Table 8.1. Proposed monitoring programme for the Buffels Estuary. Aspect and Indicator Objective Frequency Location Staff Collection/Analytical method required Biological: Numbers and species of Determine baselines and responses Monthly Identification and count and 1 Standardised sampling procedure birds utilising the estuary. Number to season and management of open water and shoreline (time, weather, routes etc) Counts and species of birds in EFZ. interventions bird spp. 3 x Fixed transect in the course of shoreline patrols walk through of EFZ. and transect walks. Fish sampling Quarterly Open cast netting Cast netting; species programme for fish identification and length frequencies Biological: Extent of A. cyclops Monitor spread of alien invasive Annual EFZ 1 GPS and digital mapping growth spp. techniques and/or Remote Extent of P. australis growth sensing imagery Monitor habitat change and extent of open water Physical: Rainfall Monitor climate changes Daily Rainfall: Koingnaas Mining 1 Standard Rain Gauge complex. Beach / sand berm profile and long Monitor mouth opening events and Quarterly Sand Strategic location 1 Aerial/standard shoreline term mouth sediment dynamics factors impacting on estuarine to be determined photography. connectivity to the marine environment Water Quality: Salinity, or Determine changes in quality Monthly Two sample sites in each 1 According to laboratory conductivity as a result of rainfall, catchment open water body Specifications. Nutrient levels Ammonia, Nitrates, and local activities, golf course – Nitrites, Silicates, Phosphates, E. watering etc. coli bacteria and other pathogens Water quantity: Fresh water flow Detect changes in fresh water input quantity: Water quantity: Strategic 1 Methods for the Determination of into the estuary, depth of the into the estuary. Detect potential Continuous location to be determined. the Ecological Reserve for estuary. sedimentation problems Depth: Quarterly Depth: Minimum of two Estuaries (DWA, 2010). fixed points in each open water body. Standard marked depth gauge. Social: Use of the estuary. Determine types and number of preferably Bird hide. Road to beach or 1 Data collected by tourism booking user groups visiting the estuary and otherwise footpath to the estuary agency/community guides. coastal zone and their preferred randomised through the golf course. activities sampling program
Table 8.1. Proposed monitoring programme for the Buffels Estuary. Aspect and Indicator Objective Frequency Location Staff required Collection/Analytical method Biological: Numbers and species of birds utilising the estuary. Number and species of birds in EFZ. Fish sampling Determine baselines and responses to season and management interventions Monthly Quarterly Identification and count and of open water and shoreline bird spp. 3 x Fixed transect walk through of EFZ. Open cast netting programme for fish 1 Standardised sampling procedure (time, weather, routes etc) Counts in the course of shoreline patrols and transect walks. Cast netting; species identification and length frequencies Biological: Extent of A. cyclops growth Extent of P. australis growth Monitor spread of alien invasive spp. Monitor habitat change and extent of open water Annual EFZ 1 GPS and digital mapping techniques and/or Remote sensing imagery Physical: Rainfall Monitor climate changes Daily Rainfall: Koingnaas Mining complex. 1 Standard Rain Gauge Beach / sand berm profile and long term mouth sediment dynamics Monitor mouth opening events and factors impacting on estuarine connectivity to the marine environment Quarterly Sand Strategic location to be determined 1 Aerial/standard shoreline photography. Water Quality: Salinity, or conductivity Nutrient levels – Ammonia, Nitrates, Nitrites, Silicates, Phosphates, E. coli bacteria and other pathogens Determine changes in quality as a result of rainfall, catchment and local activities, golf course watering etc. Monthly Two sample sites in each open water body 1 According to laboratory Specifications. Water quantity: Fresh water flow into the estuary, depth of the estuary. Detect changes in fresh water input into the estuary. Detect potential sedimentation problems quantity: Continuous Depth: Quarterly Water quantity: Strategic location to be determined. Depth: Minimum of two fixed points in each open water body. 1 Methods for the Determination of the Ecological Reserve for Estuaries (DWA, 2010). Standard marked depth gauge. Social: Use of the estuary. Determine types and number of user groups visiting the estuary and coastal zone and their preferred activities preferably otherwise randomised sampling program Bird hide. Road to beach or footpath to the estuary through the golf course. 1 Data collected by tourism booking agency/community guides.
Draft-Management-Plan-Buffels-Estuary2_April2017.docx