Costone/Stulwane wetland water walk: 3rdOctober 2024
ATTENDANCE:
!"#$%&'(#)*+,%&-.,/0+*%&1+*#)02*%&3$4,#4,&5&367&
&
Figure1: Above: A fewfromthe upper catchment and grazing area of the Costone villagelooking down into the valley where
homesteadsare present. In the picture a few small fires are visible – farmers were burning theedges of their fields in
preparation for the planting season – a practice which is not promoted by MDF, but which nevertheless persists. As does
burning patches of the grazing area itself to allow for quick green growth early in the season. This winter season was the first
time that the whole grazing area wasn’t burnt,and followed on awareness raising around burning and livestock owners
undertaking communal firebreaks for the first time.
OUTLINE
89*&0#:*#:0,#&,;&:9*&4$<&2$=&:,&*>?+,"*&:9*&(??*"&@$:@9A*#:&$#4&2*:+$#4&@,A?+*>&,;&:9*&B,=:,#*&
C0++$)*&(??*"&@$:@9A*#:&$"*$%&$/,C*&:9*&:2,&=:"*$A=&:9$:&9$C*&/**#&"*:0@(+$:*4&;,"&2$:*"&$@@*==%&:,&
$==*==&=A$++&"*9$/0+0:$:0,#&*D,":=&:,&4$:*%&$#4&@9*@E&:9*&@,#40:0,#&,;&:9*&(??*"&@$:@9A*#:&2$:*"&
@9$##*+=&F=A$++&=:"*$A=%&2*:+$#4=&$#4&)(++*<=G&;**40#)&0#:,&:9*&+$")*"&2*:+$#4&@,A?+*>&:,2$"4=&:9*&
/,::,A&,;&:9*&C$++*<H&89*&0#:*#:0,#&2$=&$+=,&:,&*$"A$"E&?,==0/+*&=0:*=&:,&;,@(=&,#&0#&:9*&$+0*#&@+*$"0#)&
$#4&2*:+$#4&"*9$/0+0:$:0,#&2,"EH&
89*&0#:*"C*#:0,#&0=&:,&/*&(#4*":$E*#&(=0#)&:9*&;,++,20#)&=:*?=I&
•J*$"&K&$#4&LI&M*9$/0+0:$:0,#&,;&(??*"&@$:@9A*#:&@9$##*+=I&&
oB+*$"0#)&,;&0=,+$:*4&?$:@9*=&,;&+$#:$#$&$#4&2$::+*%&=:$/0+0=$:0,#&,;&)(++*<=&$#4&=:"*$A&
*4)*=&;,"&:9*&:2,&=:"*$A=&$/,C*&:9*&?"*=*#:&CN/,>*=I&!>?*"0A*#:&20:9&@9*@E&4$A=%&"*N
=**40#)&,;&)"$==&$#4&"**4&=?*@0*=%&/"(=9&?$@E=%&#*::0#)&A$:=%&C*:0C*"&)"$==H&&
oO",C04*&;,"&@,#=:"(@:0,#&,;&=?*@0P@&@$::+*&?$:9=&$#4&@+,=*&,D&A(+:0:(4*&,;&=A$++&?$:9=&
:9$:&$"*&+*$40#)&:,&*",=0,#&,;&2$:*"&@,("=*=H&&
oQ#@+(4*&=?*@0P@&4"0#E0#)&?,0#:=&;,"&+0C*=:,@EH&
oB,#=04*"&;*#@0#)&,D&,;&C*"<&=*#=0:0C*&2*:+$#4&?$:@9*=&;,"&A,"*&@,9*"*#:&"*9$/0+0:$:0,#H&
Heading up from the dip tank.
&
Figure2: the Costone community map showing the grazing area in green andthe stream with many small tributaries, where the
two small abstraction points are for the community based water access. The three red circles in the outlined area show the
rough points where the collection and settling boxes for the water scheme have been placed. The third point is a later addition
by the community themselves, where there is no structure, but just a pipe in a small pond– as they found this point to have
more water in the later months of the dry winter season.
