Field Photographic Report: Small dams in the Mzingwane Catchment DAVID LOVE

Ph.D. Fellow
UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, Westvest 7, PO Box 3015, 2601 DA Delft, The Netherlands

May 2006

A number of dams have been investigated as possible sites for fieldwork in the 2006-7 and 2007-8 field seasons. The survey was undertaken in March 2006 and included dams in the original study areas and in nearby catchments. Figures for dam capacity, where available, refer to design capacity (i.e. without siltation) and were obtained from ZINWA. Figures for catchment area were derived from national 1:50,000 topographic mapping (to nearest 1 km2). The following major findings arise from this survey: 1. Many dams are under-utilised, water use being mainly for livestock and domestic purposes, despite irrigation potential. 2. Siltation is a huge problem, with some dams over 75 % silted up. Interventions to reduce silt inflow or to desilt dams (currently undertaken by some NGOs such as World Vision) will have a major potential livelihood impact. Furthermore, desiltation is likely to have an impact on the hydrology, due to deepening of the dams and possible decreases in evaporative losses (shallower dams lose a greater proportion of their stored water to evaporation than deeper dams; for the same volume of water in a given dam less evaporation can be expected if the dam is deepened). 3. None of the small dams have compensation outlets and some do not even have spillways. In the southern areas (Gwanda District Wards 14, 15, 17, 18 and 20) there is much seepage under or through the dam wall especially for those dams sited on alluvial aquifers. 4. Inflows to dams can be divided into four types Zhulube and Nkazhe Dams have dams immediately upstream that present an easy solution for gauging inflow. Mugodi Dam has two inflows through narrow channels over rapids. Most dams have one inflow, generally wide, shallow and silted. Some dams have more than one inflow, or a braided inflow. Gauging inflow of such dams would be complex. Some dams in the south have little consistent inflow, but capture stormflow through flood channels. MZINGWANE RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES INSIZA DISTRICT: Left bank tributaries Zhulube Dam Capacity 0.80 Mm3 Catchment area 37 km2 The dam was built by World Vision in 2001. The spillway is leaking, making measurements of outflow difficult. There is a possible downstream gauging site and daily records are being made. Water level in the dam is currently being recorded, as well as rainfall in the catchment. The only substantial inflow (i.e. excluding gullies) is over spillway of Old Zhulube Dam, which is easily gaugable (current daily measurements are being made further upstream). The dam provides water for irrigation and livestock. Old Zhulube Dam is completely silted up, but has a useful function as a silt tap for the main dam. It provides water for the business center (small group of shops) and dip tank (by bucket). There is a project raingauge near the dam wall and eight more in the catchment (Mpofu-H, Mpofu-F, Nkomo-F, Nkomo-H, Moyo-F, Rangeland-Clinic, Rangeland-West, TshaziSchool) (above) Zhulube Dam.

(below) Old Zhulube Dam.

Gangabezi Dam Catchment area 5 km2 Date of construction not available but pre-1990. Dam provides water to livestock and business centre. Dam was desilted in dry season of 2005, but siltation continues, partly due to activities of gold panners upstream. The spillway is gaugable but the inflow is heavily silted. I spoke to Mr. Ncube of the community group managing the dam.

GWANDA DISTRICT Ward 1: Right bank tributaries Nkazhe (Mosholomoshe) Dam Capacity 1.07 Mm3 Catchment area 47 km2 This was built by DDF to supply an Mosholomoshe Irrigation Scheme and livestock. The dam is heavily silted as are the two main inflows. The larger inflow was dammed (Nkazhe Weir), but that dam is completely silted and the wall is breached. Water level in the main dam is very low (2 m below main watermark).

(above) Nkazhe Dam. (below) South inflow.

(below) Main inflow and old dam.

