An assessment of water and sediment quality of aquatic ecosystems within South Africa’s largest floodplain

Ndumo Game Reserve (NGR), a Ramsar site, situated in South Africa’s largest floodplain (Phongolo River floodplain) northern KwaZulu-Natal, with important aquatic ecosystems: the Usuthu and Phongolo rivers their associated lakes. While is regulated, unregulated subjected to fewer anthropogenic activities that influence downstream environmental quality of this system. The present study evaluates systems NGR. Water sediment were sampled analysed from both lakes during different hydrological periods (flow). Using multivariate statistical techniques, ionic compositions, as well water indices ecosystems evaluated. Key findings suggest spatial flow-related differences, which highlight human-driven impacts upper catchments on respective (water sediments) could be classified ‘good’ predominantly unimpacted. Notably, composition river showed importance its contribution within NGR continued functioning. further indicated metals do not currently pose any ecological risks these systems.