Advancing mouth management practices in the Groot Brak Estuary, South Africa

Van Niekerk, LaraAdams, JBTaljaard, SusanHuizinga, PietLamberth, SSlinger, JTaljaard, SusanD'Hont, FMittal, A2021-02-172021-02-172020-02Van Niekerk, L., Adams, J., Taljaard, S., Huizinga, P. & Lamberth, S. 2020. Advancing mouth management practices in the Groot Brak Estuary, South Africa. In Complex Coastal Systems: Transdisciplinary Learning on International Case Studies. First edition. J. Slinger, S. Taljaard, F. D'Hont & A. Mittal, Eds. S.l.: Delft Academic Press. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/11778 .978-90-6562-44-37http://hdl.handle.net/10204/11778The early 1990s in South Africa were characterised by a strongly hierarchical and technocratic regime where planning and development decisions regarding the environment were made at national government level with little or no public consultation (Slinger et al., 2005). One such a decision was the construction of the 70 m high and 270 m wide Wolwedans Dam (with a capacity of 23 × 106 m3) only 3 km upstream of the Groot Brak Estuary (also known as the Great Brak Estuary) by the South African Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) (Figure 6.1). However, then the local community of the Town of Groot Brak feared the effects of reduced water supply on the health of the estuary, as well as the risk of flooding during dam failure. Increasing public pressure, and consequent media coverage, culminated in the DWAF setting up a steering committee, the Groot Brak River Environmental Committee (GEC). This committee was tasked to investigate the effect of the dam on the estuary, and to establish a management plan for the optimal use of the reserved water (1 x 106 m3) to maintain current ecological health. The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) were commissioned to undertake this assessment (CSIR, 1990; Slinger et al., 2005).AbstractenEstuariesGroot Brak EstuaryAdvancing mouth management practices in the Groot Brak Estuary, South AfricaBook ChapterVan Niekerk, L., Adams, J., Taljaard, S., Huizinga, P., & Lamberth, S. (2020). Advancing mouth management practices in the Groot Brak Estuary, South Africa. In J. Slinger, S. Taljaard, F. D'Hont & A. Mittal. (Eds.), Complex Coastal Systems: Transdisciplinary Learning on International Case Studies. First edition Delft Academic Press. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/11778Van Niekerk, Lara, JB Adams, Susan Taljaard, Piet Huizinga, and S Lamberth. "Advancing mouth management practices in the Groot Brak Estuary, South Africa" In COMPLEX COASTAL SYSTEMS: TRANSDISCIPLINARY LEARNING ON INTERNATIONAL CASE STUDIES. FIRST EDITION, edited by J Slinger. n.p.: Delft Academic Press. 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/11778.Van Niekerk L, Adams J, Taljaard S, Huizinga P, Lamberth S. Advancing mouth management practices in the Groot Brak Estuary, South Africa. In Slinger J, Taljaard S, D'Hont F, Mittal A, editors.. Complex Coastal Systems: Transdisciplinary Learning on International Case Studies. First edition. [place unknown]: Delft Academic Press; 2020. [cited yyyy month dd]. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/11778.TY - Book Chapter AU - Van Niekerk, Lara AU - Adams, JB AU - Taljaard, Susan AU - Huizinga, Piet AU - Lamberth, S AB - The early 1990s in South Africa were characterised by a strongly hierarchical and technocratic regime where planning and development decisions regarding the environment were made at national government level with little or no public consultation (Slinger et al., 2005). One such a decision was the construction of the 70 m high and 270 m wide Wolwedans Dam (with a capacity of 23 × 106 m3) only 3 km upstream of the Groot Brak Estuary (also known as the Great Brak Estuary) by the South African Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) (Figure 6.1). However, then the local community of the Town of Groot Brak feared the effects of reduced water supply on the health of the estuary, as well as the risk of flooding during dam failure. Increasing public pressure, and consequent media coverage, culminated in the DWAF setting up a steering committee, the Groot Brak River Environmental Committee (GEC). This committee was tasked to investigate the effect of the dam on the estuary, and to establish a management plan for the optimal use of the reserved water (1 x 106 m3) to maintain current ecological health. The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) were commissioned to undertake this assessment (CSIR, 1990; Slinger et al., 2005). DA - 2020-02 DB - ResearchSpace DP - CSIR ED - Slinger, J ED - Taljaard, S ED - D'Hont, F ED - Mittal, A J1 - Complex Coastal Systems: Transdisciplinary Learning on International Case Studies. First edition KW - Estuaries KW - Groot Brak Estuary LK - https://researchspace.csir.co.za PY - 2020 SM - 978-90-6562-44-37 T1 - Advancing mouth management practices in the Groot Brak Estuary, South Africa TI - Advancing mouth management practices in the Groot Brak Estuary, South Africa UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10204/11778 ER -24150