Mahaica, Mahaicony urged to be on alert for any discharge
The level of the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) has been rising to a threatening level and it may necessitate a release of water, the Conservancy Board has said.
Consequently, residents in the upper reaches of the Mahaica/Mahaicony Creek are advised to be alert and to take the necessary precautions should the EDWC Board decide to release the water to prevent any pressure on the conservancy dam.
The EDWC was a major factor in the 2005 Great Flood. There was thought to have been heavy overtopping which caused the chronic flooding on the lower East Coast. When the water reached dangerous levels in the conservancy it was released into the Mahaica Creek prompting weeks of flooding in the Mahaica and Mahaicony Creeks.
Water was released again the following year because of heavy rains and the two creeks were flooded again.
The EDWC and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) yesterday said that there has been no breach or overtopping of the dam and monitoring had been increased.
Meanwhile, heavy rainfall continues to affect Guyana’s coastal regions resulting in flooding in several low-lying areas and high levels in canals, particularly in the upper reaches of the Mahaica and Mahaicony Creeks, in Region 5.
According to information from the Hydrometeorological Service rainfall monitor station located at Wash Clothes in Region Five, approximately five inches of rainfall were recorded during an eight-hour period yesterday. Over the past 36 hours some areas recorded more than 3-8 inches of rainfall which has resulted in the flooding of some areas.
According to a release from the Agriculture Ministry, Robert Persaud and a team of technical officers and engineers visited East and West Berbice to assess the response by the various Regional and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils and farmers. The main areas of concern are Manchester, Nigg, Lancaster, Whim, Rose Hall, Liverpool and Canje. (See other story on page 14.)
During the visit, Minister Persaud instructed the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) to deploy seven pieces of mechanical drainage equipment to strategic locations to drain affected areas. In addition, the government’s excavators are currently undertaking critical works to reduce accumulated water and sealing of breaches made by farmers at Lancaster/Liverpool.
He also instructed that the government’s excavator be deployed to raise the embankment of the dams surrounding the areas of Blairmont, Belladrum, Bath, Zorg en Hoop and Mahaicony. These areas in the past have been affected by overtopping of the dams. According to the release, these dams were reportedly sold to private contractors by various NDCs.
The NDIA continues to work with all stakeholders and has implemented several interventions to minimize the effects of flooding. These include:
· Deployment of a mechanical drainage machine to Montrose
· Deployment of a mechanical drainage machine to Strathspey
· Rehabilitation of the embankment within Dochfour Housing Scheme
· Continue the dredging of the Hope Outfall
· Excavation of Hope West Main Drainage Canal
· Excavation of drainage canals in Cane Ville
As the floodwaters recede, the Ministry of Agriculture’s Crop and Livestock Department will continue to have a presence in affected areas and will provide veterinary services and other assistance to affected communities across the various regions. A team will be deployed to the Mahaica, Mahaicony and Abary creeks to provide veterinary and other assistance to farmers tomorrow, December 27, 2008.
Farmers requesting technical and veterinary assistance are asked to contact the officers assigned along the East Coast; Dr. T. Meghoo (622-8264) and Dr. O. Dutson (651-9873).
Meanwhile in Region Two, floodwaters in the Pomeroon/Supenaam areas are receding with the operation of a pump at Charity. Meantime, work is being done to ensure that the Perth Outfall is kept clear of silt.
http://www.eng.usf.edu/~matrotz/docs/disaster_diaspora_trotz_2008_new
I just presented that paper at a conference in New Zealand on Sustainable Infrastructure. It’s really upsetting to read about the flooding in Guyana this season and the slow response thus far to those affected.
http://www.eclac.cl/cgi-bin/getProd.asp?xml=%2Fpublicaciones%2Fxml%2F0%2F26950%2FP26950.xml&xsl=%2Fportofspain%2Ftpl-i%2Fp9f.xsl&base=%2Fportofspain%2Ftpl%2Ftop-bottom.xsl
That’s the link to an ECLAC report published in 2005 on the floods that year. Curious to know how many of the project suggestions were later funded and developed.
Maya,tanx for posting the links. Very info. Not really rocket science (cliche, cliche, I know) or string theory to minimize flooding in Guyana. Just keep the canals, outfalls and kokers clean and functional.
