Natural Rangeland Assessment and Surface Water Retention Improvement Plan for the Egerton Farm

Location:
Hopetown, Northern Cape

Year:
2021

Summary:

Apex Conservation Services was contracted by Egerton farm to undertake an ecological evaluation to provide practical interventions which can help improve the surface water infiltration potential on the farm. The project also aimed to look at the viability of redistributing water across the property.

A site visit to the farm was conducted in December 2021 to evaluate ecological conditions in relation to rainwater and what happens to it during and after rainfall events. The value of the rainfall is directly dependent on the condition of the vegetation cover and consequently the soil surface conditions which in turn relates to the degree of soil erosion.

As is common in the Karoo, the vegetation was historically unsustainably overutilized, and continuous selective overgrazing depleted both the cover as well as most of the palatable plant species on the farm. This resulted in a general degradation of the rangelands. A severe consequence of this past land-use has been the development of extensive soil erosion which has resulted in areas of little or no rainwater infiltration and a severe loss of nutrients to the system.

During the site visit, the plant cover and the soil surface conditions were evaluated within each landscape type on the farm. Conditions at each site were described in terms of vegetation condition, soil erosion, water infiltration, possible rehabilitation methods, the costs involved, as well as general veld management. The areas assessed were then prioritized to assist the land owner with decision making in terms of which areas to concentrate on first.

The plan outlined the techniques that should be implemented to assist in soil erosion control. This included mechanical techniques such as ripping and hollows made by a pitter plough or happloeg, and manual techniques including: brush packing and hollows, reshaping head cuts and dongas, silt traps and geotextiles, combinations of multiple techniques, and maintenance. This plan also provided a practical and easy to implement habitat monitoring program.

Further recommendations were also provided in the plan, outlining the importance of developing a Management Plan for the property, and implementing actions focussing on invasive alien plant control and soil erosion and road maintenance training.

With continued investment in the restoration of this farm and implementation of these veld management recommendations, the farm can be restored to its former natural and productive condition.