
the breached sites.
110
9.2 Site photos
Figure 52: Site photos of the Tlhware wetland system, illustrating erosion problems that has resulted from historic
cultivation practices
The following problems have been identified as posing a risk to the integrity of the wetland:
Wetland habitat desiccation caused by eroded plough lines;
Active headcut erosion within the wetlands; and
The risk of scour erosion during large flow events at breached dam walls that contain
narrow gaps (see Figure 52).
111
9.4 Rehabilitation objectives
The primary objective is to re-instate more natural water distribution and retention patterns to
improve the overall functioning of the wetland and associated habitat for important wetland-
dependant biota.
Please note that the location of the interventions described in Section 9.7 may change as a
result of changes in the landscape (due to continued erosion, for example) during the time
period that has lapsed between the initial planning site visit and the actual implementation
thereof.
112
Figure 53: Wetland map, A24D-01 with proposed new wetland interventions indicated.
113
9.7 Intervention designs
9.7.1 Intervention: A24D-01-201-00
General construction notes as set out in Appendix B apply, along with all construction notes
shown on design drawings. The Engineer will include site specific instructions in the site
instructions to be issued prior to construction of this intervention.
Wetland Rehabilitation Plan April 2014
Rustenburg Wetland Project, North West
114
9.7.2 Intervention: A24D-01-202-00
General construction notes as set out in Appendix B apply, along with all construction notes
shown on design drawings. The Engineer will include site specific instructions in the site
instructions to be issued prior to construction of this intervention.
115
9.7.3 Intervention: A24D-01-203-00
116
9.7.3.2 Construction Notes
General construction notes as set out in Appendix B apply, along with all construction notes
shown on design drawings.
The Engineer will include site specific instructions in the site instructions to be issued prior to
construction of this intervention.
117
9.7.4 Intervention: A24D-01-204-00
General construction notes as set out in Appendix B apply, along with all construction notes
shown on design drawings. The Engineer will include site specific instructions in the site
instructions to be issued prior to construction of this intervention.
118
9.7.5 Intervention: A24D-01-205-00
General construction notes as set out in Appendix B apply, along with all construction notes
shown on design drawings. The Engineer will include site specific instructions in the site
instructions to be issued prior to construction of this intervention.
119
9.8 Construction Environmental Management Plan issues
The proposed rehabilitation is to be undertaken on privately owned land and the project
team should access the site and manage the site in accordance with the WfWetlands Best
Management Practices and specific requirements of the landowner. The implementation of
these interventions must also take into account all relevant provisions of WfWetlands Best
Management Practices and the Construction Environmental Management Plan, the
recommendations of the approved Basic Assessments and EA for the project.
The establishment of a good vegetation cover at intervention sites are important, especially
in recently disturbed areas that are expected to be more prone to the encroachment of alien
plants. In order to achieved revegetation of indigenous species the localised broad casting of
Eragrostis tef is recommended along with manual scarification (e.g. through the use of
rakes). E. tef is an annual species that can grow in a wide variety of soil conditions and is
quickly replaced by indigenous species. No fertilisers need to be applied with E. tef, as it can
grow in nutrient poor soils. The application of fertilisers and nutrients in wetlands and other
watercourses may create unfavourable growing conditions for indigenous species that are
adapted to soils with an expected low nutrient status.
The general construction notes, the Construction phase EMP (CEMP) are included as
Appendix B and F.
120
10 PILANESBERG: TLHWARE 2 WETLAND – A22F-05
The Pilanesberg Tlhware 2 wetland includes dam that appears to have been constructed in
the early 1960’s. The dam is considered to be of low heritage significance and is graded as a
local site with GRADE 3E heritage status (NGT Projects & Heritage Consultants, 2014).
121
10.2 Site photos
Figure 61: Photos illustrating erosion caused by eroded plough lines (left) and a breached dam wall (right)
122
10.4 Rehabilitation objectives
The primary objective is to re-instate more natural water distribution and retention patterns to
improve the overall functioning of the wetland and associated habitat for important wetland-
dependant biota. Furthermore the secondary objective is to arrest erosion within the wetland.
Please note that the location of the interventions described in Section 10.7 may change as a
result of changes in the landscape (due to continued erosion, for example) during the time
period that has lapsed between the initial planning site visit and the actual implementation
thereof.
