Letaba Catchment Water Resource Classification and Resource Quality Objectives

1. 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 2014 Venue: Tzaneen Lodge Time: 09:00 – 13:30

2. 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

3. 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

4. THE LOCALITY MAP OF THE STUDY AREA

5. THREE MANAGEMENT CLASSES (MC) • Water resources of the Letaba catchment will be classified into one of three water resource classes (WRCS, DWA 2007): 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.

6. 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. • Biota • Habitat • Flow • Ecological and User water quality

7. 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.

8. STUDY PROCESS & PROGRESS In accordance with the classification and RQOs guidelines: 7 step process applies • Assessment of WMA • Divided catchment into management units (IUAs) based on socio-economic/ • land use characteristics/ • water resources • Data assessed • Status quo understood • Catchment vision initiated • Link value and condition of water resources • Goods and servicesassessed • 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 • Identification and evaluation of scenarios • Set of scenarios tested for sustainability and evaluated • Understand the implications of different protection levels • Recommended Management classes &RQOs • To set EcoSpecs and user specs Gazetting To gazette Classes, Reserve and RQOs 1 2 6 3 4&5 7 We are here Stakeholder engagement August 2012 to September 2014

9. 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 2014 Venue: Tzaneen Lodge Time: 09:00 – 13:30

10. OBJECTIVES OF STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT • 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

11. COMMUNICATION METHODS/ APPROACH • 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)

12. Targeted stakeholders

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. THANK YOU