Plains wetlands are some of the most recognizable wetland systems and are commonly referred to as vleis, swamps, and swamps. The social benefit or value of a wetland is a subjective estimate of the value, merit, quality or importance of the wetland to humanity.
How to Use the Wetland Assessment Form
Wetland Data and Land Use Assessment
Wetland description form
How to use the Wetland Description Form
In the steeper younger valleys just below the watershed, the inflow of water is diffuse and the outflow is diffuse or channelized. These are similar to a channelless environment, but the water flow is channeled or braided, ie. on the alluvial plains, several small channels often occur, separated by bars, dykes (1) or back marshes.
Cover Type
Further reading
The Wetlands of Natal (Part 2): The distribution, extent and status of wetlands in the Mfolozi catchment. The Wetlands of Natal (Part 4): Policy Proposals for the Wetlands of Natal and Kwa-Zulu.
Glossary of terms
Natal Wetlands (Part 3): Location, status and function of Natal's priority wetlands Begg, G.W., 1989. Headland A natural barrier resisting erosion down the river channel or lowest point of the wetland.
Contact addresses
WETLAND
BURNING AND GRAZING
Introduction
Which wetlands to burn and graze?
Wetland grazing guidelines
Wetland burning decision key and guidelines Rare wetland dependent animals
Wetland burning data form Glossary of terms
G RAZING OF WETLANDS
Which wetlands to burn and graze
Example: Calculate the increased grazing capacity of the wet grassland/meadow area within the bioclimatic region (8). The grazing capacity of the wetlands should be further modified to suit the prevailing conditions of the wet pasture/meadow area.
Wetland burning decision key and guidelines
Should the wetland not fit any of the above categories, it can still be burned profitably and safely. Prevent the encroachment of crops or timber into the wetland. Control the invasion of alien plants Allow controlled harvesting of wetland plant materials.
Rare wetland dependent animals
The microfrog is endemic to the Western Cape and lives in vleis and shallow pans in fynbos and dune veld on the Cape plains. If it breeds in South America, it probably does so in the summer and should be relatively safe under a regime of cold burns at 2 to 3 ear intervals in early spring.
Wetland burning form
Phillips (1977) classified the extremely diverse natural resources of Natal into 11 bio-climatic regions based mainly on climatic parameters. Herbs Herbs are those seed plants that do not develop permanent woody tissue and die at the end of the growing season.
STREAMBANK STABILISATION
DEVELOPMENT
Contents
The Effects of Riparian Vegetation on Streambanks and Channels
Streambank Stabilisation - Decision Key
Using Herbaceous Plants - Using Trees
Channel Plug Development - Decision Key
Urban Stormwater Management Glossary of Terms
Further Reading
The easily identifiable boundaries of a watershed and the characteristic patterns of water movement within them make them ideal for planning and management units." Cunningham, 1986. 34; that the "--wetland drying up is the most severe of which the wetland seldom recovers on its own." Cunningham The riparian zones of the rivers are of the utmost importance for river conservation as they are part of the catchment area, which has a direct effect on the stream ecosystem and on the quantity and quality of the flow.
The Effects of Riparian Vegetation on Streambanks and Channels
Herbaceous plants are those seed plants that do not develop woody tissue and die at the end of the growing season. 34;Wetland Fix" refers to herbaceous plants such as grasses; including reeds, sedges; including juncus and cattails. The combination of these factors plus many herbaceous plants' ability to thrive in direct sunlight, be fire tolerant and have strong regenerative powers make them ideal for stream bank stabilization and channel plug development.
Streambank Stabilisation - Decision Key
The growth of woody vegetation on steeper stream banks tends to lead to deeper and narrower channels with more stable banks - provided the roots reach full bank height. Trees contribute cohesion and stability to steep embankments - Provided that the roots reach full embankment height and the toe and bank level is protected from undercutting by tree roots and an established cover. Bank undercutting and mass block failure (or rotational subsidence) can occur when trees become excessively heavy and their roots do not reach full bank height.
Streambank Stabilisation - Using Herbaceous Plants
Streambank Stabilisation - Using Trees
Channel Plug Development - Decision Key
Channel Plug Development - Using Herbaceous Plants
Channel Plug Development - Using Trees
Urban Stormwater Management
The combined effects of a wide floodplain to store overflow; porous soil to absorb some water and vegetation to slow the flow and retain silt all work together to reduce the damaging effects of flooding. Handy extras include a wide floodplain bank that can serve as a walking path. This design allows floodplain storage, while the natural build-up of silt and vegetation enhances flood-reducing, visual and biological aspects.
Glossary of Terms
An assessment of the potential impact of invasive alien vegetation on the geomorphology of river channels in South Africa. The Rivers and Wildlife Handbook - a guide to practices that further river wildlife conservation. Ward, D., Holmes, N., and Jose, P., 1994, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, National Rivers Authority and Wildlife Trusts, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom.
