A generic environmental management plan for the lacustrine wetlands of the East Rand of Gauteng
- Authors: Collen, Bronwyn
- Date: 2012-02-27
- Subjects: Wetlands , Wetland management , Environmental management
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:2056 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/4405
- Description: M.Sc. , It is estimated that on the East Rand of Gauteng there are approximately 159 wetlands, of these the large majority are lacustrine and endoreic wetlands. It is these lacustrine and endoreic wetlands that this study has as its focus, as it is these wetlands that face the greatest threats from humans. The aim of this study is thus to identify the threats and problems that are generic to the lacustrine and endoreic wetlands, and then to develop managerial options to deal with these threats and their associated problems. This dissertation shall focus on the development of a genenc environmental management plan for the lacustrine and endoreic wetlands of the East Rand of Gauteng. This generic environmental management plan shall be presented in the following form: 1. A discussion on the study area 2. An examination of the legislation relevant to the management of wetlands. 3. A discussion of the impacts identified, the significance and the root causes thereof In this case only those aspects that pose the greatest long-term threats to the lacustrine and endoreic wetlands of the East Rand shall be discussed. 4. The investigation of possible mitigatory measures and their implementation. 5. A discussion on the necessity for monitoring and auditing, including the monitoring and auditing of mitigatory and preventative measures. The majority of generic environmental management plans include sections detailing aspects of communication, training and awareness programmes, and possibly also sections addressing the social impacts of managerial actions. This generic management plan shall, however, only concentrate on the management of aspects affecting the natural environment. Studies have revealed that the primary long-term threats to the lacustrine and endoreic wetlands of the East Rand are those posed by the following: 1. Changes to water quality and water flow 2. Pollution 3. Invasive species These three primary long-term threats combine, resulting in the primary problems associated with the wetlands of the East Rand, these resultant problems are: 1. Eutrophication 2. Sedimentation 3. Bacteriological contamination, and 4. Aesthetic problems It is these primary long-term threats and their associated problems that form the focus of this study. Details shall be given regarding both the causes and effects thereof, as well as suggesting managerial options to deal with them. This environmental management plan, being generic in nature could be applied to individual lacustrine and endoreic wetlands within the study area when drawing up specific management plans for these wetlands. Furthermore this plan could also be incorporated into greater catchment management frameworks for the East Rand.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Collen, Bronwyn
- Date: 2012-02-27
- Subjects: Wetlands , Wetland management , Environmental management
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:2056 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/4405
- Description: M.Sc. , It is estimated that on the East Rand of Gauteng there are approximately 159 wetlands, of these the large majority are lacustrine and endoreic wetlands. It is these lacustrine and endoreic wetlands that this study has as its focus, as it is these wetlands that face the greatest threats from humans. The aim of this study is thus to identify the threats and problems that are generic to the lacustrine and endoreic wetlands, and then to develop managerial options to deal with these threats and their associated problems. This dissertation shall focus on the development of a genenc environmental management plan for the lacustrine and endoreic wetlands of the East Rand of Gauteng. This generic environmental management plan shall be presented in the following form: 1. A discussion on the study area 2. An examination of the legislation relevant to the management of wetlands. 3. A discussion of the impacts identified, the significance and the root causes thereof In this case only those aspects that pose the greatest long-term threats to the lacustrine and endoreic wetlands of the East Rand shall be discussed. 4. The investigation of possible mitigatory measures and their implementation. 5. A discussion on the necessity for monitoring and auditing, including the monitoring and auditing of mitigatory and preventative measures. The majority of generic environmental management plans include sections detailing aspects of communication, training and awareness programmes, and possibly also sections addressing the social impacts of managerial actions. This generic management plan shall, however, only concentrate on the management of aspects affecting the natural environment. Studies have revealed that the primary long-term threats to the lacustrine and endoreic wetlands of the East Rand are those posed by the following: 1. Changes to water quality and water flow 2. Pollution 3. Invasive species These three primary long-term threats combine, resulting in the primary problems associated with the wetlands of the East Rand, these resultant problems are: 1. Eutrophication 2. Sedimentation 3. Bacteriological contamination, and 4. Aesthetic problems It is these primary long-term threats and their associated problems that form the focus of this study. Details shall be given regarding both the causes and effects thereof, as well as suggesting managerial options to deal with them. This environmental management plan, being generic in nature could be applied to individual lacustrine and endoreic wetlands within the study area when drawing up specific management plans for these wetlands. Furthermore this plan could also be incorporated into greater catchment management frameworks for the East Rand.