Total R 95 729.63
123
Figure 62: Wetland map, A22F-05 with proposed new wetland interventions indicated.
124
10.7 Intervention designs
10.7.1 Intervention: A22F-05-201-00
125
10.7.1.2 Construction Notes
General construction notes as set out in Appendix B apply, along with all construction notes
shown on design drawings.
The Engineer will include site specific instructions in the site instructions to be issued prior to
construction of this intervention.
126
10.7.2 Intervention: A22F-05-202-00
General construction notes as set out in Appendix B apply, along with all construction notes
shown on design drawings. The Engineer will include site specific instructions in the site
instructions to be issued prior to construction of this intervention.
127
10.7.3 Intervention: A22F-05-203-00
128
10.7.3.2 Construction Notes
General construction notes as set out in Appendix B apply, along with all construction notes
shown on design drawings.
The Engineer will include site specific instructions in the site instructions to be issued prior to
construction of this intervention.
Note that a permit is required from the North West Provincial Heritage Resources Authority
prior to implementation. The process of obtaining this permit is currently underway.
129
10.9 Construction Environmental Management Plan issues
The proposed rehabilitation is to be undertaken on privately owned land and the project
team should access the site and manage the site in accordance with the WfWetlands Best
Management Practices and specific requirements of the landowner. The implementation of
these interventions must also take into account all relevant provisions of WfWetlands Best
Management Practices and the Construction Environmental Management Plan, the
recommendations of the approved Basic Assessments and EA for the project.
The establishment of a good vegetation cover at intervention sites are important, especially
in recently disturbed areas that are expected to be more prone to the encroachment of alien
plants. In order to achieved revegetation of indigenous species the localised broad casting of
Eragrostis tef is recommended along with manual scarification (e.g. through the use of
rakes). E. tef is an annual species that can grow in a wide variety of soil conditions and is
quickly replaced by indigenous species. No fertilisers need to be applied with E. tef, as it can
grow in nutrient poor soils. The application of fertilisers and nutrients in wetlands and other
watercourses may create unfavourable growing conditions for indigenous species that are
adapted to soils with an expected low nutrient status.
The general construction notes, the Construction phase EMP (CEMP) are included as
Appendix B and F.
130
11 PILANESBERG: MANYANE WETLAND – A22F-06
131
11.3 Site photos
Please note that the location of the interventions described in Section 11.7 may change as a
result of changes in the landscape (due to continued erosion, for example) during the time
period that has lapsed between the initial planning site visit and the actual implementation
thereof.
132
Table 25: Summary of proposed new interventions, A22F-06
Total R 22 856.63
133
Figure 67: Wetland map, A22F-06 with proposed new wetland interventions indicated.
134
11.7 Intervention designs
11.7.1 Intervention: A22F-06-201-00
135
1.1.1.1 Construction Notes
General construction notes as set out in Appendix B apply, along with all construction notes
shown on design drawings.
The Engineer will include site specific instructions in the site instructions to be issued prior to
construction of this intervention.
136
11.8 Construction Environmental Management Plan issues
The proposed rehabilitation is to be undertaken on privately owned land and the project
team should access the site and manage the site in accordance with the WfWetlands Best
Management Practices and specific requirements of the landowner. The implementation of
these interventions must also take into account all relevant provisions of WfWetlands Best
Management Practices and the Construction Environmental Management Plan, the
recommendations of the approved Basic Assessments and EA for the project.
The establishment of a good vegetation cover at intervention sites are important, especially
in recently disturbed areas that are expected to be more prone to the encroachment of alien
plants. In order to achieved revegetation of indigenous species the localised broad casting of
Eragrostis tef is recommended along with manual scarification (e.g. through the use of
rakes). E. tef is an annual species that can grow in a wide variety of soil conditions and is
quickly replaced by indigenous species. No fertilisers need to be applied with E. tef, as it can
grow in nutrient poor soils. The application of fertilisers and nutrients in wetlands and other
watercourses may create unfavourable growing conditions for indigenous species that are
adapted to soils with an expected low nutrient status.
The general construction notes, the Construction phase EMP (CEMP) are included as
Appendix B and F.
137