STEELPOORT RIVER: Hydrology and geohydrology

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Map of the STEELPOORT River

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HYDROLOGY

"This sub-catchment consists of the area drained by the Steelpoort River and its main tributaries, the Klip, Dwars, Waterval and Spekboom rivers .  All of these tributary rivers are perennial and rise on the western slopes of the north-south trending Drakensberg Mountains and flow north-north-eastwards where they join.  The Steelpoort River then flows north-eastwards through a gorge in the escarpment before joining the middle reaches of the Olifants River .  Ground water inflows from the Chuniespoort dolomites provide an important component of the water in the Steelpoort River ."   (Ref 2)

"Two small impoundments on the Dwars River provide water supplies to numerous small towns and settlements in the sub-catchment.  Most of the mines and industries, as well as several settlements, rely either on ground water supplies via boreholes or direct run-of-river abstraction from the perennial rivers and streams in the sub-catchment.  Several small farm dams in the upper reaches of the Steelpoort River and its tributaries trap water for domestic purposes and for limited areas of commercial irrigation along the Steelpoort valley, as well as livestock watering."   (Ref 2)

"Flow patterns in the upper reaches of the Steelpoort River and its tributaries are relatively stable as these rivers drain an area that receives some of the highest rainfalls recorded in South Africa (average rainfalls in the headwater regions of these two rivers exceeds 1,100 mm per year).  Whilst all the rivers are perennial, flows increase during the summer months when rain is received.  Smaller tributary streams in the upper reaches are also perennial, though their flows are more variable."   (Ref 2)

GEOHYDROLOGY

References

"Ref 2" (www.mining.wits.ac.za/FinalReport-Section5.doc)

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