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An integrated rehabilitation plan for the Wilgeheuwel Extension 29 Wetland, Gauteng
- Authors: Hendricks, James
- Date: 2009-02-05T07:15:04Z
- Subjects: Wetlands , Wetland management , Wetland restoration , Gauteng (South Africa)
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:8098 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/2026
- Description: M.A. , Wetlands are being lost and degraded in urban areas. Urban wetlands perform a diverse range of valuable functions. The loss of wetlands, therefore, has a negative impact upon urban human populations. One of the major threats to urban wetlands in Gauteng is the development of residential and commercial developments. As prime land for development is at a premium, the urban developer has targeted wetlands, which are canalised, drained or filled before being developed over. A typical example is that of the case study used for this thesis, where a wetland found in Johannesburg, Gauteng, is in the process of being destroyed, with the developers removing wetland vegetation, levelling the site and inhibiting the flow of the Wilgespruit River. Eventually a townhouse complex to be known as Wilgeheuwel Extension 29 is to be developed on the site. An integrated sustainable rehabilitation plan is required to ensure that the Wilgeheuwel Extension 29 wetland is rehabilitated. This plan is to take into consideration all the factors that influence the wetland negatively at present, including impacts upstream and possible future impacts. Therefore, a hierarchical approach is used, where management plans for the Wilgespruit River sub-catchment, the proposed development and the individual wetland are integrated into one plan.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Hendricks, James
- Date: 2009-02-05T07:15:04Z
- Subjects: Wetlands , Wetland management , Wetland restoration , Gauteng (South Africa)
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:8098 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/2026
- Description: M.A. , Wetlands are being lost and degraded in urban areas. Urban wetlands perform a diverse range of valuable functions. The loss of wetlands, therefore, has a negative impact upon urban human populations. One of the major threats to urban wetlands in Gauteng is the development of residential and commercial developments. As prime land for development is at a premium, the urban developer has targeted wetlands, which are canalised, drained or filled before being developed over. A typical example is that of the case study used for this thesis, where a wetland found in Johannesburg, Gauteng, is in the process of being destroyed, with the developers removing wetland vegetation, levelling the site and inhibiting the flow of the Wilgespruit River. Eventually a townhouse complex to be known as Wilgeheuwel Extension 29 is to be developed on the site. An integrated sustainable rehabilitation plan is required to ensure that the Wilgeheuwel Extension 29 wetland is rehabilitated. This plan is to take into consideration all the factors that influence the wetland negatively at present, including impacts upstream and possible future impacts. Therefore, a hierarchical approach is used, where management plans for the Wilgespruit River sub-catchment, the proposed development and the individual wetland are integrated into one plan.
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The formulation of policy strategies in response to threats to Gauteng's wetlands, within the national legislative framework
- Authors: Holgate, Claudia Joanne
- Date: 2012-01-24
- Subjects: Wetlands , Wetland ecology , Wetland degradation
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:1914 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/4276
- Description: M.Sc.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Holgate, Claudia Joanne
- Date: 2012-01-24
- Subjects: Wetlands , Wetland ecology , Wetland degradation
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:1914 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/4276
- Description: M.Sc.
