Some years ago our city council decided to invest in a project that turned
the dry, barren Salt River bed into a recreational lake. It was originally
designed with an inflatable rubber dam, which ended up bursting when the rubber
deteriorated. That was repaired for the short term, and a more robust dam was
designed. The new dam was completed last year.
The south shore of the lake is a nice setting for upscale business towers
and expensive apartments and condos, as well as our new center for the arts:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/64004640@N03/35030242736/in/dateposted-public/
Immediately behind me is the remains of a homeless camp beneath a tree,
and others are scattered here and there. Stark contrast with the $2,000+ a
month accomodations across the lake.
The dam itself is an interesting structure, consisting of eight steel
gates that are hinged at the bottom:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/64004640@N03/35030301856/in/dateposted-public/
The gates are operated by way of hydraulic jackscrew actuators:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/64004640@N03/34939068411/in/dateposted-public/
Downstream from the dam, underground seepage serves to irrigate a slowly
growing riparian area:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/64004640@N03/34226701744/in/dateposted-public/
Immediately behind the dam is our very artistic pedestrian bridge:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/64004640@N03/34682937880/in/dateposted-public/
The lake itself sees a good deal of boating activity, but there are no
areas set aside for swimming. Instead, it is occasionally used as a repository
for the bodies of murder vistims.
Chris
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro
- Hunter S. Thompson
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