[6][a] The dam construction began in 1963, capturing water from the Notwane River, at a time when the new capital city of Gaborone was in the planning stages.

In the part, this was due to a cyclical change in rainfall, reducing the amount of water fed into the reservoir and increasing the impact of evaporation in the hot, dry climate.

[10] By the end of 2004 the reservoir was just 27% full and the government was forced to impose harsh restrictions on water use.

[7] The reservoir and the green buffer zone that surrounds it are the largest and most fragile ecosystem in the Gaborone area.

[12] A book published in 2004 noted that storm water drainage is poor in Gaborone, causing recurring street floods, and that pit latrines and overflowing sewage ponds endanger the water in the reservoir.

[15] The southern end houses the Kalahari Fishing Club and a new public facility called City Scapes.