- Full Text:
A guide to wetland identification, delineation and wetland functions
- Authors: Richards, Lauren Trudy
- Date: 2009-02-05T07:09:03Z
- Subjects: Wetlands , Wetlands management
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:14879 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/1999
- Description: M.A. , South Africa is a country with a variable climate which results in the formation of a variety of wetland types. These wetlands occur in a number of locations and natural settings and display a wide variety of unique characteristics. The main study objective was to produce an inland wetland guide document that would offer assistance to developers, managers, farmers, local governments and the public to identify and delineate wetlands. The scope of the study limited the research to inland wetlands and therefore excluded the marine and estuarine wetland types. The document provides the reader with a number of wetland definitions and illustrates the Cowardin et al. (1979) wetland classification system and the proposed South African wetland classification system, developed by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism. The three most significant characteristics of wetlands (hydrology, hydrophytic vegetation, hydric soils) are discussed in detail followed by a description of the wetland morphology and fauna, including mammals, reptiles, birds, and fish. South African wetland types (endorheic pans, riverine, lacustrine, palustrine and man-made wetlands) are discussed and maps are provided to illustrate the distribution of these wetlands in South Africa. The ecological, hydrological and cultural wetland functions and values such as flood attenuation, the storage and purification of water, the provision of faunal and floral habitats, the recreational and educational potential and the typical threats to wetlands (industrial, agricultural, urban) are described briefly. A wetland delineation technique that was developed by Kotze & Marneweck (1999) is provided to assist the reader in identifying the presence of a wetland and delineating its boundary. The technique includes a number of flow diagrams and explanations to guide the reader through the process. The Ramsar Convention plays an important role in the conservation of wetlands around the world. An explanation of the purpose and the functions of the Convention is provided to illustrate the importance of the conservation of the wetland ecosystems for man and the environment. The guide document concludes with a wetland checklist system. The checklist can be utilised by the reader to determine if an area of land constitutes a wetland and to ascertain the specific type of wetland. The list consists of a variety of questions that can be marked off as the reader continues. The guide document provides the reader with various appendices that include lists of the wetland flora and fauna. There is also a list with a few expert contacts that may assist the reader during wetland identification and delineation.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Richards, Lauren Trudy
- Date: 2009-02-05T07:09:03Z
- Subjects: Wetlands , Wetlands management
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:14879 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/1999
- Description: M.A. , South Africa is a country with a variable climate which results in the formation of a variety of wetland types. These wetlands occur in a number of locations and natural settings and display a wide variety of unique characteristics. The main study objective was to produce an inland wetland guide document that would offer assistance to developers, managers, farmers, local governments and the public to identify and delineate wetlands. The scope of the study limited the research to inland wetlands and therefore excluded the marine and estuarine wetland types. The document provides the reader with a number of wetland definitions and illustrates the Cowardin et al. (1979) wetland classification system and the proposed South African wetland classification system, developed by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism. The three most significant characteristics of wetlands (hydrology, hydrophytic vegetation, hydric soils) are discussed in detail followed by a description of the wetland morphology and fauna, including mammals, reptiles, birds, and fish. South African wetland types (endorheic pans, riverine, lacustrine, palustrine and man-made wetlands) are discussed and maps are provided to illustrate the distribution of these wetlands in South Africa. The ecological, hydrological and cultural wetland functions and values such as flood attenuation, the storage and purification of water, the provision of faunal and floral habitats, the recreational and educational potential and the typical threats to wetlands (industrial, agricultural, urban) are described briefly. A wetland delineation technique that was developed by Kotze & Marneweck (1999) is provided to assist the reader in identifying the presence of a wetland and delineating its boundary. The technique includes a number of flow diagrams and explanations to guide the reader through the process. The Ramsar Convention plays an important role in the conservation of wetlands around the world. An explanation of the purpose and the functions of the Convention is provided to illustrate the importance of the conservation of the wetland ecosystems for man and the environment. The guide document concludes with a wetland checklist system. The checklist can be utilised by the reader to determine if an area of land constitutes a wetland and to ascertain the specific type of wetland. The list consists of a variety of questions that can be marked off as the reader continues. The guide document provides the reader with various appendices that include lists of the wetland flora and fauna. There is also a list with a few expert contacts that may assist the reader during wetland identification and delineation.
