WRC RESEARCH PROJECT NO. 1327
ECOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF LARGE-SCALE
GROUNDWATER DEVELOPMENT IN THE TABLE MOUNTAIN GROUP (TMG) AQUIFER SYSTEM:
PROGRESS REPORT
and FUTURE WORK PROGRAMME
for the inaugural Steering Committee meeting
to be held on 5 May 2003 at CSIR Stellenbosch
Prepared by:
CSIR- Environmentek, on behalf of the project team
Date:
17 April 2003
- OBJECTIVES OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT
The objectives/aims of this project, as defined in Annexure 1 of the Memorandum of Agreement between the WRC and CSIR (May 2002) are:
a)The development of predictive tools to assess the impact (or risk) of groundwater abstraction on the environment.
b)To improve our understanding of groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs) in the TMG and the sensitivity to groundwater level fluctuations.
c)The use of innovative techniques to determine the impact of groundwater abstraction on the environment.
d)The development of indicators to monitor the effect of abstraction on sensitive ecosystems.
e)Coupling time series and spatial databases in order to ascertain the impacts of low flows (groundwater and surface water interaction) on the environmental system.
f)Improved understanding of the impact of changing low flows on freshwater ecology.
g)Improved understanding of the relationship between surface flow, event discharge from high-lying TMG unconfined aquifers and deep confined-aquifer discharge in maintaining wetlands or seeps.
h)Improved understanding of subsurface TMG discharge in maintaining coastal plain wetlands and vleis.
- TARGETS FOR THE REPORT PERIOD
The research period for this report is from the commencement of the project (1 April 2002) to 31 March 2003. While it was intended to commence the project in the 2001 financial year (Year 1 in the Gantt chart below), the project effectively started with the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement in May 2002. In terms of this Memorandum, the duration of the project is 5 years from 1 February 2002. The total budget is R 2.2 million.
3. PROGRESS DURING THE REPORT PERIOD
3.1 Actual progress on tasks
Task 1: Project inception, planning and overall project leadership
A project leadership team was established at the outset. This consists of a representative of the three lead organisations, i.e CSIR, Southern Water and Umvoto. The project leadership team was Christine Colvin (CSIR), Cate Brown (Southern Waters) and Rowena Hay (Umvoto) and Paul Lochner (Project Manager). Project leadership team meetings have been held at regular intervals over the past year (February 2002, April 2002, July 2002, November 2002 and February 2003), with notes provided from each meeting.
At the time of submitting the project proposal (September 2001), it was anticipated that capital equipment would be purchased as early as possible to avoid deflation of purchasing power due to a weakening exchange rate. With the strengthening of the Rand during 2002, purchase of capital equipment was no longer an immediate priority. No capital equipment has been purchased at this stage.
Task 2: Identification and definition of ecosystems at risk
This is the main task that the team has focused on the report period. It was approached in the following steps:
Defining the study area:
While the title of the research project refers broadly to the TMG, and the proposal had indicated a potential study area ranging from the Overberg through to Citrusdal area, it soon became apparent that the study should focus on areas closer to greater Cape Town. The main reason for this are to: (i) focus on an area where there is an expected future abstraction demand. (ii) link the research (so far as possible) with the pilot sites for the City of Cape Town (CCT) groundwater project on the feasibility for extracting groundwater from the TMG for municipal supplies; (iii) make us of existing monitoring infrastructure; and (iv) logistical reasons such as to reduce travel time and costs. The specific study sites have not been identified at this stage, and will be informed by the hydrocensus currently being undertaken for the CCT project (Refer to section 3.3 for further information on links with the CCT project). We would therefore like to confirm with the Steering Committee that the study area for this research project will focus on the CCT study area, which extends approximately from the Onrus/Palmiet area northwards to the Tulbagh/Witsenberg area.
Scoping interviews:
These were held with a range of specialists that were identified as being able to provide valuable contributions to this study. Approximately 20 specialists were interviewed, with expertise in wetlands, fish, freshwater ecology, botany, estuaries, marine water quality, marine biology, birds and groundwater. It was envisaged that many of these specialists would be involved in the Scoping Workshop, and these interviews were part of the preparation for the workshop. The purpose of the interviews was to assist the specialists understand their area of expertise from a groundwater perspective, and so to enable them to contribute their experience and insights to the research project.
