A study to determine RDM for a particular water resource will require a multi-disciplinary team which has certain generic characteristics. The size of the team and the number of disciplines represented will vary depending on the scope of the study, which in turn is determined by

1. the geographic extent of the study,
2. the components required, and

(c) the level of RDM application which is required.

The generic team structure is shown in Figure 1, followed by brief descriptions of the expertise required.

The Regional RDM Project Manager would be a head office position designed to provide support to regional offices on implementation of RDM. This person will be responsible for managing a number of RDM studies in one or two assigned regions (as is currently the case at Project Planning). The regional manager will be in a position to appoint a study manager from a pool of study managers (described later) in the Department. The regional RDM project manager should be familiar not only with the RDM needs of the region but also how these are affected or effects other activities such as license applications, water resource development projects etc.

The Regional RDM Project Manager would have the following responsibilities:

• Work with the regional office or future CMAs to implement RDM to meet their needs for executing functions such as license applications, water allocation plans etc.
• Have a very good understanding of the regional needs and priorities for water use licensing, setting up of CMA’s or its support structures, development of catchment water resource management strategies etc.
• Have a detailed understanding of the regional water resource management strategy and the function of RDM in the implementation of that strategy.
• Considerable experience and expertise in aquatic ecology
• Have a detailed understanding of the RDM procedure and under what circumstances to apply each of the three levels of RDM procedures.
• Have a good understanding of the scope of work, team composition and potential costs of applying the RDM methods.
• Have a good understanding of Departmental needs in implementing RDM.
• Form part of regional support team made up of the regional RDM, catchment management, water resource planning and licensing project managers.
• At a high level, be in a position to balance national and regional priorities in the implementation of RDM through effective interactions with other regional RDM project managers.
• Help designated regional offices to develop RDM implementation priorities.
• Perform effectively in a multi team environment (Regional management support team, implementation team, study teams)
• Must be able to compete for budget allocations for RDM implementation in designated region.
• Be able to manage study managers to ensure RDM studies are undertaken on budget, on brief and on time.

The RDM Study Manager is a person, preferably from the Department, who will be responsible for the administrative management of an individual RDM study. The person will be accountable to the Regional RDM Project Management for the execution of the project to ensure that departmental administrative policies and procedures are adhered to. The person will, together with the Technical Integrator, form the study management team. Together they will have responsibility to ensure that the study is completed on budget and time (RDM Study Manager primary responsibility) and on brief (Technical Integrator primary responsibility).

The RDM Study Manager would have the following responsibilities:

• Ensure that the administration of an individual RDM study is undertaken within departmental policies and guidelines.
• Understand the different RDM study components to interact effectively with the Study Integrator on the execution of the project.
• Must have experience in freshwater ecological studies to compile TOR’s for specialist team members in collaboration with the Technical Integrator.
• Must have a good understanding of the key functions of individual specialists in a RDM study team.
• Must have strong project management skills to ensure timely execution of the project.
• Must understand departmental policies and procedures with regard to sub-contracting of services, budgeting, etc.
• Must have negotiation skills to adequately represent the position of the Department in multi-stakeholder processes.

Probably the most important person on the team. The RDM Technical Integrator should know the different RDM methods very well and be in a position to scope a RDM study, decide on the level of RDM required and assemble the appropriate specialist team to undertake the study. The person should be in a position to develop the technical TOR’s for the specialists, provide guidance to the specialists on their role in the team and be in a position to assess the quality of their contribution to the project. The person has, together with the RDM Study Manager, responsibility for the management of the study, but with specific responsibility to ensure that the terms-of-reference of the study is adhered to.

The RDM Technical Integrator would have the following responsibilities and capabilities:

• The person must have a very sound understanding of the scientific base of the RDM methodology and must have been involved in the management of IFR or RDM applications.
• The person must understand the composition of the specialist teams who must undertake the study
• The person must have sufficient understanding of the functions which individual specialists perform in a RDM study team to develop the TOR’s for these specialists.
• The person must be in a position to scope a study, select study sites, brief and manage individual specialists.
• The person must understand how to integrate the individual specialist studies into a RDM document (not integration by stapling).

Depending on the scope of the study, could be a member of the resource protection review group, a member of the RDM development team, a South African specialist or an international reviewer. The purpose is to act in review of the process, so the person needs to be with the study from inception to completion. For the results of the determination to be legally defensible, the process must have been sound and the necessary scientific criteria must have been met. (Review procedures and criteria to form part of the RDM procedural documents).

The RDM Specialist Facilitator is responsible for chairing and facilitation of the RDM specialist workshop. This person should be a nationally recognised aquatic ecologist who is completely familiar with the RDM process and what is to be achieved with the specialist workshop. A high level of experience in aquatic ecology is necessary. The person must have an intimate knowledge of how the technical contributions of different team specialists should be integrated at the specialist workshop. The RDM Specialist Facilitator should also have strong people skills to ensure consensus decision making at the specialist workshop.

The skills and responsibilities of the RDM Specialist Facilitator are:

• To guide the RDM Specialist workshop and to integrate the contributions of different specialists on the team, ensuring that the resulting Reserve determination has the highest confidence possible for the level of study which is being carried out.

Recognised specialist scientists in their particular disciplines:

Eco-hydrology

Eco-hydraulics

Geomorphology

Vegetation and aquatic plants

Aquatic biota

Water quality & chemistry