Lower Orange report back

[Herman Jooste]

I hear Gariep has been overflowing since last Sunday. How will this affect the lower Orange ?????

[Andre]

I hear Gariep has been overflowing since last Sunday. How will this affect the lower Orange ?????

Well, it all has to eventually go down to Alexander Bay, doesn't it. The Vander kloof isalso full, so is Bloemhof, and this means that none of the water comming down, can be contained. It doesn't look good. Next year maybe

[JadeDsantos]

http://www.dwa.gov.za/Hydrology/FFDa...ationno=D3R003

The flow looks like its returning to decent level - what does the water normally run at?

http://www.dwa.gov.za/Hydrology/Daily/Default.aspx

The flow at Viools looks like its halfed since last week

[Yellowfever]

Not!!! Viools is at 900 tons, I fished the R-veld at 9 cumecs. At most flows will be around the reserve flow level 9-20?? Water cost money, sending it to Oranjemund makes no sense. The last user must be the vineyard at Ausenkehr.

[Andre]

http://www.dwa.gov.za/Hydrology/FFDa...ationno=D3R003

The flow looks like its returning to decent level - what does the water normally run at?

http://www.dwa.gov.za/Hydrology/Daily/Default.aspx

The flow at Viools looks like its halfed since last week

Ideal fishing would be as low as possible. Flows in single figures would be nice. As for your comment about returning to decent levels...forget it. Not at the moment , or forseeable future. All the dams upstream are at 100% and more, and all releasing water. With still tons comming down the Vaal, its going to be months before there is any fishing on the lower Orange. There isnt even a faint hope Jade.

[chrisvd]

Vanderkloof is back to normal as from today. It normaly average at 100 cumecs wich is also the prediction for the near future.
http://www.dwa.gov.za/Hydrology/FFDa...ationno=D3R003
The problem is that both the big dams in the Orange is full and any rain will have the flow pick up again. I think the stretch between Vanderkloof and Douglas will be fishable but unpredictable till winter comes. The water will be very dirty for the remainder of the season between Gariep and Vanderkloof. I have no clue as to the lower orange but suspect that flows will remain high for the rest of the summer.

[JadeDsantos]

Well, it all has to eventually go down to Alexander Bay, doesn't it. The Vander kloof isalso full, so is Bloemhof, and this means that none of the water comming down, can be contained. It doesn't look good. Next year maybe

Ideal fishing would be as low as possible. Flows in single figures would be nice. As for your comment about returning to decent levels...forget it. Not at the moment , or forseeable future. All the dams upstream are at 100% and more, and all releasing water. With still tons comming down the Vaal, its going to be months before there is any fishing on the lower Orange. There isnt even a faint hope Jade.

Ah dammit - Thanks anyway Andre - We're going to have till hold off the trip till April it seems, and even then it might be an issue. Soddit.

[JadeDsantos]

Just chatted to a friend who river guides on the Orange, he says that with the rain coming from up country means he isn't taking people down the river till at least the end of April. He says the fishing will be tough. Viools is currently at 550± and he says it looks like Augrabies will be over 1000 again.

[Andre]

Damn...Vioolsdrift is back up to 800 cumecs. I'm giving up anticipating the possibility of a trip.... before winter sets in.....

[Korrie]

The whole system is running at over 500 cumecs.
Even if the outflow from Vanderkloof drops, which is still at 178 cumecs, to below 100cumecs, That will take a couple of weeks to work thru the system, to get to low levels at the Richtersveld.
Makes me think about the "rhyme of the acient mariner"

Water water every where and not a place to fish.