The Agricultural Research Council – Institute for Soil, Climate and Water (ARC-ISCW) collects geological data, as part of the Coarse Resolution Imagery Database (CRID) project.
This data is recorded from ARC-ISCW automatic weather station network, consisting of 450 operational weather stations across the country, as well as 350 weather stations from the South African Weather Service (SAWS).
Eden District Municipality’s, Manager: Disaster Management, Mr Gerhard Otto, said that the latest report from the ARC stated: “The southern parts of the country, focusing on the Garden Route, received significantly less rain during July to September this year in comparison to last year…”.
“This is also reflected in the latest dam level report that, for the total Gouritz Catchment Management Area the total water available in the Department of Water and Sanitation dams is at 37.12% compared to 62.13% for the same time last year,” Otto added.
Eden district’s major domestic water supply dams as at 7th of November 2016, are:
Hessequa area:
- Duiwenhoks Dam at 98.67% compared to last year’s 100.51%.
- Korente Vet Dam at 96.96% compared to last year’s 100.38%.
Mossel Bay area:
- Hartebeestkuil Dam at 53.22% compared to last year’s 88.50%.
- Klipheuwel Dam at 93.41% compared to last year’s 88.37%.
- Ernest Robertson Dam at 101.09% compared to last year’s 100.95%.
- Wolwedans Dam at 96.81% compared to last year’s 100.10%.
George area:
- Garden Route Dam at 73.61% compared to last year’s 100.00%.
- Haarlem Dam at 68.97% compared to last year’s 100.95%.
Bitou area:
- Roodefontein Dam at 99.68% compared to last year’s 101.68%.
Oudtshoorn area:
- Kammanassie Dam (irrigation dam at 29.40% compared to last year’s 99.90%.
- Stompdrift Dam (irrigation dam) at 25.75% compared to last year’s 56.06%.
- Raubenheimer and Mellville dam at 100%.
Kannaland area:
- Calitzdorp Dam at 83.25% compared to last year’s 100%.
STANDARDISED PRECIPITATION INDEX (SPI)
Otto further said, that the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI – McKee et al., 1993) was developed to monitor the occurrence of droughts from rainfall data. “The index quantifies precipitation deficits on different time scales and therefore also drought severity. It provides an indication of rainfall conditions per quaternary catchment based on the historical distribution of rainfall”.
The current SPI reveal show that at the longer time scales (12- and especially 24-month time scales), severe to extreme drought conditions still dominate over the far eastern parts, as well as the western winter rainfall region. In terms of the October 2016 SPI maps of the Eden district, the Hessequa- as well as Knysna- and Bitou areas, indicate that these areas currently experience a mild drought.
For any assistance with the above matter, contact:
Mr Gerhard Otto – Manager: Disaster Management / MDMC: Community Services
E-mail: gotto@edendm.co.za / Tel: 044 803 1442
