Strategies used to guide the design and implementation of a national rivermonitoring programme in South Africa

This article explores the strategies that were, and are being, used to faci litate the transition from scientific development to operational applicatio n of the South African River Health Programme (RHP). Theoretical models fro m the field of the management of technology are used to provide insight int o the dynamics that influence the relationship between the creation and app lication of environmental programmes, and the RHP in particular. Four key c omponents of the RHP design are analysed, namely the (a) guiding team, (b) concepts, tools and methods, (c) infra-structural innovations and (d) commu nication. These key components evolved over three broad life stages of the programme, which are called the design, growth and anchoring stages.