Qedusizi Dam, previously known as the Mt Pleasant Dam, is a composite type dam with a roller-compacted concrete (RCC) or 'rollcrete' spillway and earth-fill embankments. It is located on the Klip River in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa upstream of the town of Ladysmith. Site preparation began in 1994, was completed in 1997 and serves mainly as a flood attenuation and control dam to reduce flooding in the town of Ladysmith. The town is located in a loop of the Klip River and was established there primarily for defense reasons in 1847 by Boers before being annexed by the British. It has experienced numerous floods ever since.
| Qedusizi Dam | |
|---|---|
| Official name | Qedusizi Dam |
| Location | KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| Coordinates | 28°32′31″S 29°44′41″E / 28.54194°S 29.74472°E |
| Construction began | 1994 |
| Opening date | 1997 November 21 |
| Operator(s) | Department of Water Affairs and Forestry |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Composite: Roller-compacted concrete spillway, earth-fill embankments |
| Impounds | Klip River |
| Height | 24.3m |
| Length | 1 437 m |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Qedusizi Dam |
| Total capacity | 194 000 000 m3 |
| Catchment area | 1585 km2 |
| Surface area | 2 513 ha |
The outlet at the base of the dam is uncontrolled with a maximum flow capacity of 400 m3s−1.[1] The hazard potential of the dam has been ranked high (3).
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ van Vuuren, Lani (2012). In the Footsteps of Giants – Exploring the history of South Africa's large dams (PDF). Pretoria: Water Research Commission, South Africa. pp. 234–235. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
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