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THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WATER RESOURCES CLASSIFICATION

SYSTEM AND DETERMINATION OF THE RESOURCE QUALITY OBJECTIVES FOR THE SIGNIFICANT WATER RESOURCES IN THE LETABA CATCHMENT (WP 10640)

BRIEFING SESSION

Date: 20 March 2012Time: 10:00

Venue: Sedibeng 640

• Purpose• Objectives of the Project• Legal Mandate• Water Resource Classification System

(WRCS) regulation• Classification and Resource Quality

Objectives (RQOs) process in the Letaba Catchment

PRESENTATION STRUCTURE

To provide background to the determination of the Management Class (MC) and the RQOs in the Letaba catchment.

To provide a brief overview of the Water Resources Classification System (WRCS) and Procedures to develop Resource Quality Objectives (RQOs)

PURPOSE

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT The main aim of this study is to co-ordinate the

implementation of the WRCS (7 step process) in order to determine a suitable MC for the relevant water resources; and

To determine RQOs using the Departmental Procedures to Develop and Implement RQOs.

• The classification of South African water resources is required by the National Water Act (NWA) (No. 36 of 1998) (Chapter 3 regarding the protection of water resources)

• Regulation 810 published in Government Gazette No. 33541 dated 17 September 2010 defined water resource management classes and the procedure to determine a management class and RQOs.

• According to the NWA, once the WRCS has been gazetted all significant water resources must be classified and RQOs be determined.

LEGAL MANDATE

• The WRCS places water resources into different categories referred to as Management Class.

• The WRCS is a set of guidelines and procedures for determining the MCs of water resources.

• MC facilitates the balance between protection and use of the water resources.

• MC describes the desired condition of the water resource and the extent to which it can be utilized.

• The process requires cooperation & transparency with all stakeholders.

THE WATER RESOURCE CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM

Three classes:

• Class I minimally used - The Configuration of ecological categories of the water

resources within a catchment results in an overall water resource condition that is minimally altered from its pre-development condition.

• Class II moderately used - The configuration of ecological categories of the water

resources within a catchment results in an overall water resource condition that is moderately altered from its pre-development condition.

• Class III heavily used - the configuration of ecological categories of the water resources in

a catchment results in an overall water resource that is significantly altered from its predevelopment condition.

MANAGEMENT CLASSES DEFINITIONS

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; and

Stipulates that in determining RQOs a balance must be sought between the need to protect and sustain water resources and the need to use them.

The RQOs can be numeric or descriptive statements.

THE LINK OF RQOS WITH WATER RESOURCE CLASSIFICATION

Classification of Water Resources

Management Class for each resource unit

Resource Quality Objectives

(Quantity, quality, habitat, biota)

Ecological Requirements User Requirements

Develop Implementation & monitoring plan

Implementation of Ecological Requirements through Source Directed

Controls

Implementation of User Requirements through

Source Directed Controls

Vision for the Resource

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Coordination and integration Capacity building and skills transfer Depend on the existing work and current studies Transparency and Stakeholder engagement Consultative and collaborations

STUDY AREA Letaba catchment is located in the Letaba and

Luvuvhu Water Management area: WMA 2 (Figure 1) The Shingwedzi and Luvuvhu catchments are not

included in this study Letaba Catchment is divided into 3 tertiary

catchments (Figure 2): Upper Letaba (B81) Middle Letaba (B82) Lower Letaba (B83)

• The locality map of the study area

The Locality of the Letaba Catchment

The following information is required in order to classify and determine the RQOs for Letaba Catchment:

EWR data (from Resource Directed Measures) Land-use data (from ARC, department of agriculture, etc) Socio-economic data (from municipality, STASSA, chamber of mines, etc) Infrastructure and existing allocations (DWA, municipalities etc Conservation information (SANParks) Stakeholders database

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THIS STUDY

WORK COMPLETED BY THE DEPARTMENT

The department has complied a gap analysis report. The Comprehensive Reserve determination (2006) Development and the Implementation of a Framework to

operationalise the Reserve: Pilot Studies (Letaba, Luvuvhu, Kat and Upper Komati River): (2010)

The Development of a Reconciliation Strategy for the Luvuvhu and Letaba Water Supply System (current)

Update on PES and EIS Project (ongoing)

The duration of this study is 24 months with six main tasks. The duration of this study is 24 months with six main tasks.

