The development of a geomorphological classification system for the longitudinal zonation of South African rivers

Rowntree, Kate; Wadeson, Roy A; O'Keeffe, Jay

Title: The development of a geomorphological classification system for the longitudinal zonation of South African rivers
Creator: Rowntree, Kate
Creator: Wadeson, Roy A
Creator: O'Keeffe, Jay
Date Issued: 2000
Date: 2000
Type: text
Type: Article
Identifier: vital:7082
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1012338
Description: The recognition of the Reserve by the new South African Water Law poses new challenges for river scientists. The ecological water requirement or environmental flow is recognised by that part of the Reserve known as the ecological Reserve. If the ecological Reserve is to be implemented, it must first be defined and quantified for all river systems subject to water related developments. Standard procedures are being developed through the Resource Directed Measures (RDM) of the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry while monitoring the health of South Africa's rivers is taking place through the National River Health Programme (NRHP). Cost effective methods of developing spatial frameworks for both the RDM and NRHP are required. Concepts of longitudinal river zonation were developed by river ecologists in the 1960s and 1970s to assist in the classification of ecologically uniform stretches of rivers. This paper reviews the different zonation concepts and presents a geomorphological classification of South African river zones that is being applied to the RDM and NRHP. The classification is tested on three rivers, the Sabie, Buffalo and Olifants.
Format: 10 pages
Format: pdf
Language: English
Relation: Rowntree, Kate and Wadeson, R.A. and O'Keeffe, J. (2000) The development of a geomorphological classification system for the longitudinal zonation of South African rivers. South African Geographical Journal, 82 (3). pp. 163-172.

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O'Keeffe, Jay (Prof)

RU Institute for Water Research, including the Unilever Centre for Environmental Water Quality (IWR)

Rowntree, Kate (Prof Emeritus)

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