Two days prior to the training programme, Mr Stuart Mangold did a preliminary survey of potential sites for biomonitoring with the guidance of Prof Braam de Villiers and Dr Frank Winde of the Potchefstroom University. He is very grateful for their support.
The RHP training programme included a preliminary assessment of the pre-identified sites as potential SASS and Habitat Assessment sites for bio-monitoring. This was undertaken by DWAF (Inst. Water Quality Studies) IWQS together with ACE staff from the Monitoring Sub-directorate during the above period. A lecturer and two students from University of the North West joined the team for a day to experience the RHP in action. Stuart Mangold also delivered a lecture on the RHP to Potchefstroom University second & third year geography students.
Staff involved were:
DWAF staff:
Mary Jean Gabriel (DWAF IWQS Roodeplaat)
Annelize Gerber (DWAF IWQS Roodeplaat)
Joel Malan (DWAF Centurion)
ACE Head Office staff:
Dr Margaret Kalule-Sabiti
Stuart Mangold
ACE Monitoring staff:
Peter Mooketsi (Rustenburg)
Isaac Seleteng (Rustenburg)
Booysen Khosa (Mafikeng)
Crown S. Leinane (Vryburg)
Steve Leseka (Heuningvlei)
Sindi Zwane (Mafikeng)
Johnny Lekoma (Mothibistad)
Hendrick Modukanele (Vryburg)
Phineas Mapumlo (Mafikeng)
The purpose of this fieldtrip was to:
Identify and assess potential monitoring and reference sites on the Mooi, Schoonspruit, Wonderfonteinspruit and Koekemoerspruit Rivers.
Conduct initial SASS, IHAS bio-monitoring and water samples and chemistry of the selected sites on these rivers.
Familiarize ACE & IWQS staff with the condition, surrounding land-use and environmental threats facing key rivers of the central region of the North West.
Expose ACE staff to South African Scoring System (SASS4), Invertebrate Habitat Assessment System (IHAS) bio-monitoring techniques.
To train ACE monitoring staff in use of water quality assessment instruments such as Dissolved Oxygen meter, pH, Electrical Conductivity, Geographical Information System (GIS) and map reading.
Results:
Three sites on the Mooi River, two on the Koekemoerspruit, four on the Schoonspruit and two on the Wonderfonteinspruit were sampled during this fieldtrip (see attached table). SASS, IHAS and water quality results of these sites will be sent to the ACE dept. which will form initial baseline information on these rivers.
There was an enthusiastic response from monitoring staff who will be doing the RHP bio-monitoring who are showing a marked improvement in invertebrate identification.
A big thank you to all involved!