Task 1: Project inceptionTask 1: Project inception

Task 2: Water resource information and data gatheringTask 2: Water resource information and data gathering

Task 3: Determination of the Management Class and RQOs Task 3: Determination of the Management Class and RQOs

Task 4: Communication and Liaison Task 4: Communication and Liaison

Task 5: Capacity BuildingTask 5: Capacity Building

Task 6: Study Management and coordinationTask 6: Study Management and coordination

STUDY TASKS: LETABA CATCHMENT

PurposePurpose::• Provide opportunity to identify, assess and interpret the nature and Provide opportunity to identify, assess and interpret the nature and

scope of the projectscope of the project• Define role players, interface with other initiatives, study budgetDefine role players, interface with other initiatives, study budget• Identify potential IUAs, nodes, Resource Units (RU) and significant Identify potential IUAs, nodes, Resource Units (RU) and significant

water resourceswater resources• To plan and coordinate a site visits To plan and coordinate a site visits

OutcomeOutcome::• Inception ReportInception Report• Work programmeWork programme• Capacity building and mentorship programmeCapacity building and mentorship programme

TASK 1: PROJECT INCEPTION

PurposePurpose::

• Review literature, reports, models and any other Review literature, reports, models and any other relevant information supportive to the relevant information supportive to the classification processclassification process

• List available water resources modelsList available water resources models• Undertake information and data gap analysisUndertake information and data gap analysis

OutcomeOutcome::Information/Gap Analysis ReportInformation/Gap Analysis Report

TASK 2: WATER RESOURCE INFORMATION AND DATA WATER RESOURCE INFORMATION AND DATA GATHERINGGATHERING

TASK 3: DETERMINATION OF THE MC AND RQOs

PurposePurpose: : To implement the 7-step WRCS procedure in order to To implement the 7-step WRCS procedure in order to

classify significant water resources; and classify significant water resources; and To determine the RQOSTo determine the RQOS The Regulations and Guidelines, as well as the

Procedures to Develop and Implement RQOs can be found on this links: http://www.dwa.gov.za/rdm/Documents.aspx

Table and slides below indicates activities and associated deliverables of this task.

TASK 3: DETERMINATION OF THE MC AND RQOS (cont)

Classification Procedure

1. Delineate the Integrated Units of Analysis

2. Link the value and condition of the water resources

3. Quantify the EWR and changes in non-water quality EGSAs

4. Determine the ESBC and establish starter configuration scenarios

5. Evaluate the scenarios within the IWRM process

6. Evaluate the scenarios with stakeholders

7. Gazette the class configuration

The PSP will need to:

Identify significant water resources and infrastructure Define Socio-economic Zones and identify significant land use Identify and analyse Hydrological and Geohydrological data Define the biophysical and allocation nodes as well as Resource

Units. Analyse the PES, EIS as well as NFEPA map.

Outcome: Proposed IUA, Nodes and RU

DELINEATION OF INTEGRATED UNITS OF ANALYSIS, NODES AND RESOURCE UNITS (STEP 1: WRCS and

RQOs)

The decision analysis framework and scoring system will need to be defined

To determine the relationship between economic value, social well being and ecosystem characteristics

• The outcome of this steps is to understand how water users are influenced by the availability of water resources

LINK THE VALUE AND CONDITION OF THE WATER RESOURCES (STEP 2: WRCS)

To analysis the following: Historic PES and EIS, Comprehensive reserve study (2006), Results from updated PES study which is currently underway, NFEPA(Conservation targets)

Extrapolation of existing and new EWRs results to all identified nodes

To undertake additional Rapid Reserve determination when necessary.

The outcome: To have an indication of the current state of the water resources in terms of flow and quality

QUANTIFICATION OF ECOLOGICAL WATER REQUIREMENTS (EWRs) (STEP 3: WRCS)

DETERMINE THE ECOLOGICAL BASE CONFIGURATION SCENARIO (ESBC) AND STARTER

CONFIGURATION SCENARIOS (STEP 4: WRCS)

The ESBC is define as the lowest (theoretical) level of protection

The PSP will be required to do the following Is to developed the ESBC scenariosTo test the ESBC scenarios in terms of hydrology and

ecologically sustainability using water resources models. Outcome: A number of possible ESBC scenarios for

stakeholder evaluation

Objective: to establish a manageable number of configuration scenarios

The PSP will be required to do the following: To set and run the water resource models To evaluate and measure planning as well as other scenarios against

the ESBC

Outcome: number of possible starter configuration scenarios for stakeholder evaluation

EVALUATE SCENARIOS WITHIN IWRM PROCESS(STEP 5: WRCS)

The PSP will be required to do the following• To arrange public or sector specific workshops• Stakeholders to evaluate scenarios and provide comments and inputs to a

possible number of short-listed scenarios• DWA and project team to consider and refine the economic, ecological

and social information for the short listed scenarios (options);• To populate a template for recommending the proposed Classes, ROQs

and numerical limits for each IUA to the Minister of DWA for gazetting;• Proposed Classes and RQOS gazetted for a period of 60 days for public

comment.• To address all comment/s raised during the commenting period

EVALUATE THE SCENARIOS (STEP 6), AGREE RESOURCE UNITS, RQO AND NUMERICAL LIMITS WITH

STAKEHOLDERS

This step entails the gazetting of the proposed Classes, Reserve and RQOs in the Government Gazette.