Indigenous plants suitable for
Herbaceous plant zones on streambanks and in channels
Herbaceous plants suitable for streambanks stabilization and channel plug development
Tree zones on streambanks and in channels
Trees suitable for streambank stabilization and channel plug development
Growing your own trees from seeds, cuttings or truncheons Glossary of terms
While there may be different goals in replanting riparian areas, the priority should be to stabilize watercourse banks and develop plugs in canals. It is preferable to plant out as soon as the wet season has started as this eliminates the need for frequent watering and increases the chance of establishment. An alternative to seed germination is to uproot small seedlings between 40mm and 100mm high from an area of mature forest undergrowth where there are many.
Herbaceous plant zones on streambanks and in channels
Herbaceous plants suitable for streambank stabilization and channel plug development
Tree Zones
On streambanks and in channels
PG.-Zone
Trees suitable for streambank stabilization and channel plug development
Growing your own trees from seeds or cuttings
1 Nursing site selection
4 Growing Trees from Cuttings
A protective cover (eg compost) spread on the soil to control weeds, retain soil moisture and enrich the soil. Rhizome An underground stem that develops roots, culms, and leaves at the nodes, thus giving rise to independent new plants. Stolon A stem that creeps above ground, rooting at the nodes and forming new tops.
Stream source wetlands Spring protection guide compiled by Jon Wyatt,
General guidelines for spring protection Where to find springs
INTRODUCTION
The rationale for natural resource protection is firstly to ensure the integrity of wetlands; (its functions and values for the region) by protecting it from human or animal harm, and secondly, where required, to contain, filter and store a limited amount of spring water for local use. The method of protection or extraction does not imply damage to the "source" as this may delay or stop the flow or even force the water to be redirected to another source - Local extraction of water at a stream source should only allow limited withdrawal. so as not to impair the function of these "small" wetlands to assist continuous stream flow. NOTE: Before using "spring" or stream water, it is wise to test its quality to determine if it is suitable for human and animal consumption.
General guidelines for spring protection
Where to find springs
The outlet and overflow pipes must be set below the dry season level of the spring. The passage of water through the surface of the soil via pores or small openings. This is controlled by the permeability of the soil profile, and non-capillary porosity of the soil surface.
Alien Plant Control guide
Alien plant control methods
A selection of wetland / streambank weeds and control measures
Glossary of terms Further reading
Because of their aggressive tendencies, they represent perhaps the greatest potential threat, other than humans, to natural habitats and pose as great an economic and environmental threat as any other form of pollution. They are called "invaders" to emphasize that they can spread aggressively and cause rapid and often irreversible changes in the landscape. Streambanks are particularly susceptible to invasion because of their exposure to flooding and human disturbances, the availability of water as a linear dispersal mechanism, and the role of streambanks as a seed reservoir.
ALIEN PLANT
This guide provides an overview of a selection of alien plants that invade wetlands and stream banks, and control methods. Alien plant invaders are not native to South Africa but were introduced either intentionally (for domestic or commercial use) or accidentally. The ecosystems most affected by alien plants in South Africa are likely to be those associated with riparian zones.
CONTROL METHODS
This is because weed and drug levels generally follow an out-of-phase pattern. Therefore, the main purpose of biological control is not to eradicate, but to reduce the weed's vigor and reproductive capacity. Pieces of plant that break loose often float to the side of the open water for a day or so after dragging; these must be removed by hand.
A SELECTION OF
The modern soil-applied herbicides for controlling forest encroachment are very effective in certain circumstances. NOTE: The most important consideration when using soil applied herbicides is that they will kill or damage all plants whose roots are present in the location of the application site. Soil-applied herbicides are also relatively persistent in the soil and therefore suppress the establishment of tree species for sometimes two years or more.
WETLAND / STREAMBANK
Some herbicides are effective when painted on cut tree trunks as an alternative to debarking. Trees should be cut and the herbicide should be applied immediately to the cut, newly exposed bark. The principle here is that the chemical is deposited on the soil surface, dissolved in rainwater, transported into the soil and taken up by the roots of the target plant.
WEEDS AND CONTROL MEASURES
This treatment can be more effective than foliar sprays and should be considered when practical and especially in more sensitive areas. It is almost impossible to determine the extent of a plant's roots, and therefore this herbicide application technique cannot be used for selective weed control.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Evapotranspiration The process by which plants draw water from the land through transpiration and evaporation. Evaporation The process by which water is removed by radiation from a moist land or water surface and passes into the atmosphere as vapor. Transpiration The process by which water in plants is transferred to the atmosphere as water vapor.
FURTHER READING
Mattock An entrenching tool with a head like that of a pickaxe and often a blade like that of an axe.