Draft Discussion Document for Scoping Phase (February 2003):
This document is provided as part of this Progress Report. The aim of the document was to prepare specialists from a range of earth and life science disciplines for the Scoping Workshop by assisting them in developing an understanding of how abstraction of groundwater from the Table Mountain Group (TMG) aquifer system, in the Western Cape, may affect water availability in the surface environment. It does this by:
- summarising pertinent groundwater terminology to facilitate discussion (refer to Appendix);
- providing an introduction to groundwater (Section 2);
- providing an overview of the role of groundwater in the environment and its interactions with ecosystems, in general (Section 3);
- providing an overview of the character and functioning of the TMG aquifer in the Western Cape (Section 4).
Scoping Workshop (28 March 2003);
The Scoping Workshop was held at CSIR Stellenbosch and attended by 28 participants. The draft workshop report, which is currently out for comment, is included as part of this progress report. The aim of the workshop was to:
- Scope the full range and types of potential ecological impacts of large-scale groundwater abstraction from the TMG aquifer;
- Identify geographical areas and ecosystems considered likely to be dependent on groundwater;
- Prioritise areas for future monitoring and research.
The participants in the Scoping Workshop generally indicated agreement with and understanding of the terminology and concepts used in the Discussion Document. It was agreed that the design of the monitoring programme for the project will be critical and difficult.
Task 3: Classification of vulnerable ecosystems falling within study area
This task is currently in progress. The Scoping Workshop provided initial inputs into approaches to classifying ecosystems (for example in terms of the characteristics of the groundwater source) which will have to be refined once the CCT pilot site and suitable control sites for monitoring have been identified.
3.2 Capacity building
Andiswa Mlisa (Umvoto) has registered for an M.Sc at Stellenbosch University, under Prof Zietsman, with the intention of utilising some of the spatial data collation and GIS-based analysis work to be done for this project as the basis for her thesis.
Rob Taylor (UCT Honours student) is working under Prof William Bond and will focus his work on characterising the water sources of groundwater dependent ecosystems. This work could be extended to an M.Sc. thesis.
It was intended to involve Andiswa Silinga (ex-CSIR) in the data collation and analysis, but unfortunately she resigned from the CSIR earlier this year.
Derrick Netshitungulu is an intern with CSIR and has recently become involved with this project. He has an MSc in geohydrology and will contribute in the area of assessing the water sources and water-use of groundwater dependent ecosystems.
This research project could contribute to the future PhD studies of Irene Saayman and Christine Colvin (CSIR), though these degrees have not been initiated at this stage.
3.3 Progress with data collation and analysis
A data audit was undertaken in July 2002 to identify the likely data sources that will need to be used in the data analysis for the scoping phase. A document entitled “Draft framework for data analysis for the WRC TMG Eco-impacts project” has also been prepared (February 2003). The purpose of this document is to provide a broad-brush framework in order to guide the design of the data analysis that forms part of the scoping phase.
This document consists of three parts:
Part A: Conceptual approach to assessing the degree of dependency of vegetation on groundwater and actions to protect those ecosystems
Part B: Priority data sets for possible use in data analysis
Part C: Data catalogue (based on the July 2002 data audit).
3.4 Delays in the Scoping phase of the WRC project
Shortly after this WRC project was awarded, the City of Cape Town (CCT) called for tenders for a pilot project for groundwater abstraction for municipal supply. Several of the members of the team for this WRC project (eg. Ninham Shand, CSIR, Umvoto) were also part of a team bidding for the CCT project. It was therefore decided to await the award of the CCT contract before fully commending with the Scoping phase. The team was successful in their bid, and we have subsequently held joint meetings to develop synergy between the two projects. Coordinating with the CCT project ultimately offers a great opportunity to enhance the value of the WRC research.
