Crocodile River Operations Committee

The Need & Context for a Real Time Operations DSS to serve

the stakeholders of the Crocodile:

Purpose and Role Brian Jackson

Crocodile River Operations Committee

Constitution– right to have access to sufficient water– right to an environment that is not harmful to their health

or well-being– The state must take reasonable legislative and other

measures to Progressively Realise National Water Act Guiding Principles– protect our water resources from being exploited;– ensure that there is enough water for social and economic

development;– and ensure there is enough water for the future

Crocodile River Operations Committee

National Water Resources Strategy Achieve reform in equity, efficiency and sustainability through proper

management of national water resources– Policies and Programmes: Water Allocation Reform, Compulsory Licensing,

Strategic Allocations etc.

By protection, use, development, conservation and regulation of national water resources– Policies: The Reserve, Water for Growth and Development, WC/DM,

Institutional reform e.g. Water User Associations; Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement, etc.

And by participatory management at the river catchment level (through the ICMA)– Delivery to and with stakeholders (Implementation) in the context of above

policies

Crocodile River Operations Committee

Initial Functions of ICMA Investigate, and advise all interested parties. Co-ordinate activities of water users. Co-ordinate implementation of Water Services

Development Plans. Catchment Management Strategy

development and implementation. Ensure Community participation.

Crocodile River Operations Committee

Strategic Adaptive Management An overarching process in Legislation,

Strategies etc. Designed to deliver on SA Water Act

requirements ICMA is implementing SAM:

1. Planning 2. Objective setting 3. Decision Making 4. Implementation 5. Monitoring 6. Review & feedback

This project

Crocodile River Operations Committee

VALUES/ PRINCIPLES

Vital system attributes

Determinants, threats, constraints

Evaluate attributes

Objectives

Projects

Improved Equity, Efficiency,

Sustainability

VISION

CONTEXTThe decision making environment

Understanding the “STEEP” system to be managedSTEEP = Social, Technical Economic, Environmental, Political

How we get to where we want to go!

Objectives: Enhance vital attributes and determinants Overcome constraints and threats

Projects Integrated and participative WRM activities aimed at critical needs and incremental achievement of National Water Reform

Crocodile River Operations Committee

SAM: ICMA Why SAM– Adaptive Planning Process focused on what can be done

within our initial functions to:o best support DWAF’s objectives as well as allowing the ICMA to

gain credibility and o meet some of the expectations of the Stakeholders.

– Resulted in identified Priority Projects for Implementation using these principles:o Involve and deliver to stakeholderso Capitalise on existing expertise/champions/resourceo step beyond current restraints and “do it!”o Quick impact long shelf lifeo Delivers to as many National objectives as possible

Crocodile River Operations Committee

Priority Projects ID Integrated and participative WRM activities aimed at critical needs and

incremental achievement of National Water Reform (Achievable under resource constraints)

Project 1: – Integrated Crocodile River Management

Project 2: – Creating an adaptive information and decision network to ensure delivery of the

Ecological Reserve to the Kruger National Park.

Project 3: – Cooperative Programme for Municipal WWTW Compliance and Empowerment

Projects will be integrated for prototyping on Crocodile River and learning/skills to be transferred to other rivers as resources permit

Crocodile River Operations Committee

Why Crocodile River The Crocodile is the most stressed river with a

wide range of pressing problems Potential for successful operations given the

levels of ability within the Stakeholders currently operating the river, given consensus.

The Komati already has an operations Forum. The Sabie is not as stressed. Future Plan

Crocodile River Operations Committee

Why Operations DWA DSS requires Implementation

– Implementation implies procedures & processes for decision making– ICMA believes the CROC and its link to CRF is the key to successful

implementation of not only the DSS but all National and international Water related Policies and Programmes.o Reserve, International obligations, WAR…

– Traditionally gap between planning and operations.– This DWA Project Links Planning and operating tools– ICMA supports this concept and want it to work.

– Operations is the real nitty gritty of implementation

Crocodile River Operations Committee

ICMA Preparations ICMA will operate the DSS & CROC on an agency basis to

assist DWA ICMA has accepted this responsibility and initiated

implementation by:– Prioritisation of Project in Adaptive Planning Process– Purchasing the software and hardware to run the DSS.– Internet Space to host the web site and email– Acquiring the part time services of a hydrologist to assist in

running the models.– Undergoing training on the software– Commenced Marketing and Participation Strategies

Crocodile River Operations Committee

Feedback Busy with Calibrations and adjustments to DSS Presenting models and possible outputs to CROC for

comments and feedback Revised model outputs will then be presented at the next

CROC Models set up with best available data. Gaps exist and the

CROC must advise on priorities for data improvements in future

Feedback can be verbal or written and should be with the ICMA by the end of October to:

croc@inkomaticma.co.za or jacksonb@inkomaticma.co.za.

Crocodile River Operations Committee

This is an opportunity to successfully implement a sophisticated decision support systems and to put the Crocodile River Catchment in the

forefront of Integrated Water Resources Management in RSA.

Lets come together to make it work