Lower Orange River Forum - Maintaining South Africa's largest river

Abstract

Water resource management The Lower Orange River Forum (LORF) is a working example of how citizens are working together with government and nongovernment organisations to protect South Africa’s valuable water resources. Article submitted by Peter Ramollo of the Northern Cape Department of Environment and Nature Conservation. is a source of water for agricultural and domestic use, while the river itself supports various aquatic organisms both within its own catchment and those of other catchments in the Eastern Cape through inter-basin transfer schemes. For the arid Northern Cape the Orange River, along with its main tributary, the Vaal River, is an artery of life. However, urbanisation, industrial and mining developments as well as pollution are placing increasing strain on this important resource. The Orange River is regulated through several weirs and some of the country’s largest dams, including the Gariep and Vanderkloof dams, which are used for electricity generation, flood regulation and agricultural activities.

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