MARICO RIVER: Hydrology and geohydrology

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Map of the MARICO River

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HYDROLOGY

The Marico and Crocodile Rivers form the headwaters of the Limpopo at their confluence. The flow in the Marico River is highly variable and intermittent. There are two major storage reservoirs that regulate the flow in the Marico River, namely the Marico Bosveld Dam in the upper catchment and the Molatedi Dam further down-stream. There are several other dams, such as the Klein Maricopoort and Sehujwane Dams, from which water is mainly used for irrigation along the Marico River, particularly downstream of Marico Bosveld Dam, are present. (Ref 1)

The average potential Mean Annual Evaporation (as measured by A-pan) for the western parts of the Marico catchment and the Upper Molopo and Ngotwane is very high. It is estimated to be as high as 2800mm, with the highest levels occurring in December

GEOHYDROLOGY

The dolomite is intruded by numerous dolerite dykes that have effectively sub-divided the dolomite into a  series of compartments, which may or may not be hydraulically linked. Groundwater is widespread, especially in chert rich horizons and karst zones where borehole yields greater than 5l/s are common, and yields of 20l/s are feasible. (Ref 1)

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