CLASSIFICATION OF WATER RESOURCES AND DETERMINATION OF THE RESOURCE QUALITY OBJECTIVES IN THE LETABA

CATCHMENT

PROJECT STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING NO 3

5: BACKGROUND PRESENTATION

Date: 03 April 2014Venue: Tzaneen Lodge

Time: 09:00 – 13:30

To provide feedback on the progress of classifying and determining the Resource Quality Objectives for the water resources in the Letaba catchment

To provide the necessary information to engage with stakeholders on proposed management classes and RQOs in the Letaba catchment

To provide an overview of next steps in the study

PURPOSE OF THE MEETING

CLASSIFICATION & DETERMINATION OF THE RQOS

The classification and determination of the RQOs study in the Letaba Catchment was initiated in September 2012

Timeframe: 24 months (ending September 2014)

The Rivers for Africa e-Flows was appointed to assist DWA.

The objective of the study is to classify and determine RQOs in the Letaba Catchment

THE LOCALITY MAP OF THE STUDY AREA

THREE MANAGEMENT CLASSES (MC)

Classes Description of use Ecological categories

Class I Minimally used A/B

Class II Moderately used C

Class III Heavily used D

Ecological Category (EC) - means the assigned ecological condition to a water resource in terms of the deviation of its biophysical components from a pre-development condition.

Water resources of the Letaba catchment will be classified into one of three water resource classes (WRCS, DWA 2007):

RESOURCE QUALITY OBJECTIVES (RQOS)

The NWA states that the purpose of RQOs is to establish clear goals relating to the quality of the relevant water resources;

RQOs captured the Class and the ecological needs into measurable goals that give direction as to how the resources need to be managed;

The RQOs can be numeric or descriptive statements.BiotaHabitatFlowEcological and User water quality

HOW WILL CLASSIFICATION AND RQOS ASSIST IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE CATCHMENT?

The catchment vision requires a desired state of the water resources

RQOs will give effect to the implementation of the MCs

Resource Quality Objectives: conditions which should be met in the receiving water resource.

There will be management framework describing the following:

The extent to which every significant water resource can be used, and

The level of protection every significant water resource will be afforded.

Allocable water

Develop plan of action for implementation of recommended classes and RQOs which must include a monitoring programme.

STUDY PROCESS & PROGRESS

Assessment of WMA

Divided catchment into management units (IUAs) based on socio-economic/land use characteristics/water resources

Data assessedStatus quo understood

Catchment vision initiated

Assessment of WMA

Divided catchment into management units (IUAs) based on socio-economic/land use characteristics/water resources

Data assessedStatus quo understood

Catchment vision initiated

Link value and condition of

water resources

Goods and services

assessed

Economic Framework for decision

making developed

Link value and condition of

water resources

Goods and services

assessed

Economic Framework for decision

making developed

Ecological requirements

of water resources

understood and quantified

How much water does the ecology require

for different protection

levels

Ecological requirements

of water resources

understood and quantified

How much water does the ecology require

for different protection

levels

Identification and evaluation of

scenarios

Set of scenarios tested for

sustainability and evaluated

Understand the implications of

different protection levels

Identification and evaluation of

scenarios

Set of scenarios tested for

sustainability and evaluated

Understand the implications of

different protection levels

In accordance with the classification and RQOs guidelines: 7 step process applies

Recommended

Management classes

&RQOs

To set EcoSpecs and user

specs

Recommended

Management classes

&RQOs

To set EcoSpecs and user

specs

Gazetting

To gazette Classes, Reserve

and RQOs

Gazetting

To gazette Classes, Reserve

and RQOs

August 2012 to September 2014August 2012 to September 2014

1 2 3 4&5 6 7

Stakeholder engagementStakeholder engagement

We are hereWe are here

CLASSIFICATION OF WATER RESOURCES AND DETERMINATION OF THE RESOURCE QUALITY OBJECTIVES IN THE LETABA

CATCHMENT

PROJECT STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING NO 3

11: STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

Date: 3 August 2014Venue: Tzaneen Lodge

Time: 09:00 – 13:30

Inform stakeholders (so that they may meaningfully participate)

Present views, concerns and values (policy) Influence project decisions / design / outcome Obtain local knowledge Increase public awareness Ensure better transparency and accountability in

decision-making Avoid conflict (people own the process) Ensure that adequate focus is placed on environmental

and humanitarian issues

OBJECTIVES OF STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

Direct –PSC, Public meeting & Stakeholder engagement workshops

Distribution of documents and reports for comments

Interviews – One-on-One and sector meeting (e.g. Dept. of Agriculture, Chamber of Mines, SANBI & SANPARKS)

Printed Documents – BID, Newsletters, Brochures and reports for community members

Electronic media – DWA Internet: www.dwa.gov.za/rdm/WRCS/default.aspx

E-mail (database list)

COMMUNICATION METHODS/ APPROACH

Targeted stakeholders

National Government DepartmentsDWA HO and & Limpopo Regions, DAFF

Agriculture Agri SA and Agri Letaba

Provincial Government DepartmentsLEDET, LDA

Water Research InstitutionsWater Research Commission

MunicipalitiesMopani DM, Greater Letaba, Tzaneen, and Giyani municipalities, SALGA

Water institutions and forums: WUAs: Middle Letaba, N’wamitwa and Letsitele

Forum: Klein Letaba, Shingwedzi, Groot and Lower Letaba

Traditional leadersContralesa

Mining and industries :Chamber of Commerce and Chamber of Mines

Water utility companiesLepelle Water Board

Conservation organisations:KNP, Birdlife, SANPARKS, SANBI

Parastatals: Community representatives Community Development Workers (CDW)

THE IMPORTANT OF HAVING PUBLIC MEETING

To get public inputs on proposed management classes and RQOs

The meeting is scheduled for the enter public within the study area

STAKEHOLDERS ENGAGEMENT PROGRESS

Project Steering Committee established & fully functional

Inaugural Project Steering Committee meeting - 12 March 2013

2nd Project Steering Committee meeting – 31 October 2013

3rd Project steering Committee meeting – 03 April 2014

Public Consultation meeting - 11 June 2014

All issues and responses are being captured in a register (ongoing)

For more information visit the Departmental web site: www.dwa.gov.za/rdm/WRCS/default.aspx

Process to be followed inviting public to the meeting

Put the adverts on the newspapers

1 X National Newspaper

3 X local Newspapers (using local languages)

Capricorn voice

Herald publications (Mopani and Letaba)

Newsletters

1 X English

3 X local Languages

Send invitations by emails and by post to those who does not have an emails as well as phoning therm.

Public will be requested to replay on the form provided for logistics purposes

NEXT STEPS IN THE STUDY

Public meeting

Finalisation of the Proposed Management Class and

RQOs Reports

Update Issues and Response Register

Class and RQOs Gazetted for 60 days for public

comments

THANK YOU