Objectives
The overall objective of the baseline monitoring programme is to describe the
natural and present state, including the natural variability, of those chemical,
physical and biological characteristics of the river and its hydraulically
linked systems (i.e. estuary, floodplains and groundwater) that are most likely
to be affected by changes imposed after the construction of the Skuifraam Dam.
In detail, the programme aims to develop a conceptual model of ecosystem
functioning both past and present, particularly describing the links between the
flow regime and other ecosystem components. Since it is the flow-regime
particularly that will be altered in the post-dam period, it follows therefore
that the baseline monitoring programme must establish as far as possible the
relationships between the flow regime itself, and those chemical, physical and
biological characteristics of the Berg River that the IFR is intended to support
(as defined during the IFR process). This is critical - simply monitoring the
state of individual components of the system will not provide the information
necessary to evaluate adequately the performance of the IFR during the post-dam
period.
The baseline monitoring programme should also assist in predicting the kinds of
change in each of the ecosystem components that are likely to result from
construction of Skuifraam Dam and other water resource developments. These
predictions would provide the basis for defining Resource Quality Objectives and
refining the future IFR monitoring programme (e.g. variables to be monitored),
or for defining management options in the case of impacts that cannot be
adequately mitigated against.
Specific objectives of the baseline monitoring programme are to describe the
following components of the water resource of the Berg River (divided into three
components: the river itself, its floodplains and estuary, and its associated
groundwater):
· biological characteristics
· hydrological, hydraulic, and fluvial geomorphological characteristics,
including habitat characteristics
· chemical and physical characteristics
· groundwater occurrence and chemistry
· social and recreational aspects of the water resource (dam safety and
recreational activity)
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