John Compton Dam

John Compton Dam
Location of John Compton Dam in Saint Lucia
Country	Saint Lucia
Location	Millet, Anse la Raye Quarter
Coordinates	13°54′1.25″N 060°59′16.66″W
Purpose	Municipal water
Status	Operational
Construction began	1993
Opening date	1995; 30 years ago (1995)
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Embankment, concrete-face rock-fill
Impounds	Roseau River
Height	45 m (148 ft)
Length	200 m (660 ft)
Reservoir
Creates	Roseau Reservoir
Total capacity	2,600,000 m^3 (2,100 acre⋅ft)

The John Compton Dam, formerly known as the Roseau Dam, is a concrete-face rock-fill dam on the Roseau River in the small community of Millet in central Saint Lucia. The primary purpose of the dam is municipal water supply. It is named after John Compton, the former Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, who was influential in its implementation.^[1]

Construction on it began in April 1993 but was substantially delayed when Tropical Storm Debby struck the island on 10 September 1994. Rainfall from the storm exceeded the 1000 year estimate and ensuing floods breached the incomplete dam. The dam was eventually completed in October 1995.^[2] The dam's reservoir, Roseau Reservoir, is experiencing heavily siltation and studies are currently underway to remediate the problem. Hurricane Tomas in 2010 and a severe December 2013 storm created large landslides in the reservoir that have reduced its capacity by 30 percent.^[3][4]

References

1. "Disaster Risk Management in Latin America and the Caribbean Region: GFDRR Country Notes St. Lucia" (PDF). The World Bank. p. 229. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
2. "Roseau Dam Reconstruction". Sarafinchin. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
3. "Desilting and rehabilitation study to be undertaken on John Compton dam". St Lucian News. 29 March 2014. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
4. "Post-Tomas Dredging For Roseau Dam". St Lucia Mirror. 17 June 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2015.