The Beervlei Dam was completed in 1957. It was built for the purpose of flood control on the Grootrivier, especially for the sake of the farming community in the Patensie area.
The farm, Kaalplaas, despite immense water scarcity, was declared an urban area in 1909. It was observed that a nearby reed-bush (known as “rietbos” in Afrikaans) produced a sustainable damp spot in the soil. Drawing on...