If people read Maya’s papers they would be able to make more informed comments.
All the flooding in Guyana is “MAN-MADE” – the trenches and drains were dug by the Guyanese man to enhance his civilization in Guyana (like elsewhere around the world) Here is the solution to the problem – simply fill all the canals, trenches and drains up (restore the land masses to its natural state before the canals, trenches, drains…. were dug) and build elevated (above ground) tunnels (and use large high efficiency pumps) to drain the excess water into the Atlantic Ocean and the rivers in Guyana or simply dig another “PANAMA-LIKE CANAL” (cutting out all the hundreds of canals…) to drain the excess water from the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC).
Just remember – “The Laws Of Gravity” folks!
And the Laws of Economics!
… brilliant ! only it is much more of the same by the D&I
Where from did u come up with this mosquito mentality ! abt how to drain the largest watershed on the planet of which we r a part of the landscape of which u dont have a clue,, — don’t feel bad ure in an exclusive club of the clueless — of and that includes ,, the “world bank”,, IADB ,, ECLAC,, the govt of GUYANA,, all the opposition,, and even those with their “band-aid,, spit an chewingum,, an inexhaustive rolls of duct tape” as the primary source to
avert what is inevitable to unfold in GY as is being experienced on every continent on the planet !…..
It might depend on whether the “Economics” were studied in the old Soviet Union, London, the U.S.A or Guyana (if you were lucky ones during the L. F. S. Burnham then you got to understand the values of computations such as IRR, DCFROR, ERR…. very well. Now, throw in the Technical Analyses skills set with those and see what you get. After all, the “BRAINIACS” at companies like INTEL (USA), and the Guyana National Engineering Corporation (GNEC), GUYMINE (BOSAI)…. may be able to inform about the value-added of the “SILICA SAND HILLS” along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway along with the bauxite “over-burden” for road construction. :-$ :-$ :-$ !
Re: “Just remember – “The Laws Of Gravity” folks!” And, Think Hydro-Power!
Hydropower will flood and destroy thousands of acres of forest and homelands of the interior people.
But wait! Stop press! The NDIB’s Corporate Secretary wrote that disaster had been averted owing to preventive measures taken by the Board. Is wha really ‘appen now??
… she was the messenger ,, don’t light the fire under her while she’s tied to the stake ! plz,,, the child was told to tell what “they” think was good for those who would believe anything abt the rain,, since afterall who is going to ? that is not de rain ! an de rain fallin ,,,,,,
Our govt has no plan for this country, honestly. if there was there would have been a mandate for people to resettly off the coast to higher lands.In the earlies, both parties would have seen the threat from the atlantic ocean, forget conservancy for now. the ocean will pose a greater flood threat in the furure. oceans will reclaim lands that were drained for people to live on. if they don’t make a city in the Hills in the next 15 yrs some big sunami wil recover the coastal plain. we would definitely be unable to drain such levels of water, 4 inches wreaks havoc.
I am involved in Building. I have been saying it for a long time.Guyanese habitation of the Coastlands is a disaster waiting to happen.Everyone on the coastlands should abandon those unsafe areas, and seek new housing communities on higher ground futher inland.
OK. But where will be the new agricultural lands? The coastal plain is the most fertile, formed from the alluvial deposits of the rivers.
Incompetence + Greed = disaster, resulting in more funding for projects that was completed every year prior. Ever heard heard about annual flood relief program/project?. NDIB has a head who has minimal experience in engineering field work and is affiliated to an engineering company that is consultant to NDIB, so why solve the problem and stop the consultancy?.
From a Marine Engineering point of view. All Drainage canals, trenches,
drains should be kept clean and free of all floating debris and garbage especially plastic containers.( Government should ban importation of materials in disposable and /or non-recyclable plastic containers). We should get back on track with compulsory dredging in the Rivers and silt removal from the Creeks and Koker Approaches by way of Draglines and water- borne excavators. This is part of the infrastructure that will enhance Agricultural Production. We will need increased production of home grown food as we get in the mix of Global Recession. Get Moving Guys.The time is now.
AA, this is all it needs. No rocket science. No string theory. No esoteric hydraulic design. Just keep the canals and creeks clean/clear and the kokers functional!