Kesses Dam (or Lake Lessos) is a small man-made lake in
Kenya
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. It is one of the sources of the
Yala River
{{Infobox river
, name = Yala River
, image = YalaRiver.JPG
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, image_caption = Yala river within Kakamega rainforest, western Kenya
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.
It is used as a source of water for irrigation and domestic use, and also for boating and other water activities.
Location
Kesses Dam is in Kesses Sub County of
Uasin Gishu County
Uasin Gishu County is one of the 47 counties of Kenya, counties of Kenya located in the former Rift Valley Province. Eldoret has the county's largest population center as well as its administrative and commercial center. “It lies between longi ...
, on a plateau in
Rift Valley
A rift valley is a linear shaped lowland between several highlands or mountain ranges created by the action of a geologic rift. Rifts are formed as a result of the pulling apart of the lithosphere due to extensional tectonics. The linear dep ...
.
The climate is cool and temperate.
The region has level terrain with medium gradient hills with shallow depressions.
There are wetlands and small permanent streams.
Kesses Dam is south of
Eldoret
Eldoret is a principal town in the Rift Valley region of Kenya and serves as the capital of Uasin Gishu County. The town was referred to by white settlers as Farm 64, 64 and colloquially by locals as 'Sisibo'. As per the 2019 Kenya Population ...
town and east of the main campus of
Moi University
Moi University is a public university located in Kesses, Eldoret town, Uasin Gishu county, in the former Rift Valley Province of Kenya. It was established in 1984 by the Moi University Act of the Parliament of Kenya, after recommendations from t ...
, at an elevation of .
It receives most of its water from the Tarakwa and Nderugut rivers, which enter the reservoir from the east through a swamp of ''
Typha latifolia
''Typha latifolia'' (broadleaf cattail, bulrush, common bulrush, common cattail, cat-o'-nine-tails, great reedmace, cooper's reed, cumbungi) is a perennial herbaceous plant in the genus '' Typha''. It is found as a native plant species in North a ...
'' and ''
Cyperus
''Cyperus'' is a large genus of about 700 species of sedges, distributed throughout all continents in both tropical and temperate regions.
Description
They are annual or perennial plants, mostly aquatic and growing in still or slow-moving w ...
'' species.
The catchment area is about .
As of 2012 the reservoir had an area of .
The average depth is .
The outlet is the Sambul River to the west.
The reservoir is one of the Yala River's main sources.
Development
The dam site was originally a depression on the farm of a Danish colonist, Eric Jorgensen, which covered about of poor pasture.
Jorgensen got the support of six of his neighbors to build a dam, which cost £3,000.
Within 50 days two streams had filled the reservoir, which had two arms, long respectively.
As of 1967 there was a yacht club at the dam.
![LessosDam](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2a/LessosDam.jpg)
During the May 1984 parliamentary debate over establishing
Moi University
Moi University is a public university located in Kesses, Eldoret town, Uasin Gishu county, in the former Rift Valley Province of Kenya. It was established in 1984 by the Moi University Act of the Parliament of Kenya, after recommendations from t ...
at Eldoret it was pointed out that Lake Lessos was nearby and was one of the largest man-made lakes, so the new university would have a plentiful supply of water, an important consideration due to the dry climate.
The lake was not being used at the time.
It could also be used for experiments by the students taking fisheries courses, and by a yacht club.
A large water pipe was installed to carry water to the university.
In a parliamentary debate in 1991 it was noted that the dam was at present only supplying Moi University.
However, the dam had been made higher, expanding the reservoir to hold more water, and could be used to supply homesteads in the area.
Work was underway to raise the height of the dam and surveys were in progress to bring the water to areas around the Kesses Centre, Kesses Secondary School, Bombay area and residential areas between Kesses Centre and Moi University.
Wildlife
In 1978–1988 the reservoir was used for wintering by several migratory duck species.
Mean annual numbers were
Wigeon
The wigeons or widgeons are a group of birds, dabbling ducks currently classified in the genus ''Mareca'' along with two other species. There are three extant species of wigeon, in addition to one recently extinct species.
Biology
There are t ...
: 8,
Northern pintail
The pintail or northern pintail (''Anas acuta'') is a duck species with wide geographic distribution that breeds in the northern areas of Europe and across the Palearctic and North America. It is migratory and winters south of its breeding ra ...
: 45,
Garganey
The garganey (''Spatula querquedula'') is a small dabbling duck. It breeds in much of Europe and across the Palearctic, but is strictly migratory, with the entire population moving to southern Africa, India (in particular Santragachi), Banglades ...
: 105 and
Shoveler
The shovelers or shovellers are four species of dabbling ducks with long, broad spatula-shaped beaks:
* Red shoveler, ''Anas platalea''
* Cape shoveler, ''Anas smithii''
* Australasian shoveler, ''Anas rhynchotis''
* Northern shoveler, ''Anas c ...
: 60.
The first fish to be introduced were ''
Tilapiine cichlid
The Tilapiini (occasionally Tilapini) are a tribe within the family Cichlidae commonly known as tilapiine cichlids. Formerly this tribe contained many other genera and species, including the economically important ''Oreochromis'' and ''Sarother ...
s''.
In 1990 and 1996 about 5,000 fingerlings of
Nile tilapia
The Nile tilapia (''Oreochromis niloticus'') is a species of tilapia, a cichlid fish native to the northern half of Africa and the Levante area, including Israel, and Lebanon. Numerous introduced populations exist outside its natural range. It i ...
(''Oreochromis niloticus'') were introduced.
''
Barbus
''Barbus'' is a genus of ray-finned fish in the family Cyprinidae. The type species of ''Barbus'' is the common barbel, first described as ''Cyprinus barbus'' and now named ''Barbus barbus''. ''Barbus'' is the namesake genus of the subfamily B ...
'' and ''
Gambusia
''Gambusia'' is a large genus of viviparous fish in the family Poeciliidae (order Cyprinodontiformes). ''Gambusia'' contains over 40 species, most of which are principally found in freshwater habitats, though some species may also be found in br ...
'' species have also been observed.
''
Clinostomum'' parasites were found in 75% of a sample of fish taken in 2010–2011 from Kesses Dam, with higher levels among males than females.
The relatively high levels may be due in part to waste water being released into the reservoir from the nearby urban center and school.
Activities
The lake is used as a recreational center by the Moi University students, and by the local people and visitors.
Activities include boating, fishing, birdwatching and
sitatunga
The sitatunga or marshbuck (''Tragelaphus spekii'') is a swamp-dwelling antelope found throughout central Africa, centering on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, parts of Southern Sudan, Equatorial Guinea, ...
viewing.
Notes
Sources
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{{authority control
Lakes of Kenya