Leeuw-Gamka - A poignant time in history

Abstract

GAMKA DAM The original Leeuw-Gamka Dam was an earthen structure situated on the Leeuw River, a tributary of the Gamka River on the farm Stinkfontein in the district of Prins Albert in the Karoo. The dam had a maximum height of 12,8 m above riverbed level and a gross storage capacity of 790 000 m3. Originally, the dam water was used for the irrigation of lucerne for stock feeding. The dam was constructed shortly after the First World War from 1917 to 1921 by the Leeuw Gamka Irrigation Board under the supervision of the Irrigation Department, with JJ Swalwell as Resident Engineer. The dam breached in 1923 after which it was repaired and raised by the department. This time DF Roberts acted as Resident Engineer. Siltation caused the raised dam to lose much capacity in the ensuing decades, until, by the 1950s the average water depth was less than 3 m when the dam was full. After various investigations it was decided to construct an alternative earthfill dam across the Leeuw River 3 km upstream of the old dam.

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