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Vioolsdrift is a small town on the south bank of the Orange River some 350 km from the
river mouth. Noordoewer is the corresponding community on the north bank of the
river in Namibia. Since the independence of Namibia from South Africa in 1992 a
border post has been established in both Vioolsdrift and Noordoewer although the two
communities are closely linked through historical co-operation.
The main development in the area is agriculture and a canal supplies approximately 15
million m3 per annum to the various areas of irrigation. Lucern and
vegetables are the main crops - grapes are not grown since the temperatures tend to be too
high and the absence of frost prevents the vines from 'hibernating' through the winter
months.
The canal is fed from the Vioolsdrift Weir which is located a few kilometers upstream
of the river crossing. Although the weir was built primarily to feed the irrigation
canal, it is also used for flow measurement and is effectively the last point along the
Orange River where a reasonable estimate of the river flow can be obtained.
The pictures below show the Vioolsdrift Weir.
Click on image for full size photo
The possibility of a major dam at Vioolsdrift has been suggested and is currently being
investigated by both Namibia and South Africa. It would obviously have to be a joint
venture between the two countries and the main purpose would be to control spillage from
the Orange River into the Atlantic Ocean. Currently there is no control structure
along the Orange River downstream of Vanderkloof Dam -
approximately 1 400 km upstream. As a result, if more water than needed by the
downstream users is released from Vanderkloof Dam, it will simply run into the ocean and
be lost. Similarly any local inflows or spillages from the Vaal
River will eventually reach the ocean since there is no storage to capture them for
use during periods of shortage. A new dam and reservoir at Vioolsdrift would provide
the needed storage with which to control the flows to the river mouth and in so doing,
reduce the spillages through the river mouth to only those required for the
environment. The picture below indicates one of the numerous possible dam sites
upstream of Vioolsdrift.
Click on image for full size photo
No decision regarding a new dam at Vioolsdrift has yet been taken and it is one of many
developments currently being considered in the Orange River basin.
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