Vaal Dam levels drop, while water flow at Augrabies Falls surges

The majestic Augrabies Falls are currently flowing at an impressive 2 361 cubic metres per second as of Monday, following heavy rainfall that has also filled the Vaal Dam to over capacity.

The flow rate increased by 1 561 cubic metres since Friday — this is a whopping 195.13% increase.

Genevieve Maasdorp from Sanparks confirmed that multiple sources, including the Vaal River, contribute to determining the water levels at Augrabies Falls National Park.

“The water level at Augrabies Falls National Park is determined by the Vaal and Orange rvers as well as the Vaal, Gariep and Bloemhof dams,” Maasdorp said.

The recent surge in the Vaal River’s flow has generated excitement among nature enthusiasts, with many anticipating an extraordinary spectacle at the Augrabies Falls National Park.

Augrabies Falls National Park is located near Upington, in the Northern Cape. The falls are on the country’s largest river, the Orange River.

“The park is home to the majestic Augrabies Falls, which free-falls 56 metres into the spectacular 18km gorge below,” says the SANParks website.

Vaal Dam and Augrabies Falls water levels and flow patterns

The Vaal Dam over the weekend decreased by 2.72 percentage points.

According to Monday’s Reservoir report, the Vaal Dam is currently at 112.85% capacity, with an inflow of 412.5m³/s and an outflow of 813.4m³/s.

This is a slight decrease from Friday’s 115.57% capacity.

Five gates are currently open at the dam, while the Vaal Barrage is releasing 970m³/s of water downstream.

According to Maasdorp, the increased water flow into the Augrabies Falls makes them bigger, louder and larger than normal.

“It also leads to the flowing of the twin falls that usually does not flow during normal water levels,” Maarsdorp told The Citizen when asked about how increased water flow affects the falls.

She noted that normal flow rates typically range between 30 and 50 cubic metres per second (cumecs), with anything above 50 cumecs considered an increased flow.

Flood levels are usually measured at 4 000 cumecs and more.

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Monitoring Augrabies Falls water flow

Sanparks utilises a systematic approach to track incoming water.

“We receive daily flow metre readings from the department of water and sanitation,” Maasdorp said.

She explained the typical timeframes for water to reach the falls.

“When the river levels are already high we determine that it will take about eight days from Bloemhof to Augrabies Falls National Park, from Van der Kloof Dam about five days, from Prieska about four days and from Upington one day.”

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Augrabies Falls safety measures

With the increased water flow comes heightened safety concerns. Sanparks has already implemented several precautionary measures at the falls.

“Currently, three out of seven decks are closed due to damage that occurred during the previous floods,” Maasdorp confirmed.

“We are in the process of getting the correct structural engineer to fix it.”

Additional safety protocols include warning signs, barriers, enhanced monitoring and informing visitors to exercise extra caution.

Park staff will also maintain a visible presence daily to ensure visitor safety.

ALSO READ: ‘We urge you to evacuate’: Department warns of flooding amid Bloemhof and Vaal Dam releases

Infrastructure concerns

The increased water flow presents several challenges to park infrastructure, potentially affecting visitor experiences.

“It might lead to structural damage and demolishing of infrastructure depending on the volume of water,” Maasdorp warned.

“It can lead to erosion to trails and viewing areas.”

Other potential impacts include temporary trail closures, slippery conditions, damage to utilities and the need for increased maintenance.

During peak flow periods, Sanparks may need to implement visitor management strategies, potentially limiting the number of daily visitors.

ALSO READ: Deneysville residents fear homes will flood as Vaal Dam levels remain high

Contingency planning

Maasdorp emphasised the park’s readiness for various scenarios.

“We do have a contingency plan in place. Worst case scenario is that the park will be closed,” she said.

“That is why ongoing monitoring and assessment of status will be taking place to ensure that we can timeously implement the contingency plan if needed.”

Regarding special viewing opportunities during high flow events, Maasdorp was cautious: “We cannot guarantee any special viewing areas or vantage points. The situation will determine the need for such an intervention.”

For now, nature enthusiasts and visitors are advised to keep up to date about conditions at the falls through official SANParks channels and to adhere to all safety guidelines when visiting this natural wonder during its spectacular high-flow period.

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