Displaying items by tag: Southern Waters Consulting - Projects 2009

Development of Decision Support System (DSS) software to automate the process for Environmental Flow Assessments.  The software is different from current DSSs in the field in that it fully incorporates the ecological, social and socio-economic aspects of management options to the same level of detail and sensitivity as the economic and engineering aspects.  The DSS is based on advances made in the DRIFT methodology through its application in Southern and East Africa.

Assessment of the possible impacts on the lower Zambezi River, and in particular the Zambezi Delta as a result of proposed dredging operation.

Ecological Flow determinations using DRIFT for two sites on the Cunene River in northern Namibia.  The EFs will form an integral part of the ESIA for the proposed hydropower stations at Baynes Gorge.

Ecological Flow determinations using DRIFT for three sites on the Nile River in central Sudan.  The EFs form an integral part of the ESIA for the proposed hydropower stations at Sabaloka, Dagash and Mograt.

The objectives of the Okavango Technical Diagnostic Analysis/EF component are to collate biophysical and social information for the basin into a integrated flow assessment tool, which will allow for the generation of future scenarios of water use and the implications for the rivers, delta and local people for use in water-related decision-making

Provision of environmental flow information to pre-feasibility and feasibility studies of surface water developments to augment the supply of water to Cape Town.  Joint Venture with Ninham Shand and Kwezi V3.

Environmental Water Requirement determinations for a suite of coastal rivers (Moordkuils, Groot Brak, Maalgate, Gwaing, Kaaimans, Goukamma and Noetsie) two estuaries and groundwater in the Outeniqua region of SA, with a strong capacity-building component.  The project has been extended to include design of integration methods for river, estuary, wetlands and groundwater reserve assessments, information provision for the Classification Process and guidelines for implementation.

The objectives of the Pangani Basin Baseline Flow Assessment (FA) Study were to generate baseline data of the condition of the Pangani River system against which the impact of water-related decision-making can be monitored in future; enhance the understanding of the relationship between flow, the river and people among PBWO and MWLD staff; create an awareness of the links between flow and the trade-offs that need to be made in water allocation; develop simple tools to help guide flow management and water allocations in the Pangani Basin; build capacity that will enable PWBO to act as a nucleus of expertise for FA-related work in other areas; support the National Water Policy (NAWAPO_2002) and the National Environmental Management Act (2004).  The project included the design and operation of the Pangani Flows DSS, which was used to assess various (at this stage 18) scenarios related to water resource development and provide information on hydrological, sector allocations, impacts on rivers, wetlands, lakes and the estuary, social impacts related to those impacts and various economic (direct) indicators, specifically those related to HEP, agriculture and ecosystem services

Freshwater specialist and advisor: A Feasibility Study and Pilot Project into the viability of the TMG Aquifer for bulk water supply to Cape Town, more particularly the deep confined portions of the Peninsula Formation.  Duties included evaluation of proposed well-field sites, design of a monitoring programme to assess future possible impacts of abstraction from the TMG aquifer on rivers and wetlands in the area and review of the subsequent monitoring activities, which have been outsourced.  This project is likely to continue into the future, to encompass establishment of pilot well-field and adaptive management of large-scale water abstraction for supply to Cape Town.

Environmental flow specialist: A multidisciplinary team tasked with designing and implementing the operation rules for the Berg River Dam in Franschhoek.  The Berg River Dam is the first dam in South Africa where provision for the Ecological Reserve was included in feasibility, design and operations