NamWater monitors Fish River

NAMWATER continues to monitor the level of the Hardap Dam in case of a flood risk to Mariental.

In February 2006 the western part of the southern town was swamped when a massive amount of water had to be released from the dam.NamWater senior hydrologist Andre Mostert said yesterday that the flood risk is low, but cannot be ruled out completely.’It all depends on the rainfall received in the Hardap Dam catchment area,’ he said.NamWater is maintaining the dam level at 70 per cent to lessen the risk of a flood in the event of heavy rainfall in the area. Yesterday afternoon the dam level stood at 74,3 per cent. Mostert said the dam’s sluices will remain closed because no rainfall was reported over the past days in its catchment area. According to Mostert, 123 million cubic metres of water were released last week when the dam’s sluices were opened on Tuesday and closed on Thursday following a total inflow of 132 million cubic metres. A team of hydrologists last week monitored the river downstream from the dam and no flood damage to the nearby irrigation scheme was reported, said Mostert. ‘Clearing of reeds in the Fish River has increased its capacity, and this has lessened the risk,’ said Mostert. luqman@namibian.com.na