ANCHORING THE RIVER HEALTH PROGRAMME IN SOUTH AFRICA

• Formulation of a design framework (1994-1995): A needs analysis was done involving local resource managers and scientists as well as international benchmarking. This exercise resulted in the setting of programme objectives as well as the scope and specifications for guiding the rest of the design phases.



• Conceptual development of the programme within the design framework (1995-1996): This phase dealt with selecting and/or developing technical protocols, including: for selecting monitoring and reference sites; for selecting and using ecological indices for measuring the health of river ecosystems; and for storage, management and transfer of information. In order to ensure a critical level of organisational participation and capacity, a model of shared ownership was pursued. As a result, the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) and the Water Research Commission became, together with the DWAF, joint custodians of the programme at a national level. At a provincial and catchment level, Provincial Champions and Provincial Implementation Teams became responsible for implementation initiatives. Provincial implementation initiatives were launched during a consultation planning meeting that was held during September 1996 in Pretoria. This meeting was attended by the RHP custodians and representatives from provincial government, conservation agencies, organisations such as Rand Water and Umgeni Water and others.



• Small-scale implementation to test and demonstrate the programme (1996-1999): This phase was necessary to:
  
  
  • allow testing and refinement of components of the RHP;
  
  
  • allow integration of programme components;
  
  
  • facilitate the identification of additional developments that my be required;
  
  
  • demonstrate the worth of the programme; and
  
  
  • provide broad guidelines to facilitate the eventual implementation and maintenance of the programme.
  
  It was shown that information from the RHP is ideally geared to serve state-of-environment reporting, which was demonstrated in a brochure on the State of the Crocodile River, 1998. The determination of ecological reference conditions as well as the present ecological state also contributes to the process of determining an ecological reserve for rivers.



• Anchor the RHP so that it becomes part of "the way we do things around here" (current phase): This phase is to ensure that the RHP becomes part of the relevant water management institutions in terms of required expertise, skills and budgets. The overall goal of the Anchoring Phase is to help implementation agencies to go through the different steps of implementing the programme as well as to internalise the programme into their organisations.

• A National Coordination Team (NCT) has been tasked with driving the anchoring phase, specifically, the coordination of national and regional initiatives. The NCT will also be responsible for activities such as business development through funding partnerships as well as the coordination of related R&D initiatives, provincial implementation activities and processes within the anchoring phase. (Dirk Roux: droux@csir.co.za )



• Provide training opportunities: In order to build critical levels of expertise and skills, the existing offerings in terms of training courses need to be expanded. Apart from a general course on the principles and concepts used in biomonitoring, courses need to be developed and presented on the technical application of the various indices as well as managerial applications of river health information. (Nomsa Ntshingila: nomsa_ntshingila@hotmail.com)



• Implement procedures for quality control and assurance: Dr Rob Palmer (Afridev) has compiled initial guidelines for quality control and assurance in the RHP. These procedures need to be tested, refined and institutionalised through application. This will include standardisation of scientific techniques and monitoring methodologies, and auditing of data assessment and reporting processes. The ultimate aim of this component is to ensure and continually improve quality. It will therefore take place in close liaison with the training component, by identifying areas where training is needed. (Chris Dickens: chris.dickens@umgeni.co.za)



• Implement procedures for data management: The Rivers Database (see page 3) has been developed specifically for the RHP. The Rivers Database is a complementary facility to the DWAF's national Water Management System (WMS). The current vision of the Rivers Database will primarily be used at local, catchment and provincial levels, where data will be collected, quality checked, captured and used for local reporting and decision-making. From there the data will be transferred to WMS for long-term and secure storage, and for strategic and national use and reporting regarding river health. (Justine Fowler: jfowler@botzoo.uct.ac.za)



• Implement procedures for information packaging and dissemination: The final test of the RHP will be the degree to which information resulting from it will become part of the decision-making process in water resources management. In other words, the RHP must become an essential tool in achieving better understanding and management of river ecosystems, and not a programme that conducts monitoring for the sake of monitoring. Reporting formats and dissemination strategies need to be optimised, recognising the variation in target groups (e.g. politicians, resource managers, public at large). This component will make use of both web-based technologies and conventional hard copy reporting. (Anna Ballance: abalance@csir.co.za)



• Continue and refine communication and awareness creation activities: This component will build on existing initiatives, for example a grassroots communication and awareness initiative and a quarterly newsletter. Communication is critically important to align the different programme components and to keep the overall programme together and on track. It is also necessary to present the programme to, and obtain feedback from, the user-community and relevant stakeholders. (Vassie Maharaj: vassie@liaison.co.za)