Silikwe Dam Catchment area 120 km2 It was built by DDF in 1992 to supply an irrigation scheme - which is to this day not built. There is some use by livestock. The spillway and south inflow (which has a silt-block) are gaugable. The main inflow and north-west inflow are heavily silted and difficult to gauge. The dam has never dried up since construction. I spoke to the Senior Kraalhead, Mr. Nkomo, and his junior, also Mr. Nkomo. (above) Silikwe Dam.

(below) Inflows: main; south

Sabazimba Dam Catchment area 8 km2 This dam provides water for livestock and gardens in the seepage zone. The dam is 3.0 m deep at the dam wall. The spillway is gaugable. There are two main inflows, both full of reeds and mud.

Hulubi Dam Catchment area 8 km2 This dam provides water for livestock and there is a borehole and gardens in the seepage zone. The dam is 2.0 m deep at the dam wall. The spillway is silted up but perhaps gaugable. Alternatively, the outflow could be gauged at an old bridge downstream.

Vonko Dam Catchment area 15 km2 This dam was built for livestock and a dip tank (now abandoned). The dam and inflow are silted and have many reeds. The spillway is gaugable.

GWANDA DISTRICT Ward 2: Right bank tributaries Mugodi/Ngodi Dam Catchment area 24 km2 The dam was built by the Give-a-Dam Campaign in 1999. The dam should supply water for irrigation, but the scheme has not been built. The spillway is intact and gaugeable. The main and south inflows could be gauged at rapids. I spoke to a local resident, Mr. Ncube.

(above) Mugodi Dam. (below) Inflows: main; south

GWANDA DISTRICT Ward 3: Right bank tributaries Makolokoto Dam Catchment area 72 km2 Date of construction unknown. Built to supply water to school and business centre, but pumps failed. Now there is limited use for vegetable gardens. The spillway is gaugable but the inflow is shallow and silted. The dam is also heavily silted.

Bhusumani Dam Catchment area 7 km2 The dam was built in 1987, probably by the community, and is heavily silted. However, it has not dried up since construction, except during 1992. The dam provides water for cattle and a small irrigation scheme (by bucket). It has not dried up since 1992. The spillway and minor inflow are readily gaugeable, but the main inflow is heavily silted.

Mabutho Dam Catchment area 3 km2 Old dam (pre-1985). The dam is silted, but not too shallow. The two inflows are silted. The spillway is gaugable. The dam is used for livestock.

GWANDA DISTRICT Ward 18: Right bank tributaries Buvuma Dam Catchment area 27 km2 This is a largish dam on the Sukwi River, built for irrigation (although the scheme was never completed) and to supply water to a clinic and business centre. The spillway is gaugable, but the principle inflow is wide and sandy difficult to gauge. The dam does not release water unless it spills.

Khansi (Sukwe) Dam Capacity 1.7 Mm3 Catchment area 106 km2 This is a largish dam on the Sukwi River, downstream of Buvuma, depth over 3.0 m, built for irrigation purposes although the Sukwi Irrigation Scheme is now derelict. There are some kitchen gardens in the seepage zone. The spillway is gaugable, but the principle inflow is wide and sandy difficult to gauge unless perhaps a bridge can be used. The dam does not release water unless it spills.

GWANDA DISTRICT Ward 15: Right bank tributaries Zvabagwamba Dam Catchment area 7 km2 This is a shallow dam (depth < 1.5 m) with no spillway, and inflows only during storms. The dam provides water for livestock and domestic purposes.

Silonga Dam Catchment area 46 km2 This dam was built by DDF to supply water to a business centre, school, roads camp and a dip; as well as for livestock. The dam is < 2.0 m deep. The dam has a staff gauge near the spillway. The spillway is breached but gaugable or else downstream at a bridge. The inflow is wide and sandy.

GWANDA DISTRICT Ward 14: Right bank tributaries Samloli (Samlodi) Dam Catchment area 3 km2 This is a small, silted, shallow (depth < 1.5 m) dam with limited inflow. It was built in 1994 by DDF. The dam supplies water to livestock and there are kitchen gardens in the seepage zone. The spillway is gaugable or the bridge immediately downstream.

