BUFFALO RIVER: Topography, geology and soils

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TOPOGRAPHY

The area can be divided into the following three basic topographical zones:
  • The coastal belt;
  • The coastal plateau and
  • The mountain highlands or escarpment zone  (Ref 3)

 

The coastal belt, which is about 10 km wide, and the coastal plateau which rises to between 600 and 900 masl and covers most of the sub-area, are characterized by incised river valleys which run parallel to each other in a south easterly direction. This topography impacts significantly on settlement patterns and the cost of provision of infrastructure within the area. The escarpment zone, which lies between the coastal plateau and the catchment divide is characterized by steep slopes and high altitudes in the upper Buffalo catchment. (Ref 3)
    GEOLOGY                                    

"Rocky outcrops of the catchment consist of sedimentary rocks with dolerite outcrops. The sedimentary rocks consist of mudstones, shales and sandstones that produce highly erodible grey sandy loam soils. The dolerite outcrops weather to form red dolerite and black dolerite clays that are less prone to erosion." 

(Ref 1:www.csir.co.za/rhp/state_of_rivers/buffalo04/ECape%20Buffalo%20River_2004.pdf)

    SOILS                                    

"Reduced vegetation cover in large parts of the catchment exacerbates the medium to high natural erodability of the soil.

The riparian zone is the area along a river bank. The four main wetland types in the Buffalo River riparian zone are seep, floodplain, marsh and pan."  

(Ref 1:www.csir.co.za/rhp/state_of_rivers/buffalo04/ECape%20Buffalo%20River_2004.pdf)

Soils are generally moderate to deep clayey loams with alluvial soils in the river valleys.  (Ref 3)
  References                                      

Ref 1:www.csir.co.za/rhp/state_of_rivers/buffalo04/ECape%20Buffalo%20River_2004.pdf

Ref 3:  Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, South Africa. 2004. Mzimvubu to Keiskamma Water Management Area : Amatole – Kei Internal Strategic Perspective. Prepared by FST Consulting Engineers (Pty) Ltd in association with Tlou & Matji and Umvoto Africa, on behalf of the Directorate : National Water Resource Planning. DWAF Report No. P WMA 12/000/00/0404.

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