BIOMONITORING PROGRAM

 

 

As part of the Department of Water Affairs S.A.S.S. programme, two stream biomonitoring sites (sponsored by Giants Cup Wilderness) have been established on the farm - one upstream of the lake and one downstream below the trout hatchery. The scores returned from these sites are among the highest ever recorded. If fact, the score from the upper site has become the benchmark by which unspoiled catchment ecology is measured, and is an indication of the immaculate environment of which the resort is a part.

 

RIVER MONITORING PROGRAMME

SITE SUMMARY

RIVER: Umzimkulwana SITE: GOSHEN 1 SYSTEM: Umzimkulwana - Umzimkulu

QUATERNARY SUBCATCHMENT: T51B RIVER ZONE: Upland VELD TYPE: 44

LOCALITY: S: 29E 43.536' E: 29E 21.960' MAP SHEET: 2929CB SANI PASS SITE TYPE: Reference

ACCESS ROUTE: Underberg - Drakensberg Gardens district road (P 317), site above Giant’s Cup hatchery.

SITE DESCRIPTION: This site is situated on the Ukhahlamba - Drakensberg Park boundary, immediately upstream of the Goshen dam. The river is in pristine condition as it exits the park and the available biotopes are stones-in-current, stones-out-of-current, marginal vegetation, and mud, sand and gravel. Marginal vegetation consists primarily of grasses although there is a stand of Leucosidea scrub a short distance upstream. Grazing pressure in the catchment is negligible as the area is under conservation management. There are no alien plant species present, although trout are present.

BIOTOPES AVAILABLE: Stones-in-current, stones-out-of-current, marginal vegetation, mud, sand and gravel.

SURVEYORS: D. J. Alletson, E. M. Holder