Mbamba Dam Catchment area 6 km2 This is a deeper dam (3 5 m at dam wall) supplying water for livestock and a dip; as well as gardens and a borehole in the seepage zone. The spillway is silted up.

INSIZA RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES INSIZA DISTRICT Ward 1: Main river Pangani Dam This dam was built in 1965 to supply water to Filabusi town and Pangani and Croft Gold Mines (both of which are now closed). The dam only releases water when full, and is likely to have been highly affected by gold panners.

INSIZA DISTRICT Ward 2: Right bank tributaries Nduma/Nduna Dam Catchment area 5 km2 This is a shallow, silted, reed-filled dam. The spillway is leaking and thus difficult to gauge. The inflow is also silted. The dam is used for livestock.

Khaya/Umkhaya Dam Catchment area 4 km2 This is a shallow, silted dam. The spillway is silted up, effectively closing the basin, except during floods. The inflow is also silted and there are gold panners upstream. The dam is used by livestock.

INSIZA DISTRICT Ward 3: Right bank tributaries Sibasa Dam, capacity 30,000 m3, Catchment area 3 km2 The dam was constructed in the 1954. Although Sibasa Dam sits in the source area of a stream which is generally ephemeral, the water supply to the dam is perennial and the dam has not dried up during living memory. Preliminary analyses suggest the dam is supplied to a large extent by baseflow. The dam is used for livestock and water supply for the business centre. The spillway is gaugable.

THULI RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES WEIRS ON MAIN RIVER Ncelesa Weir Located on the middle Thuli River, downstream of the Natalali causeway. It was built for irrigation. The dam is now only about 1 m deep due to heavy siltation.

Izhubane Weir Located on the middle Thuli River, downstream of Ncalesa. It was built for irrigation. The pool downstream of the weir (below left) is perennial.

GWANDA DISTRICT Ward 14: Left bank tributaries Guyu South Dam Catchment area 7 km2 This is a very shallow dam (depth < 1.5 m at wall) and dries up during winter. The dam provides water for livestock and vegetable gardens. There is a borehole in the seepage zone, used for domestic purposes. The inflow appears to flow only during storms: floodflow only.

Bethel Dam Catchment area 9 km2 This is a shallow dam (depth < 2.5 m at wall) and dries up during winter. The dam provides water for livestock and vegetable gardens, and used to provide water for an irrigation scheme, which is now abandoned. There is a borehole in the extensive seepage zone, used for domestic purposes. The inflow appears to flow only during storms: floodflow only. There is no spillway

GWANDA DISTRICT Ward 17: Left bank tributaries Bengu Dam Catchment area 6 km2 Bengu Dam is a small dam built for livestock watering and domestic purposes, plus minor irrigation. It dries up during winter. The dam sits on an alluvial aquifer, which is accessed by two boreholes which are immediately downstream of the dam. Water level in the dam is currently being recorded, as well as rainfall in the catchment. The spillway is gaugable. There is a project raingauge near the dam wall and another in the catchment.

Dafu (Mnyabeze-D) Dam Catchment area 61 km2 This dam was built for irrigation purposes, although releases from the dam are no longer being made through the piping system. Water level in the dam is currently being recorded, as well as rainfall in the catchment. The spillway is gaugable. Alternatively, the bridge downstream could be used (after the irrigated fields). There is a project raingauge near the dam wall and three more in the catchment (Sibanda-H, Sibanda-S, Siziba).

Mushe Dam Catchment area 135 km2 This is a shallow (depth < 2.0 m) and silted dam, with two major inflows, both shallow and silted. The dam supplies water to livestock.

GWANDA DISTRICT Ward 20: Left bank tributaries Siboza Dam Catchment area 55 km2 This dam is very heavily silted, and, as a result, shallow (depth < 2.0 m at dam wall) and dries up during winter. There is a large, braided river inflow and several smaller inflows. The dam supplies water for livestock and to a school and a dip.