Kruger Drought/Dry Seasons and Dam Levels

[Richprins]

Went to the south yesterday, and it rained all the way from Nelspruit to Nape area via Numbi!

Dams could be fuller this time of year, and grass should be much longer...



Shitlhave



Transport





Kwaggaspan




Biyamiti Weir

[nan]

much better now

at Biyamiti we can cross

[Richprins]

Yes, you can cross, nana!

[Alf]

Looks ok I suppose

[mposthumus]

Compared to my August-visit this is . . . well . . . . . . LOVERLY

RP

[Flutterby]

Lovely and green!

[RobertT]

See on social media a full river at Shingwedzi and looks like down South also getting some rain.

[Richprins]

Just need nice rains end Feb and it should be much better!

[Alf]

Any pictures RobertT

[Richprins]

KNP expert says rain does not mean drought is over


Experts agree that the recent rain is not making a real impact on the drought and damlevels prove this.
19 hours ago



SKUKUZA – Water consumers must continue to use this precious resource sparingly, despite the recent, and predicted, good rain.

With the recent rains across the country not making enough impact on the drought, water restrictions will continue, says the Department of Water and Sanitation.

The department said the national storage of dams have shown a slight increase of 0.8% from 54.2% last week to 55% this week.

“At this time last year, the national storage was at 55.4%.This is a clear sign that the recent rains did not make that much of an impact on our dams and the Department of Water and Sanitation would like to caution that the drought is still upon us.”

The department on Wednesday called on water users to adhere to water restrictions imposed by their respective municipalities and continue using water sparingly.

Seasonal forecasters predict that above-average rainfall can be expected up to March 2017.

Currently provincial levels stand as follows:
• Eastern Cape – 57.7%
• Western Cape – 37.9%
• KwaZulu-Natal – 47%
• Free State – 56.7%
• Gauteng – 86.6%
• Limpopo – 63.7%
• Mpumalanga – 65.9%
• North West – 73.2%
• Northern Cape – 93.7%

The department’s comment that the drought is not over was confirmed by dr. Eddie Riddell manager of aquatic biodiversity management in the Kruger National Park (KNP).

““This year we have had good rain in the Park, but the perception that the drought is over is not necessarily true,” said Dr Eddie Riddell, manager of aquatic biodiversity management, when asked to reflect on the recent rainfall in the KNP.

He said there are still challenges because the rainfall has been average and the dams have not filled up adequately.

“Users of the Crocodile River have relied heavily on dams during the past two years and levels are are still relatively low. The Kwena Dam is 30 per cent full while last year at the same time it was close to 60.”


http://lowvelder.co.za/371832/knp-exper ... t-is-over/