To develop a plan for implementation/operationalisation of the class, Reserve and RQOs

GAZETTE AND IMPLEMENT THE MANAGEMENT CLASS AND

RQOS (STEP 7 BOTH WRCS AND RQOS)

TASK 3: DETERMINATION OF THE MC AND RQOS (cont)RQO Procedure

1 Delineate the Integrated Units of Analysis and Resource Units

2 Establish the catchment vision (the Management Class is used here) and key elements for each IUA

3 Prioritize Resource Units using the Tool

4 Prioritize sub-components, select indicators and propose direction of change using Tool

5 Develop draft RQOs and numerical limits

6 Agree Resource Units, RQOs and numerical limits with stakeholders

7 Finalize and Gazette RQOs

ESTABLISH A CATCHMENT VISION AND KEY ELEMENTS FOR EACH IUA (STEP 2: RQOS)

Visioning is a consensus-building process which articulates society’s aspirations into a common future purpose. Multiple stakeholders are involved in this process in a workshop format.The PSP will need to:

• To prepare baseline situation assessment• Invite stakeholders to the workshop• To select a facilitator and plan the workshop• The outcome: Catchment and IUA Vision

PRIORITIZE AND SELECT PRELIMINARY RESOURCE UNITS FOR RQO DETERMINATION USING TOOL

(STEP 3: RQOs)

• The PSP will need to prioritize and select preliminary Resource Units which will be discussed and agreed with stakeholder in Step 6.

• The Resource Units Prioritization Tool has been developed to assist in the selection of RUs which should be considered as important for monitoring. The tool is developed for rivers, wetlands and estuaries.

• At least one RU should be selected in each IUA

PRIORITIZE SUB-COMPONENTS, SELECT INDICATORS AND PROPOSE DIRECTION OF CHANGE (STEP 4: RQOs)

Resource Unit Evaluation Tool guides the RQO determination through a number of decisions in order to produce a prioritised short-list of indicators that can be used for monitoring of a particular Resource Unit

The PSP will need to:

Identify and prioritize sub-components that may be important to either users or the environment.

Select key sub-components for RQO determination and identify appropriate indictors to monitor them.

Establish the desired direction of change for selected sub-components

The Resource Unit Evaluation Tool will be used for different water resources (Rivers, Wetlands and Estuaries)

DEVELOP DRAFT RQOS AND NUMERICAL LIMITS (STEP 5: RQOs)

• Carry over the list of sub-components and indicators selected for monitoring, identifying whether they have been selected as an Ecospec, Userspec or Integrated measure and detailing the rationale for considering these

• Extract available data to determine the present state for selected sub-components and indicators

• Assess the suitability of the data• Determine the level at which to set RQOs• Set appropriate draft RQOs• Set appropriate draft numerical limits in line with the draft

RQOs

The PSP will be required to do the following• To present the scenarios, RQOS and numerical limits to the stakeholders• To populate a template for recommending the proposed Classes, ROQs

and numerical limits for each IUA to the Minister of DWA for gazetting;• Proposed Classes and RQOS gazetted for a period of 60 days for public

comment.• To address all comment/s raised during the commenting period

EVALUATE THE SCENARIOS (STEP 6), AGREE RESOURCE UNITS, RQO AND NUMERICAL LIMITS WITH

STAKEHOLDERS

PurposePurpose: :

• To establish appropriate institutional arrangements to facilitate the progress of the project and coordinate stakeholder meetings

OutcomeOutcome::

• Stakeholder database and schedule of meetingsStakeholder database and schedule of meetings• Meetings documentationMeetings documentation• Issues and responses registerIssues and responses register• Stakeholder consultation report Stakeholder consultation report • To prepare adverts and announcements in the print media

TASK 4: COMMUNICATION AND LIAISONCOMMUNICATION AND LIAISON

• Capacity building will be realised through stakeholder participation• To ensure skills transfer to the DWA, the following are proposed

o Workshops with DWA officialso Mentorship through secondment of DWA officials as a mentee

Purpose: Enhancing and broadening of skills base required to implement the

WRCS and to determine RQOS

Outcome:• Capacity building programme (including mentorship) • Progress reports

TASK 5: CAPACITY BUILDINGCAPACITY BUILDING

Purpose: To ensure that the project progresses successfully

Outcome:• Progress reports presented during the Project Management Committee (PMC )

Meetings• Recording of the minutes • Main report• Monthly invoices supported by progress report• Close-out report

TASK 6: STUDY MANAGEMENT AND COORDINATIONSTUDY MANAGEMENT AND COORDINATION

Team Composition The PSP team must consists of individuals that are qualified

and experienced in IWRM and water resource protection. Expertise is needed in each of the following:

Aquatic ecology Hydrology Water quality Groundwater/geohydrology Water resource economics Water resource modeling and decision analysis Stakeholder involvement and public participation Geographical Information System (GIS) Legal

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