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A framework methodology for the cumulative impact assessment of wetlands
- Authors: Stoop, Aiden
- Date: 2008-06-23T13:33:54Z
- Subjects: Wetlands , Wetlands' laws and legislation , Coal mines and mining , Environmental impact analysis
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:3456 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/684
- Description: Mrs. D.C. Schoeman
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- Authors: Stoop, Aiden
- Date: 2008-06-23T13:33:54Z
- Subjects: Wetlands , Wetlands' laws and legislation , Coal mines and mining , Environmental impact analysis
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:3456 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/684
- Description: Mrs. D.C. Schoeman
- Full Text:
An assessment of the health-related microbiological water quality of the Blesbok Spruit
- Authors: Swanepoel, Cheryl Lynne
- Date: 2012-05-29
- Subjects: Water quality , Blesbok Spruit (South Africa) , Water pollution , Wetlands
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:2274 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/4736
- Description: M.Tech. , South Africa is a water scarce country. The characteristic water pollution problems associated with both developing and developed economies are evident. Indicator organisms have been enumerated from samples collected from the Blesbok Spruit (Gauteng Province) over one year. Standard membrane filtration techniques were used followed by cultivation of E. coli and enterococcus on selective agars. Rainfall data was collected to enable a determination of differences, between “wet” and “dry” sampling runs. Descriptive statistics applied to the data include the calculation of the geometric mean for each sampling run and the geometric mean per sampling site in both wet and dry conditions. The Mann- Whitney Rank Sum Test and Kruskal-Wallis One way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were used to compare data sets. The capacity of the Blesbok Spruit, containing wetland areas, to assimilate the microbiological load was more effective than that of the Renoster Spruit (Free State Province) which does not contain distinctive wetland areas. The risk of infection has been determined by comparing the levels of E. coli and enterococcus to a set of site-specific guidelines. The water is not suitable for drinking or domestic purposes and full contact recreation will pose a risk of infection to users. The lower Blesbok Spruit has the poorest water quality and this water is unsuitable for livestock watering being only suitable for the irrigation of crops. The effects of diffuse pollution on the health related microbiological water quality need to be considered in the management of this sub-catchment.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Swanepoel, Cheryl Lynne
- Date: 2012-05-29
- Subjects: Water quality , Blesbok Spruit (South Africa) , Water pollution , Wetlands
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:2274 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/4736
- Description: M.Tech. , South Africa is a water scarce country. The characteristic water pollution problems associated with both developing and developed economies are evident. Indicator organisms have been enumerated from samples collected from the Blesbok Spruit (Gauteng Province) over one year. Standard membrane filtration techniques were used followed by cultivation of E. coli and enterococcus on selective agars. Rainfall data was collected to enable a determination of differences, between “wet” and “dry” sampling runs. Descriptive statistics applied to the data include the calculation of the geometric mean for each sampling run and the geometric mean per sampling site in both wet and dry conditions. The Mann- Whitney Rank Sum Test and Kruskal-Wallis One way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were used to compare data sets. The capacity of the Blesbok Spruit, containing wetland areas, to assimilate the microbiological load was more effective than that of the Renoster Spruit (Free State Province) which does not contain distinctive wetland areas. The risk of infection has been determined by comparing the levels of E. coli and enterococcus to a set of site-specific guidelines. The water is not suitable for drinking or domestic purposes and full contact recreation will pose a risk of infection to users. The lower Blesbok Spruit has the poorest water quality and this water is unsuitable for livestock watering being only suitable for the irrigation of crops. The effects of diffuse pollution on the health related microbiological water quality need to be considered in the management of this sub-catchment.
- Full Text:
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