The Kouga Dam is an arch dam on the Kouga River about 21 km (13 mi) west of Patensie in Kouga Local Municipality, South Africa. It supplies irrigation water to the Kouga and Gamtoos valleys as well as drinking water to the Port Elizabeth metropolitan area via the Loerie Balancing Dam.[2] It was constructed between 1957 and 1969.[3]

Kouga Dam
Kouga Dam is located in Eastern Cape
Kouga Dam
Location of in Eastern Cape
Official nameKouga Dam
CountrySouth Africa
LocationPatensie, Kouga Local Municipality, Sarah Baartman District Municipality, Eastern Cape Province
Coordinates33°44′26″S 24°35′16″E / 33.7406°S 24.5877°E / -33.7406; 24.5877
PurposeIrrigation
StatusOperational
Construction began1957
Opening date1969
Operator(s)Department of Water Affairs and Forestry
Dam and spillways
Type of damarch
ImpoundsKouga River
Height94.5 m (310 ft)
Length202 m (663 ft)
Dam volume268,000 m3 (351,000 cu yd)
Reservoir
CreatesKouga Dam Reservoir
Total capacity133,000,000 m3 (4.7×109 cu ft)
Catchment area388,700 ha (960,000 acres)
Surface area555 ha (1,370 acres)
Kouga Dam Power Station
Commission dateMothballed
TypeConventional
Turbines3 x 1.2 MW
Installed capacity3.6 MW (4,800 hp)[1]

The dam can be accessed by following the R330 and then the R331 from the N2 at Humansdorp. All but the last 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) is tarred road and there is a short tunnel just before the dam wall.

It was named the Paul Sauer Dam after Paul Sauer, but was renamed in 1995.[4]

Kouga Dam Power Station

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There are three 1200 kVA hydroelectric turbines at the base of the dam, but they are currently not in use.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Kouga Dam". Gamtoos Tourism. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
  2. ^ "Kouga Dam". inniKloof. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  3. ^ "Kouga Dam – serving the fertile Gamtoos valley" (PDF). The Water Wheel. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  4. ^ "FRESH WATER and MARINE RESOURCES". Retrieved 19 September 2008.
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