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Maluti-a-Phofung View Map The Maluti-a-Phofung rehabilitation project in the Free State implements rehabilitation interventions in wetlands in the upper reaches of the Wilge river. This flows into the Vaal river, a significant source of water for urbanised Gauteng. These wetlands play a critical role in improving water quality, attenuating floods and regulating stream flow.
Land use in the 104,701 catchment is mainly communal grazing, subsistence agriculture and peri-urban settlements. There is also a small amount of semi-commercial cultivation. The wetlands provide habitat for a range of wildlife, and are also important for sediment trapping and assimilation of phosphates, nitrates and toxicants. When in healthy condition, they are important stores of carbon. Communities living near the wetlands depend on them for water, and use them for harvesting reeds and grazing.
Drainage channels and erosion headcuts are the main impacts on wetland hydrology. Vegetation is not in a natural condition, possibly as a result of desiccation that allowed for encroachment by terrestrial species.
Rehabilitation is aimed at restoring wetland health by arresting erosion and slowing down water flow through the wetlands. Concrete, gabion and earth structures are constructed to block erosion channels and halt headcut erosion, invasive alien plants are removed, and the wetlands are revegetated with indigenous wetland vegetation. At one large structure, a pond will provide potable water for use by nearby homesteads. In 2008/9 the project provided temporary employment and skills development for 64 people. Its budget is R2,778,368.
Wetland 1 : This is a 13 ha wetland on the Elands river that is threatened by two large headcuts at its foot, with the western headcut being particularly deep. They are both well vegetated and seemingly inactive, but pose a significant threat to the upstream wetland habitat. There is also a deep, eroded channel at the top of the wetland, possibly related to past agricultural activities. An earth berm impedes surface flow through the wetland. Rehabilitation intervention is focused on deactivating the headcuts, and safeguarding the healthy sections of the wetland from degradation. The earth berm will be removed to allow water to spread evenly throughout the wetland.
Beulah Wetland : The 157 ha wetland on the Elands river is used for grazing, with land use in its catchment being mainly subsistence farming, grazing and peri-urban settlements.
A large erosion gully extends through the centre of the wetland from its toe, and there are several erosion headcuts at its head. A deep eroded gully at the top of the system has had a significant impact on its hydrology and threatens to drain the remaining healthy sections of the wetland. Rehabilitation intervention is aimed at deactivating headcuts and reflooding the wetland. Contacts
For more detailed information such as project implementation plans and progress reports, please visit www.thelapa.com, click on Working for Wetlands and enter view for both username and password.
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