A GEOMORPHOLOGICAL APPROACH TO THE ECOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT OF RIVERS INTHE KRUGER-NATIONAL-PARK - THE CASE OF THE SABIE RIVER

The management of river systems in conservation areas in South Africa is problematic: a policy for the provision of water for conservation i s still evolving and many rivers (being bedrock-controlled and with hi ghly variable flows) do not conform to established alluvial river theo ry. A framework is developed for predicting changes in river state und er different (natural and controlled) flow regimes. The approach invol ves river classification at ecologically relevant scales, conceptual m odelling, process monitoring and mathematical modelling. The ecologica l relevance of the approach is demonstrated and the results form an ap propriate base from which conservationists can negotiate with other wa ter users.