Elsenburg: Agri-Outlook: Dam levels and livestock watering points

Resource Utilisation

Agri-Outlook

Dam levels

Dam levels and livestock watering points on 27 September 2004

Dam	District	Cap	2004	2003
Brandvlei	Worcester	284	42	50
Buffelsjags	Swellendam	5.2	100+	100+
Clanwilliam	Clanwilliam	124	80	84
Duiwenhoks	Heidelberg	6.3	100	99
Eikenhof	Caledon	24.5	100+	100+
Elandskloof	Caledon	11	36	84
Floriskraal	Laingsburg	50.3	95	38
Gamkapoort	Prince Albert	41.6	100	73
Hartbeeskuil	Mossel Bay	6.97	48	82
Kammanassie	Oudtshoorn	35.9	24	91
Korentepoort	Riversdal	8.2	95	99
Kwaggaskloof	Worcester	174	41	47
Lakenvlei	Ceres	10	45	88
Misverstand	Moorreesburg	3.7	100+	100+
Roode Elsberg	Worcester	7.7	54	52
Steenbras (below)	Strand	33.9	71	93
Steenbras (above)	Strand	31.8	93	100+
Stompdrift	Oudtshoorn	55.3	12	57
Theewaterskloof	Caledon	480	54	76
Voëlvlei	Tulbagh	163	55	74
Wemmershoek	Paarl	58.7	58	67
Wolwedans	Mossel Bay	25.1	87	97

Total	Western Cape		56	69
Total	South Africa		63	68

Cap = Capacity measured in million cubic metres (1,000,000 m³).
2003, 2004 = Dam levels measured in percentage against total capacity.

Comments on dam levels and stock watering points in the various areas

WEST COAST and BOLAND

Availability of water for stock at watering points: Swartland - Good 80 %, Reasonable 20%.

OVERBERG

Caledon: Water for stock is being transported to those farms that are not part of the Ruggens Irrigation scheme.

Good rains have filled some private dams, however, other dams still have no or insufficient supply of water.

Swellendam: Water for stock was in good supply thanks to the Ruggens Irrigation scheme, but is expensive.

EDEN

All the irrigation dams in George were not completely full.

Availability of water for stock at watering points: Good 90%, Reasonable 10%.

CENTRAL KAROO

Laingsburg: The water crisis in the Touwsiver region remained serious and was deteriorating at a daily rate while water reserves in the rest of that region were also decreasing. This excluded the Swartberg region.

Availability of water for stock at watering points: Good 80%, Poor 20%.

The shortage of water supply in the Kouga is due to the absence of winds to extract underground water by means of windmills.

Beaufort West: Good rains fell in the first week of June. Conditions have improved in most areas, excluding Murraysburg. More rains are necessary.

Availability of water for stock at watering points: Good 80%, Reasonable 10%, Poor 10%.

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