I HAVE been thinking about how to cost effectively increase water security in the Orange area.
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Whilst a big new dam somewhere close by would be a solution, our chances of scoring the funding are about equivalent to the Wallabies beating the All Blacks: maybe sometime, but not soon.
However what could be done is to apply a gradual solution which, over time, would produce significant results.
While Suma Park Dam is below its peak why not excavate deeper on the edges?
While Suma Park Dam is below its peak why not excavate deeper on the edges?
The silt collected could be sold – every developer likes clean fill – or it could be used to fill the disused mine shafts at Lucknow.
If significant rain falls then dig further back from the waters edge.
If, as is more likely in summer months, the water level falls, dig more closely to the lower water level.
Over time the dam capacity rises, lessening the overflow at peak and lengthening the time before higher levels of water restrictions needed to be applied.
Just a thought whilst mowing.
Conrad Silvester
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