Another reason for the initial delay was that it took longer than planned for the project leadership team (i.e. CSIR, Umvoto and Southern Waters) to reach clarity on the detailed planning and study approach. This is understandable given the complexity of the study and diversity of disciplines encompassed.
3.5 Links with the City of Cape Town groundwater pilot project
The CCT project is currently identifying target areas for potential pilot drilling sites. It is intended that the WRC project will set up a monitoring protocol and programme (including boreholes) covering the CCT study area, including both the potential impact zones and control sites. The WRC project plans to commence with this in mid-2003 and the budget includes one year of monitoring. Due to the timing of the CCT drilling and abstraction programme, which are only due to take place once this WRC research contract is completed, we expect that the WRC project will monitor the baseline conditions (prior to any exploration drilling or abstraction) for one year. This is based on the understanding that CCT exploration drilling is likely to start in 2004 and abstraction in 2005.
The CCT project will then monitor the effects of abstraction (in the impact zone and control sites) for at least one year, using in part the monitoring programme/protocol established by the WRC project. A budget is included in the CCT project for the training of monitoring personnel. It is expected that many of the same people will involved in monitoring for the WRC and CCT project.
The WRC proposal calls for the need for post-abstraction monitoring, but this is not included in the budget. Additional funds will need to be sought.
It is also important to point out that the WRC field monitoring will only cover one or two monitoring areas, whereas the CCT project may at that stage still have numerous potential target areas on the table. It may therefore transpire that the areas where the WRC project establishes a pre-abstraction monitoring programme may not actually be chosen for drilling. These sites could be used as controls for the monitoring that will be done at the pilot abstraction site
3.6 Links with the WRC TMG Programme
The WRC strategic research programme for the TMG aquifer has three components: (a) recharge dynamics in the TMG aquifer, (b) groundwater behaviour and flow through the system; and (c) this project on ecological impacts. There is a need to discuss with the Steering Committee the best approach to link with the other research projects for the TMG (e.g. we need to check whether the recharge project will be doing any monitoring drilling in high-lying areas).
- CONCLUSIONS
Progress has centred around:
(a) development of the core team’s conceptual understanding of the relationship between the aquifer and the GDEs (summarised in the Scoping Document); and
(b) synthesising contributions from the broader team and additional specialists to reflect a robust consensus on the key issues and concerns (interviews and draft workshop document).
These outputs provide a critical foundation on which to develop a sound and detailed monitoring protocol and programme.
5. GENERAL
This Progress Report is supplemented with two supporting documents:
- Discussion Document for the Scoping Phase (February 2003)
- Draft Workshop Report (April 2003)
6. PUBLICATIONS
At this stage it is too early in the research process for any publications.
7. WORK PROGRAMME FOR THE FOLLOWING PERIOD
TASK / Months (May 2003 to April 2004)M / J / J / A / S / O / N / D / J / F / M / A
Phase 1 - Scoping: Detailed inception study and field study planning
Task 1: Project inception and planning (completed) and purchase capital equipment
Task 2: Identification and definition of ecosystems at risk
Task 3: Classification of vulnerable ecosystems falling within study area
Task 4: Develop understanding of links between systems and groundwater components
Task 5: Identification and selection of key ""illustrative"" test sites and projects
Phase 2 - Field experiments and monitoring
Phase 3 - Analysis of results
Phase 4 - Recommendations for application of current knowledge and further work
Envisaged flow of tasks between WRC and CCT projects:
Friday 28 March 2003 / WRC Scoping workshop with specialists. Outcomes to inform the CCT hydrocensus (eg. types of springs and seeps to include).April 2003 / CCT hydrocensus. Could include experienced botanist from WRC team to classify springs and seeps.
June/July 2003 / Write up hydrocensus
October/November 2003 / WRC project does wet season baseline monitoring of WRC study area, including control sites (Note: this is not expected to cover as many sites as in the CCT project)
February/March 2004 / WRC project does dry season baseline monitoring of WRC study area, including control sites (Note: this is not expected to cover as many sites as in the CCT project)
Progress Report (April 2003): TMG eco-impacts project (K5/1327)Page 1