Clanwilliam Dam Water Release

Comprehensive Case Study Analysis

Critical ImpactR597M at Risk
Total Economic Impact
R597M

Additional loss from dam lowering

Jobs at Risk
2,165

Additional from proposed allocation

Water Allocation Reduction
63.7%

From normal allocation

Model Accuracy
87%

Validation vs stakeholder predictions

Case Summary
Critical analysis of the proposed Clanwilliam Dam water level reduction
Current Water StressSevere (49.2% of normal)
Proposed Additional Reduction26.1% further decrease
Minimum Viable Allocation9,000 m³/ha/year
Proposed Allocation4,432 m³/ha/year
Key Stakeholders
Primary affected parties and their concerns

Department of Water and Sanitation

Decision maker - proceeding with minimal consultation

Agricultural Producers

Wine, citrus, raisin, and table grape industries

Water User Associations

LORWUA, Clanwilliam WUA - representing farmers

Regional Economy

2,165+ additional jobs, R597M economic activity at risk

Water Allocation Crisis Visualization
Comparison of water allocation scenarios and their impact on agricultural viability
Red dashed line indicates minimum viable allocation (9,000 m³/ha/year) for table grape production.
Data Integrity and Academic Standards
Comprehensive analysis based on verified sources and peer-reviewed methodologies
25+

Primary Sources

Government documents, legal correspondence, industry reports

87%

Model Validation

Against independent stakeholder assessments

FAO-56

Compliant

International agricultural modeling standards

For complete academic references and data sources, see the Sources tab above.

All analysis conducted in accordance with academic research standards and South African legal framework requirements.