Water management and the successful conservation of water resources is a complex task and requires an integrated approach. This is clearly illustrated in Knysna, as the water quality and ecological health of the Knysna estuary, directly depends on what takes place within the surrounding catchments.
The Knysna Basin Project and the University of Cape Town’s Engineering Department are launching a long term hydrological modelling project of the Knysna estuary and surrounding catchments.
The aim of this project is to establish a practical tool that can be used by management authorities to successfully manage our estuary and catchments. Focus will specifically be placed on how to incorporate Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems into our catchments to control stormwater.
A modelling approach will allow for outcome specific data collection and monitoring, which will be used to populate a site-specific model to:
- establish and illustrate the current state of the system,
- test and simulate proposed management actions and
- predict the impact/outcome of future scenarios.
Alice Martin, a Masters student from UCT, will commence with the first phase of this project in 2018. Her project will be focused on the hydrological modelling of the Bongani catchment.
We would like to thank the Knysna Municipality, which provided substantial funding for this project.
If you would like to find out more about our Management through Modelling project please contact:
Alice Martin alice.cunene@gmail.com
Louw Claassens kyss.louw@gmail.com
