TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. PROJECT OVERVIEW.............................................................................................. 3

1.1 Introduction.............................................................................................................. 3

1.2 Design methodology................................................................................................. 3

1.3 Target group ............................................................................................................ 4

2. PURPOSE OF THIS DOCUMENT ............................................................................ 4

3. BACKGROUND........................................................................................................... 5

3.1 The mission of the DWAF ......................................................................................... 5

3.2 DWAF's water quality management principles and approaches .................................. 5

4. MANAGEMENT OF AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS...................................................... 6

4.1 Introduction............................................................................................................... 6

4.2 Aquatic ecosystem concepts ...................................................................................... 7

4.2.1 Biological diversity ........................................................................................ 7

4.2.2 Biotic integrity ............................................................................................... 7

4.2.3 "Natural" aquatic ecosystems ......................................................................... 8

4.2.4 Cause-effect relationships in ecosystems......................................................... 8

4.3 Factors affecting aquatic ecosystem health ................................................................. 8

4.4 Approaches to management of aquatic ecosystems..................................................... 9

4.4.1 Barriers to effective management ................................................................... 9

4.4.2 Overseas approaches...................................................................................... 9

4.4.3 Aquatic ecosystems management in South Africa ......................................... 10

5. BIOMONITORING CONCEPTS.............................................................................. 11

5.1 The role and purpose of biomonitoring .................................................................... 11

5.2 Definition of biomonitoring...................................................................................... 12

5.3 The use of ecosystem indicators............................................................................... 13

5.4 The use of ecosystem indices ................................................................................... 13

5.5 Assessment of aquatic ecosystem health................................................................... 13

5.5.1 The concept of assessment ........................................................................... 13

5.5.2 Assessment relative to a reference point ....................................................... 14

5.5.3 Reference site selection ................................................................................ 15

6. MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS ....................................................................... 15

6.1 Background............................................................................................................. 15

6.2 General requirements for biomonitoring programmes............................................... 16

6.3 Scope of the biomonitoring programme ................................................................... 17

6.4 Reporting on the biomonitoring programme............................................................. 17

6.5 Use of information................................................................................................... 18

6.6 Management requirements that will be met by the programme.................................. 18

7. SPECIFICATION OF A DESIGN FRAMEWORK.................................................. 19

7.1 Scope of the monitoring programme ........................................................................ 19

7.2 Information users..................................................................................................... 19

7.3 Geographic coverage ............................................................................................... 20

7.4 Assessment end-points of aquatic health .................................................................. 20

7.5 Reporting of informatio..