Slinger J.H., Huizinga P., Taljaard S., van Niekerk L., Enserink B.
Policy Analysis Section, Faculty of Technology Policy and Management, Delft University of Technology, Jaffalaan 5, 2628BX Delft, Netherlands; CSIR, Box 320, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa
Slinger, J.H., Policy Analysis Section, Faculty of Technology Policy and Management, Delft University of Technology, Jaffalaan 5, 2628BX Delft, Netherlands; Huizinga, P., CSIR, Box 320, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa; Taljaard, S., CSIR, Box 320, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa; van Niekerk, L., CSIR, Box 320, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa; Enserink, B., Policy Analysis Section, Faculty of Technology Policy and Management, Delft University of Technology, Jaffalaan 5, 2628BX Delft, Netherlands
In 1990, the environmental impacts of an upstream dam on the Great Brak town and estuary were assessed and a management plan and monitoring programme were devised. In a recent review of the monitoring results, planned water releases and interventions in the form of timely mouth breaching were found to have ensured that, although the estuary's abiotic functioning has altered, its biotic health has not deteriorated over the last ten years. The lessons learned are captured in the revised management plan of 2004, which exhibits a clear shift to explicit communication plans and operational procedures, indicating that the initial environmental impact assessment (EIA) products were rudimentary. We argue that learning-through-doing and active public participation in the Great Brak case are essential ingredients in the adaptive management that is fundamental to successful EIA follow-up. © IAIA 2005.