890=&$"*$&0=&=*C*"*+<&*",4*4&4(*&:,&@$::+*&A,C0#)&(?&$#4&4,2#&:9*&A,(#:$0#&"*?*$:*4+<&;,"&40??0#)&$#4&
;,"&/*0#)&:$E*#&:,&$#4&;",A&:9*&)"$R0#)&$"*$=&90)9*"&(?H&8<?0@$++<&$&?$:9&0=&2,"#%&290@9&*",4*=&$#4&:9*#&
$#,:9*"&?$:9&0=&2,"#&$+,#)=04*&(#:0+&:9$:&:,,&:("#=&0#:,&$&4,#)$%&+*$40#)&:,&:90=&:<?*&,;&*>:*#=0C*&
*",=0,#H&
1*"*%&:9*&;*2&=:,#*&+0#*&$#4&=:,#*&?$@E=&:9$:&2*"*&4,#*&/<&:9*&@,AA(#0:<&9$C*&9$4&C*"<&+0::+*&0A?$@:&
=,&;$"%&/,:9&/*@$(=*&:9*<&2*"*&#,:&*>:*#=0C*&*#,()9%&#,:&2*++&E*<*4&0#:,&:9*&/$#E=&$#4&@,#=:"(@:*4&:,,&
;$"&4,2#H&&
Q:&2$=&"*@,AA*#4*4&:9$:&:9*<&=:$":&$:&:9*&:,?&,;&:90=&=A$++&=+,?*%&S(=:&/*+,2&:9*&)"$R0#)&$"*$&;*#@*&$#4&
2,"E&A,"*&20:9&=:,#*&+0#*=&:9$:&@",==&:9*&29,+*&$"*$&,;&@,##*@:*4&)(++*<=H&T#4&$+=,&:9$:&:9*&?"0#@0?+*&
,;&:,*N9**+&=:"(@:("*=&0=&(=*4&5&=,&KA&0#&9*0)9:&40D*"*#@*&/*:2**#&=:"(@:("*=&FUNV&A&,#&:9*&)",(#4G%&$=&
:9*&?"*=*#:&$::*A?:=&2*"*&$+=,&A$4*&:,,&;$"&$?$":H&&
Q#&$440:0,#%&:9*&?$":0@0?$#:=&9*"*&(=*4&.(0:*&+$")*&",@E=&$#4&?0+*4&:9*A&.(0:*&90)9&0#&$&"$:9*"&9$?9$R$"4&
;$=90,#%&"$:9*"&:9$#&(=0#)&:9*&"*@,AA*#4*4&?",@*==&,;&E*<0#)&0#&:9*&+$")*"&",@E=&0#:,&$&=A$++&40:@9&,#&
@,#:,("&$#4&:9*#&?$@E0#)&:9*&=A$++*"&",@E=&,#&:,?&,;&:9*=*&20:9&$&=+,?&,;&KIK&FWXYG&,#&:9*&(?=:"*$A&
=04*&$#4&$#&Z$?",#[&,#&:9*&4,2#=:"*$A&=04*&,"&$&=:**?*"&=+,?&,;&KIL&F\WYGH&&89*=*&"*@,AA*#4$:0,#=&
=9,(+4&/*&A,"*&@+,=*+<&;,++,2*4&0#&:9*&;(:("*H&
&
Figure3:Above Left to Right: Views of the extensive erosion of the ‘cattle paths’ above the road, and past the dip tank. The
picture on the right shows the top of the small hill, just beyond the fence where the erosion control works should start.
Figure4: Above Left: A stone line on the slope which has been destroyed by livestock movement and Right: A check dam which
has been damaged by strong water flow, but which still managed to collect a reasonable amount of silt upstream of the
structure.
Section A; Nothile’s side, stream and abstraction point.
