ESTUARIES IN SOUTH AFRICA

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ROOIELS RIVER ESTUARY: Catchment Characteristics

	Main Rivers and tributaries
	The Rooiels river catchment lies within the Blousteenberge which are situated at the southern extension of the Hottentots Holland Mountain Range.
	The total distance from the river mouth to the end of the longest tributary is approximately 9km.
	A number of small streams, which would flow only during the rainy season, enter the main stream along its course.(Ref 1)
	Dams

	River run-off
	The river has a steep gradient, is shallow and is very narrow in its upper catchment area. It is consequently fast flowing with many small rapids and waterfalls. There are no known data available for volumetric flow.(Ref 1)
	Geomorphology
	The rocky environment of the upper catchment through which the river has cut its course, consists of material belonging to the Table Mountain Group. In the floodplain its movement is restricted be vegetation and artificial structures such as the coastal road and bridge.(Ref 1)
	Geology
	Rooiels is situated in a typical south-western Cape Table Mountain Group environment. The sandstone is folded to some extent and dips to the NNe at roughly 45°. This dipping is clearly visible in the strata of the Hangklip-Rooiels mountains. The colours of the sandstone vary from red-brown when fresh to dark brown, yellow and white. The sands are fine-grained and well-sorted. (ECRU Survey December 1979). (Ref 1)
	According to Boucher (1978), the geology around the estuary consists of a tongue of Tertiary sands ( sands originating from the Tertiary System which relates to the period of time which elapsed between the end of the Cretaceous and the present time) intruding in to the Peninsula Formation (forms part of the Table Mountain series) of Table Mountain Sandstone. (Ref 1)