The Kajaki Dam provides flood control, power and irrigation water to the Helmand Valley. Without the dam, the surrounding region would be arid and could not produce crops. Morrison-Knudsen built the 90 meter high earth and rock fill embankment dam in 1953. When the Russians invaded Afghanistan, the contractors left. They intended to raise the dam by 2 meters in order to increase the available water for power production and irrigation. They were also cutting in an emergency spillway, which was never completed. Gates were also never installed in the service spillway so the dam passes all water in the reservoir over 1033.5 meters. Corps’ surveyors recently visited the dam to measure and assess the elevations of the service spillway and emergency spillway
Military staff
2004-12
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