The WRC @ Okhombe

 

On 11 January 2005 the WRC attended a site visit to the Okhombe Catchment area in the Drakensberg. The WRC is currently funding the project to assist the communities of Mnweni and Okhombe to manage their water resources sustainably and to build capacity in these communities to monitor the effects of different rehabilitation techniques.

 

The community have implemented various erosion control techniques such as stone packs, stone lines, swales, cattle steps (physical structures) and vegetative structures such as vetvier grass planted on contour lines, trees planted in micro-catchments and indigenous and exotic grasses planted on eroded slopes. Community members have been trained how to monitor the effect of these techniques on reducing soil erosion and improving water quality.

 

Members of the Okhombe Monitoring Group enthusiastically demonstrated various monitoring techniques. Among some of the methods demonstrated were the use of a Morgan Splash Cup, splash boards, rain gauges, basal cover quadrats run-off plots and portable gauging weirs to measure water quality and quantity. 

 

The results are astounding: in some previously degraded areas 40-60 % of the area is stabilizing and there is 25% less run-off. The community is currently implementing a grazing management plan to reduce soil erosion..

 

  

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