Our Projects and ambitions
The Upper uMngeni Catchment suite of projects
This is our flagship project area. The idea is to focus on a well defined catchment, that being the whole catchment of Midmar Dam. This includes the Kamberg area, in view of the water transfer project from the Mooi to the uMngeni, bringing the total area to some 186 000 Ha. Within that, much work has been done in the past on the upper uMngeni river itself above the Dargle falls, where we have lent significant support to landowners in that approx 16,000 ha zone. Support has included:
Alien invasive plant removal (Wattle, gums, pine and bramble)
Full land rehabilitation of cleared areas, including erosion control and re-grassing
Protection of wetlands and riparian zones
A farm study group focusing on catchment sensitive farming practices
A silt trap to demonstrate the amount of silt coming off our gravel roads
Securing of herbicides for farmers under the government herbicide support program (DFFE)
From these early beginnings we have now expanded to perform projects within the wider catchment of Midmar Dam, given the critical importance of this catchment for KZN’s water resources
For more information, please contact us at andrew@fowlerconsult.com
River Monitoring
With Funding from the uMngeni Local Municipality, the Dargle Conservancy and the Howick Districts Landowner Association (HDLA) we have been monitoring 4 regular sites (plus ad hoc investigative sites) since 2023. Since May of 2025, this monitoring has been conducted weekly at our 4 sites. This has given us a fantastic database indicating the pattern of water parameters over a full season, and enabling us to start analysing trends. Our monitoring is focused on the parameters that have a direct bearing on the nutrient enrichment of Midmar dam. This is because dam Eutrophication has become a massive problem for the whole uMngeni System, and with Nagle, Inanda and Albert Falls dams all in dire straights in this regard, we need to be working on saving Midmar from the same fate. We therefore engage with farmers and landusers when we see spikes or trends in the data, so that we can learn and improve together.
For regular updates in the analysis of the water, visit our “Upland Water Sampling” page.
Nutrient Interceptors
With Funding from the Dutch Water Authorities, and support from local farmers plus the University Of Kwa-Zulu Natal, and Meadow feeds, we are embarking on a year long field trial to test nutrient interceptors. (Work started in July 2026) This work emulates experiments done in the USA , where woodchips are placed in a trench downslope of agricultural enterprises, and percolating water is a allowed to pass through the material, which absorbs and processes nutrients. Our first field trial is on a poultry farm in the catchment of Midmar Dam, and we will be using local woodchips and biochar of varying properties/quality to absorb Phosphates, and also to remove Nitrates, through two distinctly different processes.
Streamside Restoration.
Once initial clearing of wattle trees has been done, restoration of the natural grassland is required to prevent erosion, and to generate a grazing value for the recovered land. In areas that are very steep, or where significant erosion measures are required, this work needs specialist materials and skills, and comes at a greater cost. Since 2021, WWF have assigned funding to us from PepsiCo, in order to perform this important work. On the very upper uMngeni, we deployed erosion mats , and “eco-logs”, and had a climbing crew on steep cliffs removing mature trees, and then regrowth, on no fewer than 28 cliffs or significantly remote/difficult sites. Grass seed was planted on all sites, and on south facing slopes, indigenous pioneer species. The initial work concluded in late 2025. We have been advised that an additional 5 years of support will commence in early 2027.
Catchment Sensitive Farming.
The Nedbank Green Trust sponsored our project from 2023 to 2026 in which we formed a “Catchment Sensitive Farming” , farmer’s study group. This was primarily a “beef off veld” study group, in which we explored best grassland management practices in terms of both catchment functioning and farmer’s profitability. The participants spanned two neighbouring upland catchments: The Inzinga to the south and the uMngeni to the north, with the village of Kwanovuka geographically central to the 42 000 Ha area. . The participants spanned socio-economic backgrounds, and the content brought academia and farming closer together. The project funding ended in February of 2026, but the “Catchment Sensitive Farming Collaborative for Midmar” was triggered, and it remains as an open experiment and invitation to farmers to take the lead on better catchment stewardship.
Impendle Vlei Initiative.
The Impendle vlei lies near the village of kwaNovuka at the very headwaters of the Poort Stream, a significant tributary of the uMngeni River. This area falls within our core project area, and is also a habitat and potential breeding ground for wattled cranes and other rare bird species. We are staying close to fellow NGO project which are aimed at :
incentivising rotational grazing for improved grassland management and carbon sequestration
Tourism around a guided hiking trail
Enviro-champs educating the community and performing litter clean-ups
We hope to be able to foster new community projects which will see livestock moved out of the wetland during bird breeding seasons, add to the eco-tourism footprint with due regard to breeding birds, and support catchment sensitive farming by community members.
For more details contact andrew@fowlerconsult.com
Upper Umtshezi ambitions.
Upper Umtshezi
The Bushmans River (known locally as the Umtshezi), flows down from the Giants Castle resort in the Moloti Drakensberg Park, into a community who need our help. Their is a catchment that is degraded due to an absence of solid waste removal services, overgrazing, and invasion of alien wattle trees. In a vista that includes the towering Giants Castle mountain, the catchment cries out for intervention. The amaHlubi people who inhabit this valley have a proud history, and we aim to include eco-toursim and history to uplift the people, and simultaneously empower them to care for their environment.
Plans include a rotational grazing regime, and better markets for their cattle . We have identified a suitable tour guide and are teaching her the history of her people and the Langalibalele “rebellion”, as well as presentation skills. We would like to revive the local laundry business that does work for local resorts, and there is a farming initiative that has faltered and is in need of invigoration. Wattle clearing needs to take place, but, as importantly, restoration of grass and other erosion controls on some steep slopes.
For more information, e-mail andrew@fowlerconsult.com
Lotheni ambitions
The very upper Lotheni and Hlatimbe valleys offer a unique opportunity for a socio-environmental project. The area currently has a mix of commercial landowners and rural community members, whose interests are at times in conflict. Much of the area suffers overgrazing. The rural population is reported to have social problems, and poverty is the root cause of this. Eland poaching in the nearby wilderness area is also a concern. Two of the land owners are committed environmentalists, and the local municipality has expressed an interest in engaging on an eco-toursim concept .
This project is under development………
Mpofana ambitions
The Mpofana, or ‘Mooi River’, as it is also known, is unique in that it flows from the Moloti Drakensberg park, through a rural community area, then commercial farmland, then back into the park, and then into beef ranching country. Each of these has a different impact, but all participants are involved in eco-tourism in one way or another.
This project is under development.
Inzinga ambitions
The Inzinga river flows from the Moloti Drakensberg park, into remote beef ranching country, and then into an inhabited rural community. In its upper reaches it suffers in parts, from quite severe infestations of black wattle.
This project is under development