NATIONAL WATER RESOURCE STRATEGY SOUTH AFRICA’S WATER SITUATION AND STRATEGIES TO BALANCE SUPPLY AND DEMAND FISH TO TSITSIKAMMA WMA

WMA 15: Fish to Tsitsikamma - Rainfall and Evaporation

WMA 15: Fish to Tsitsikamma - Base Map

WMA 15: Fish to Tsitsikamma - Land Use

WMA 15: Fish to Tsitsikamma - Sectoral Water Requirements (2000)

Sectoral contributions to the economy (1997) Contribution Agriculture Mining Manufacturing Electricity Construction Trade Transport Finance Government Other Community 0 % 20 % 30 % 10 % National Fish to Tsitsikamma WMA

WMA 15: Fish to Tsitsikamma - Water Availability (2000)

WMA 15: Fish to Tsitsikamma - Water Reconciliation (2000)

WMA 15: Fish to Tsitsikamma - Population scenarios

WMA 15: Fish to Tsitsikamma - Water Reconciliation (future)

WMA 15: Fish to Tsitsikamma Groundwater Important source of water supply in drier inland region Abstracted for irrigation in upper Sundays River catchment and for isolated small-scale irrigation Little use of groundwater along coastal strip Strong interdependence between groundwater and surface water Increased abstraction of groundwater likely to have direct impact on base flow in surface streams - may induce the intrusion of seawater in wells near the coast Little potential for further development of groundwater exists in the inland parts of the water management area

WMA 15: Fish to Tsitsikamma Water quality Water quality in coastal rivers generally of high standard Water in inland rivers of natural high salinity due to geology and low rainfall Large quantities of good quality water are transferred into the WMA to be blended with local resources Irrigation return flows contribute to deterioration of water quality in downstream reaches (lower Sundays River) Quality of groundwater at coastal regions generally of a high standard Water quality management should be major consideration with respect to location and nature of possible new irrigation developments

WMA 15: Fish to Tsitsikamma Key issues Dominance of irrigation: by far largest water use sector Large conveyance losses at some schemes High salinity return flows from irrigation - major impact on poor water quality downstream In most cases the benefits derived from irrigation can be increased Predominance of water transfers from Orange River in water resource management in the WMA, from both quantity and quality perspectives, together with already high degree of development of water resources naturally occurring in the WMA

WMA 15: Fish to Tsitsikamma Key issues (2) Much of water in inland parts of WMA of natural poor quality -in Fish and Sundays Rivers managed through blending with fresh water from the Orange River -again deteriorates as a result of irrigation return flows. Economic development and population growth largely concentrated in greater Port Elizabeth area Strong need for poverty eradication - provision for additional irrigation development for this purpose -impacts on water resource management and on water quality to be considered in selecting optimal location

WMA 15: Fish to Tsitsikamma Water resources under control of the Minister Transfer in of water from Upper Orange WMA (Orange- Fish transfer) Construction of the proposed Guerna Dam on the Kouga River will be subject to national authorisation -inter-dependence with transfers from the Orange River Approval in principle has also been given by the Minister for development of maximum ha new irrigation for poverty relief and settlement of emerging farmers, with water to be sourced from the Upper Orange WMA