89*&=A$++&2$:*"&@,("=*&0=&?"*=*#:+<&4"<&/*+,2&:9*&$/=:"$@:0,#&?,0#:&$=&:9*&:0#<&:"0@E+*&,;&2$:*"&?"*=*#:+<&
$C$0+$/+*&0=&),0#)&40"*@:+<&0#:,&:9*&@,++*@:0,#&@9$A/*"H&890=&0=&+0E*+<&:,&@9$#)*&,#@*&:9*&"$0#=&=:$":H&89*"*&
2$=&$&?*"0,4&0#&T()(=:N]*?:*A/*"&:9$:&:9*&^,2&2$=&*C*#&+,2*"&:9$#&$:&?"*=*#:H&Q#&:90=&:0A*&-,:90+*&
_,#40&;,++,2*4&:9*&"*@,AA*#4$:0,#&:,&@+,=*&:9*&C$+C*=&/*+,2&:9*&A$0#&`,`,&:$#E&:,&$++,2&:9*&:$#E=&:,&
=+,2+<&P++&(?&$#4&,#+<&,?*#&:9*A&;,"&$&/"0*;&?*"0,4&;,"&2$:*"&@,++*@:0,#&$",(#4&a$A&$#4&V?A&0#&:9*&
$;:*"#,,#H&890=&?",@*==&2,"E*4&.(0:*&2*++&:,&$++,2&$++&?$":0@0?$#:=&:,&)*:&=,A*&2$:*"%&$+/*0:&#,:&C*"<&
A(@9H&89*&?",@*==&9,2*C*"&2$=&,#+<&;,++,2*4&,#@*&:9*&:$#E=&=:$":*4&:,&"(#&4"<%&/*;,"*&290@9&
?$":0@0?$#:=&@,++*@:*4&2$:*"&$:&20++H&&
89*&4*=0)#&,;&:9*&?0?*=&$#4&:$#E=%&$=&2*++&$=&:9*&$/=:"$@:0,#&?,0#:&0=&=(@9&:9$:&29*#&:9*&=:"*$A&0=&
^,20#)%&#,:&A,"*&:9$#&KXNKWY&,;&:9*&^,2&0=&(=*4&;,"&:9*&2$:*"&=@9*A*H&89*"*&0=&$&@,#@*"#&$/,(:&
@$?:("0#)&A,=:&,;&:9*&^,2&0#&:9*&C*"<&4"<&A,#:9=&:,2$"4=&:9*&*#4&,;&20#:*"&5&#,:0#)&:9$:&:90=&=:"*$A&0=&
/<&#$:("*&*?9*A*"$+&$#4&4,*=#[:&^,2&:9",()9,(:&:9*&<*$"H&1,2*C*"%&0:&0=&"*@,AA*#4*4&:9$:&:9*&
=0:($:0,#&0=&A,#0:,"*4&0#&$#&,#),0#)&2$<&:,&*#=("*&:9$:&:9*&"*A,C$+&,;&2$:*"&;",A&:90=&2$:*"&@,("=*&
4,*=#[:&9$C*&$&#*)$:0C*&0A?$@:&,#&:9*&=("",(#40#)&*#C0",#A*#:H&
Figure5: Above Left to Right: 1. A view of the steam bed below the abstraction point and 2. A view of the streambed above the
abstraction point. 3. A view of the collection and settling chamber at the abstraction point. And 4. A view of the ’small pond’–
now dry, directly below the collection chamber.
890=&=:"*$A&/*4&0=&=:**?&$#4&.(0:*&",@E<&$#4&+0::+*&"*9$/0+0:$:0,#&0=&?,==0/+*&0#&:9*&=:"*$A/*4&0:=*+;H&T=&0=&
:9*&@$=*&0#&!R0/,AC0#0%&/(:&A,"*&?",#,(#@*4&$#4&20:9&:9*&<*++,2*"&@+$<&=,0+=%&:9*&=04*&2$++=&,;&:9*&
2$:*"&@,("=*&9$C*&*",4*4&.(0:*&=*C*"*+<&0#&0#&=,A*&=*@:0,#=&$#4&0=&=:0++&=,A*29$:&=:$/+*&0#&,:9*"=H&
89*&$"*$&=("",(#40#)&:90=&=:"*$A&4,*=#[:&9$C*&$#<&#,:0@*$/+*&2*:+$#4&?$:@9*=%&/(:&$&+,:&,;&*",=0,#&0#&
:9*&$"*$&0=&*C04*#:%&$=&@$::+*&A,C*&0#&$#4&,(:&,;&$++&:9*&=A$++&2$:*"&@,("=*=&$:&A(+:0?+*&?,0#:=&:,&+,,E&;,"&
2$:*"H&
&
&
Figure6: Left to Right: A gulley
with unstable side walls,
exacerbated by livestock coming
into the water course to find
water. Two views of paths
between the small water
courses made by cattle and
being eroded into gulleys.
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
Section A; Danger’s side stream condition and small wetlands
7,"&:90=&=04*&,;&:9*&C0++$)*%&:9*&$/=:"$@:0,#&?,0#:&2$=&A,C*4&/<&:9*&@,AA(#0:<&;",A&:9*&/(0+:&@,++*@:0,#&
@9$A/*"&:,&$#,:9*"&=A$++&=:"*$A&;,"&:9*&20#:*"&A,#:9=%&)0C*#&:9$:&:9*"*&$??*$"=&:,&/*&=+0)9:+<&A,"*&
2$:*"&:9*"*H&
Figure7: Above Left: The water course just below the 2ndabstraction point, for Section B of the community. Right: the small
collection and settling chambers visible in the streambed.
