1. RESERVE DETERMINATION STUDIES FOR SELECTED SURFACE WATER, GROUNDWATER, ESTUARIES AND WETLANDS IN THE GOURITZ WMA – PSC MEETING NO 1 OVERVIEW OF THE RESERVE PROCESS AND THE NEED FOR PROTECTION 24 JULY 2014 1

2. OUTLINE Why do we need to protect? Strategy for Protection What is the Reserve and where does it fit in? 8-Steps Process of the Reserve

3. Need for water resource protection NWA mandate ( NWRS, chapter 3, and other environmental legislation) Water resource are (Rivers, Estuaries, Wetland and groundwater) Water resource protection is not about conserving the fish and birds only but the: Objectives for water resource protection are to : –ensure long-term sustainable use of water resources –balance the need for long-term protection against the need for economic growth and social development

4. OVER UTILISATION OF A WATER RESOURCE OVERABSTRACTION POLLUTION GEOMORPHOLOGY MODIFIED EWR

5. Resource Directed Measures A strategy to ensure sustainability and protection

6. RESOURCE PROTECTION  Pollution sources Discharges Run-off (Agricultural, settlements, urban areas) Illegal water use – Water abstraction  Licenses  Best Practices for water use  Setting the rules for managing and controlling activities impacting on water resources through: Management Objectives (Class & Resource Quality Objectives) Human Needs & Aquatic Health (Reserve)  Managing and controlling activities impacting on water resources (abstraction of water & the disposal of effluents )  Setting management requirements in water resources (rivers, wetlands, estuaries & groundwater) Strategy for protection

7. Classification system Management Class (minimally – heavily used) = desired characteristics of the resource Sets boundaries for volume, distribution and quality of Reserve and RQOs Classification Numeric / descriptive goals for resource quality within which the resource must be managed Resource Quality Objectives Water quantity and quality required to : Set ecospecs Reserve RDM – Strategy for protection 2 Habitat Biota Quantity Quality Supply BHN Protect aquatic ecosystems

8. 8-step process 1. INITIATE STUDY Define study area Select level and eco- system components Select study team 4. QUANTIFICATION Quantify the EWRs and scenarios, including quality 2. DEFINE RESOURCE UNITS & SELECT EWR SITES 3. FIELD SURVEYS & ASSESSMENTS Undertake specialist field surveys Assess the present state and recommend future state 5. Operational Scenarios & Consequences Impacts of development scenarios Ecological and socio-economic consequences 7. SELECT BEST DEVELOPMENT OPTION & DEVELOP A MONITORING PROGRAMME 8. IMPLEMENTATION PLAN 6. DWA MANAGEMENT CLASS Decision-making process