Ecological and Environmental Impacts of Large-scale Groundwater Development in the Table

Mountain Group (TMG) Aquifer System

WRC project K5/1327

WRC – TMG Introduction• Objectives of the WRC Eco

TMG project• Who is involved• Project process and timing• Links with CCT-TMG AA

project• Differences to CCT-TMG

AA project.

Aims of the WRC project

•Characterize the occurrence of groundwater discharge areas in the TMG;

•Characterize the hydraulic continuity between discharge areas and deep and shallow aquifer flow regimes;

•Characterize groundwater use by terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems;

•Assess the dependency on groundwater of these uses and the sensitivity of ecosystems to changes in the groundwater regime;

•Determine early indicators of stress and response to changes in the groundwater regime;

•Assess the resilience of ecosystems to changing groundwater conditions at various temporal and spatial scales.

Approach

Innovative and integrative research Predictive tools and indicators Education and research Leverage additional funding for long term

Project Overview

I. Scoping

II. Monitoring

III. Analysis

IV. Recommendations

The Core Team CSIR

Paul Lochner (PL)

Christine Colvin

Dr Dave Le Maitre

Umvoto Africa Rowena Hay

Dr Chris Hartnady

Southern Waters Dr Cate Brown

Dr Bill Harding

Themes and TeamsTheme Contributing specialists Groundwater flow in the TMG system

Dr Ricky Murray (CSIR); John Weaver (CSIR); Mike Smart (DWAF); Dr Kornelius Reimann (Umvoto)

Groundwater use by terrestrial ecosystems

Dr Ed February (UCT); Prof William Bond (UCT); Dr David Ward (US); Godfrey Moses (CSIR)

Influence of groundwater chemistry in TMG ecosystems

Dr Gideon Tredoux (CSIR); Dr Lisa Cave (CSIR); Prof Yongxin Xu (UWC)

Determining groundwater contribution to baseflow.

Prof Andre Gorgens (US); Dr Mike Shand (Ninham Shand); Prof Yongxin Xu (UWC); Irene Saayman (CSIR); Eric Prinsloo (CSIR); Mark Gush (CSIR).

The dependency of wetland systems on groundwater

Prof Charlie Boucher (US); Dr Bill Harding (SW)

Knowledge management and spatial databases.

Andiswa Mlisa (Umvoto Africa).Julian Conrad (Geoss); Simon Hughes (CSIR); Prof Larry Zietsman (US)

Time Frame Scoping – March 2002 – April 2003

Data collationSpecialist inputsTarget sites

Monitoring - May 2003 – Sept 2004 Analysis - March 2003 – Dec 2004 Recommendations – March 2003 – Dec 2004 ?

Overlapping areas

Team GIS database Research and

improved understanding Monitoring protocol Risk assessment of GDEs

WRC – EcoTMG CCT – TMG-AA

Research focus Broader GDE review Scientifically inclusive Boundary conditions –

climate change

Focus on CCT sites Vulnerable GDEs EIA – impact

minimisation Environmental flow

requirements Monitoring compliance No-go limits Stakeholder process

Thank you

Points for clarification…?

500 m

250 m

z

nEMPPPP

Drilling area: Area of potential direct, mechanical impact (including access routes). All activities controlled by EMP. Site investigations will be required.

Schematic representation of area of GIS analysisto identify ecosystems potentially vulnerable to drawdown impacts.

Schematic representation of proximal area of potential drawdown impacts. Monitoring will be required to assess the asymetic and anisotropic extent of cone of depression.

Distal area of potential drawdown impactsidentified through geohydrologcial analysis. Depending on the importance and significanceof the ecosystems identified, monitoring will be required.

300 km

unknown

Full extent of area investigated in the geohydrological analysis of zones of risk.

Outputs of the CCT Eco task

Data base and maps Consensus on monitoring protocols Eco redflags (no-go & switch off) Rapid and intermediate RDM Actual monitoring and analysis Impact minimisation – MCDA & risk

Ecohydrogeological scoping and datum data collection

Preliminary phase

Ecosystem scoping and ongoing datum data collection and interpretation

Exploratory phase

Focus on high risk areas for field verification and data collection

Exploratory phase

Design and implementation of Monitoring Protocol for high risk and control areas

Pilot Borehole phase

Make recommendations for Environmental compliance and acceptable sustainability of

large scale abstraction Pilot Borehole phase

CCT – TMG project

Overall objective – development of groundwater resources.

Environment 1 of 7 tasks Task leader – Mike Luger (NS) Core team as for WRC