89*&@,#40:0,#&,;&:9*&2$:*"&@,("=*&$/,C*&:9*&$/=:"$@:0,#&?,0#:&0=&4*:*"0,"$:0#)H&89*"*&$"*&=A$++&2*:+$#4&
$"*$=&0#:*"=?*"=*4&20:9&@"(A/+0#)&=04*&2$++=&$#4&$&+,:&,;&",@E=&0#&:9*&=:"*$A/*4&0:=*+;H&89*=*&",@E=&
2$=9&4,2#&:9*&=:"*$A&4("0#)&^,,4&*C*#:=&@$(=0#)&@,#=04*"$/+*&4$A$)*&+,2*"&4,2#H&
Figure8: Above Left to Right: 1 and 2:smallpatches of wetlands along the water course above the abstraction point and 3 and
4, eroding side walls which are very unstable in some sections.
&
&
&
&
Figure9: Above:A view of cattlebeing herded across one of the many small water courses in the upper catchment. There are a
number of these tracks - which increases the erosion along the water courses.
RECOMMENDATIONS
•89*&+0C*=:,@E&@,AA0::**&$#4&+0C*=:,@E&,2#*"=&#**4&:,&/*&/",()9:&?",?*"+<&,#&/,$"4H&1*"*&$+=,&
:9*&0#:*"?+$<&/*:2**#&+0C*=:,@E&,2#*"=&;",A&,:9*"&C0++$)*=&#**4=&:,&/*&*>?+,"*4H&T&2,"E=9,?&
),0#)&:9",()9&9,2&:90=&$"*$&0=&A$#$)*4%&29,&0=&$++,2*4&:,&4,&29$:%&9,2&A$#<&+0C*=:,@E&:9*"*&
$"*&$#4&0==(*=&$#4&@,#@*"#=&#**4=&:,&/*&(#4*":$E*#&:,&:$E*&:9*&P"=:&=:*?=&0#&4*=0)#0#)&$&
A$#$)*A*#:&=:"$:*)<H&
•M*9$/0+0:$:0,#&*D,":=&$"*&:,&;,@(=&(?=:"*$A&,;&:9*&$/=:"$@:0,#&?,0#:=&$#4&=?*@0P@$++<&$",(#4&
:9*&=A$++&2*:+$#4&?$:@9*=&:9$:&$"*&=:0++&0#:$@:&,"&,#+<&?$":0$++<&4*)"$4*4H&&89*"*&$"*&$&+,:&,;&",@E=&
0#&:9*&=:"*$A/*4=&:9*A=*+C*=&:9$:&@$#&/*&(=*4&:,&@"*$:*&$&@$=@$4*&,;&=A$++&2*0"=&$++&+,#)&:9*&
=:"*$A&:,&=+,2&:9*&2$:*"&4,2#H&890=&0=&:9*&Kst&?"0,"0:<H&
•'0#E*4&:,&:9$:&0=&?",:*@:0#)&:9*&=A$++&?,,+=&,;&:9*&$/=:"$@:0,#&?,0#:=&;",A&+0C*=:,@E&:"$A?+0#)H&
•]04*&2$++=&20++&#**4&$&=0A0+$"&=*:&,;&=:"$:*)0*=&$=&0#&!R0/,AC0#0&5&:"<&:9*=*&,(:&0#&!R0/,AC0#0&P"=:&
$#4&:9*#&$??+<&:9*&,#*=&:9$:&2,"E&/*=:&0#&:9*&]:(+2$#*&(??*"&@$:@9A*#:&F@9*@E&4$A=%&/"(=9&
?$@E=%&#*::0#)&A$:=%&40C*"=0,#&40:@9*=%&?+$#:0#)&,;&C*)*:$:0,#&$#4&;*#@0#)G&
•b(0+4&=?*@0P@&@$::+*&2$:*"0#)&?,0#:=H&T#4&@9$##*+&:9*&+0C*=:,@E&:9*"*&/<&?+())0#)&=,A*&,;&:9*&
A<"0$4=&,;&=A$++&?$:9=&$#4&)(++*<=&:9*&+0C*=:,@E&(=*H&
•89*#&/(0+4&Z=:*?=[&$+,#)&:9*=*&?$:9=&:,&=:$/0+0=*&:9*A&$#4&;,"&*$=*&,;&A,C*A*#:&;,"&:9*&
+0C*=:,@EH&
&
&
&
&
&