Q. What is BOCMA’s role in ensuring that it adheres to its vision: Quality water for all, forever?
A. The Breede-Overberg Catchment Management Agency (BOCMA) plays a central role in protecting, using, developing, conserving, managing and controlling water resources; while also coordinating with government and sector partners, and other stakeholders. The strategic focus of the agency incorporates water resource planning; water use management; institutional development; water-resource protection; and water allocation reform.
BOCMA works closely with local governments on water management and water-related services. This ensures synergy between the priorities of the Catchment Management Agency and the local and district municipalities. Legal, policy and regulatory tools are critical for communication, awareness building, response, and for building the natural resource and infrastructural capacity. The uncertainty introduced by climate change means exact solutions cannot be planned; building natural ecosystem, infrastructural and institutional resilience will enable the best responses.

Q. Explain the importance of the Catchment Management Strategy?
A. The Catchment Management Strategy (CMS) has been developed adhering to one of the initial functions of the BOCMA. The proposed CMS has now been gazetted for public comment. This strategic plan will put the BOCMA on the path to ultimately achieving its vision of Quality water for all, forever.
BOCMA’s integrated water programme, contained in the CMC includes the implementation of the ecological and basic human needs reserves; protection and conservation of wetlands, estuaries, rivers and critical biodiversity areas; building of adaptive institutions within all sectors and at all levels; and implementation of water-use conservation strategies.

Q. What services does the BOCMA offer to its stakeholders?
A.BOCMA is responsible for those functions that relate to water resource planning, water-use management and monitoring, and assisting the Department of Water Affairs (DWA) with other functions. It is also responsible for stakeholder engagement and maintaining and improving intergovernmental relations. The Water Resource Division, including both units, supports Water Allocation Reform through assisting resource-poor farmers with water-use allocations and in applying for financial assistance from the DWA, for sustainable agricultural projects. The BOCMA is the operating arm of the DWA and its aim is to bring water resource services in an efficient manner to the inhabitants of the Breede Water Management Area. The BOCMA has been instrumental in the processing of water registrations and licence applications. Furthermore, the BOCMA supports and works closely with the DWA’s Monitoring and Compliance Unit to investigate unlawful water use practices. In addition, there are currently two water quality monitoring programmes in place, one in the Breede River region and the other in the Overberg region. The BOCMA gives comment on rezoning and consolidations to relevant municipalities, and also on environmental impact studies and basic assessment reports in conjunction with the Department of Environmental Affairs. The BOCMA is currently busy with the first validation and verification process where all water users will be evaluated for legal compliance. This process will assist with the management of water allocations in the Breede-Overberg Water Management Area (WMA).The BOCMA is actively promoted in the WMA through awareness campaigns, reaching children through LandCare Camps and Water Week. We support the existing Water User Associations and are involved with the transformation of Irrigation Boards into Water User Associations. The BOCMA Governing Board recently approved the transformation of the Koo Irrigation Board into a Water User Association. This is the first irrigation board to be transformed into a Water User Association by a CMA in South Africa! We also support a number of women-driven water forums in the Villiersdorp, Bonnievale, Ashton and Grabouw area. We keep our stakeholders informed through the quarterly newsletter that contains interesting and applied water resource related information, and activities that take place in the water management area. We also ensure that our stakeholders are kept informed through our website, www.bocma.co.za, which contains water resource related documents, information about the BOCMA and its operations, the Governing Board and the Newsletter.

The Breede-Overberg Catchment Management Agency (BOCMA) was established in 2005 in terms of the National Water Act as the lead agent for water resource management within the Breede Water Management Area (WMA). The BOCMA is the second CMA in South Africa. Its water management area is in the south-west corner of South Africa and the name is derived from the Breede River, the largest of the rivers in the area. With seven local municipalities and two district municipalities, the population of the Breede WMA is estimated at half a million people, with two thirds living in towns and villages. The BOCMA head office is situated in Worcester. It is a growing organisation and currently consists of 22 dedicated staff members.