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
Location of in Eastern Cape
Official name	Kouga Dam
Country	South Africa
Location	Patensie, Kouga Local Municipality, Sarah Baartman District Municipality, Eastern Cape Province
Coordinates	33.7406°S 24.5877°E / -33.7406; 24.5877
Purpose	Irrigation
Status	Operational
Construction began	1957
Opening date	1969
Operator(s)	Department of Water Affairs and Forestry
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	arch
Impounds	Kouga River
Height	94.5 m (310 ft)
Length	202 m (663 ft)
Dam volume	268,000 m3 (351,000 cu yd)
Reservoir
Creates	Kouga Dam Reservoir
Total capacity	133,000,000 m3 (4.7×109 cu ft)
Catchment area	388,700 ha (960,000 acres)
Surface area	555 ha (1,370 acres)
Kouga Dam Power Station
Commission date	Mothballed
Type	Conventional
Turbines	3 x 1.2 MW
Installed capacity	3.6 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

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

See also

• List of reservoirs and dams in South Africa
• List of rivers of South Africa
• South African Department of Water Affairs and Forestry

References

External links

• South African Water Research Commission

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