Qedusizi Dam

Qedusizi Dam
Official nameQedusizi Dam
LocationKwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Coordinates28°32′31″S 29°44′41″E / 28.54194°S 29.74472°E / -28.54194; 29.74472
Construction began1994
Opening date1997 November 21
Operator(s)Department of Water Affairs and Forestry
Dam and spillways
Type of damComposite: Roller-compacted concrete spillway, earth-fill embankments
ImpoundsKlip River
Height24.3m
Length1 437 m
Reservoir
CreatesQedusizi Dam
Total capacity194 000 000 m3
Catchment area1585 km2
Surface area2 513 ha

Qedusizi Dam, previously known as the Mt Pleasant Dam, is a composite type dam with a roller-compacted concrete (RCC) or 'rollcrete' spillway and earth-fill embankments. It is located on the Klip River in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa upstream of the town of Ladysmith. Site preparation began in 1994, was completed in 1997 and serves mainly as a flood attenuation and control dam to reduce flooding in the town of Ladysmith. The town is located in a loop of the Klip River and was established there primarily for defense reasons in 1847 by Boers before being annexed by the British. It has experienced numerous floods ever since.

The outlet at the base of the dam is uncontrolled with a maximum flow capacity of 400 m3s−1.[1] The hazard potential of the dam has been ranked high (3).

  1. ^ van Vuuren, Lani (2012). In the Footsteps of Giants – Exploring the history of South Africa's large dams (PDF). Pretoria: Water Research Commission, South Africa. pp. 234–235. Retrieved 31 March 2022.