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