Comments on: Postscript http://coppercountryexplorer.com/2007/04/09/postscript/ an exploration journal into the shadows of the copper country Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:19:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: geoff http://coppercountryexplorer.com/2007/04/09/postscript/#comment-607 geoff Wed, 11 Apr 2007 13:11:34 +0000 http://coppercountryexplorer.com/2007/04/09/postscript/#comment-607 Mostly structural stuff she was looking at the design and load analysis. Mostly structural stuff she was looking at the design and load analysis.

]]> By: explorer http://coppercountryexplorer.com/2007/04/09/postscript/#comment-586 explorer Tue, 10 Apr 2007 19:00:30 +0000 http://coppercountryexplorer.com/2007/04/09/postscript/#comment-586 Geoff - Thats a great idea! I remember doing a few local type projects for my senior work, I think I'll look into it. The goal of preserving the structure while returning the river to its natural state would be an interesting challenge I'm sure, but I bet some enterprising college kids would gladly take up the challenge. Did your wife do a study on the dam's themselves or the river and watershed components? Just curious. I wonder if she found anything that would be useful in this case. Geoff - Thats a great idea! I remember doing a few local type projects for my senior work, I think I’ll look into it. The goal of preserving the structure while returning the river to its natural state would be an interesting challenge I’m sure, but I bet some enterprising college kids would gladly take up the challenge.

Did your wife do a study on the dam’s themselves or the river and watershed components? Just curious. I wonder if she found anything that would be useful in this case.

]]> By: geoff http://coppercountryexplorer.com/2007/04/09/postscript/#comment-585 geoff Tue, 10 Apr 2007 17:59:28 +0000 http://coppercountryexplorer.com/2007/04/09/postscript/#comment-585 Environmental and civil engineers have to do sr. design projects too. submit the idea to the dept. at least then they will do research, my wife did a small project on it. Environmental and civil engineers have to do sr. design projects too. submit the idea to the dept. at least then they will do research, my wife did a small project on it.

]]> By: explorer http://coppercountryexplorer.com/2007/04/09/postscript/#comment-583 explorer Tue, 10 Apr 2007 16:37:42 +0000 http://coppercountryexplorer.com/2007/04/09/postscript/#comment-583 Dave - From what I have read, Copper Range first attempted to use the dam's own discharge valves to lower the reservoir but failed. It seems that even with the outer doors open, the valves controlling the flow rate inside the pipes were either frozen or broken and they couldn't open them far enough. I have also read that the discharge pipes were clogged as well. But that was then.. As far as now, water only flows through the holes at high water events - mostly just spring thaw. Most of the time the water level is well below the cut-outs. So its only a problem a few weeks of the year. Still a problem but not as constant of one. The model sounds like a great idea. You should check out the link to the article I put at the bottom of my post. It has some detailed plans of the dam's structure and is how I drew my elevation plans. Since a trestle runs over the top of the dam, it would fit right in to a model railroad layout. And I can get any detail photos you need to help you out, I love going to the dam and any excuse is a good one for me. Dave - From what I have read, Copper Range first attempted to use the dam’s own discharge valves to lower the reservoir but failed. It seems that even with the outer doors open, the valves controlling the flow rate inside the pipes were either frozen or broken and they couldn’t open them far enough. I have also read that the discharge pipes were clogged as well. But that was then..

As far as now, water only flows through the holes at high water events - mostly just spring thaw. Most of the time the water level is well below the cut-outs. So its only a problem a few weeks of the year. Still a problem but not as constant of one.

The model sounds like a great idea. You should check out the link to the article I put at the bottom of my post. It has some detailed plans of the dam’s structure and is how I drew my elevation plans. Since a trestle runs over the top of the dam, it would fit right in to a model railroad layout. And I can get any detail photos you need to help you out, I love going to the dam and any excuse is a good one for me.

]]> By: Dave Freeze http://coppercountryexplorer.com/2007/04/09/postscript/#comment-577 Dave Freeze Tue, 10 Apr 2007 04:12:16 +0000 http://coppercountryexplorer.com/2007/04/09/postscript/#comment-577 I would like to say how much I have enjoyed your series on the Redridge Dam. I also hope the the dam can be preserved. This a very unique structure. I would be a shame to see it destroyed. Also I would like to compliment you on the pictures you took. I build plastic models and do model railroading. I am thinking about trying to build section of the dam, not the whole thing, using plastic structural shapes or metal shapes for the bracing and use plaster of paris to represent the concrete portion. Notice I said thinking. Whether it gets beyond this I am not sure. I do have one question. If the gates on the discharge valves were removed, would these allow enough flow of water that the water would not flow through the cutouts in the dam. It would seem that this would the least expensive way to try to fix the water flow problem. If it did not fix the the problem it might at least help to some degree. I would like to say how much I have enjoyed your series on the Redridge Dam. I also hope the the dam can be preserved. This a very unique structure. I would be a shame to see it destroyed. Also I would like to compliment you on the pictures you took.
I build plastic models and do model railroading. I am thinking about trying to build section of the dam, not the whole thing, using plastic structural shapes or metal shapes for the bracing and use plaster of paris to represent the concrete portion. Notice I said thinking. Whether it gets beyond this I am not sure.

I do have one question. If the gates on the discharge valves were removed, would these allow enough flow of water that the water would not flow through the cutouts in the dam. It would seem that this would the least expensive way to try to fix the water flow problem. If it did not fix the the problem it might at least help to some degree.

]]> By: explorer http://coppercountryexplorer.com/2007/04/09/postscript/#comment-551 explorer Mon, 09 Apr 2007 18:36:23 +0000 http://coppercountryexplorer.com/2007/04/09/postscript/#comment-551 Geoff - Of course saying it should be preserved and getting it done is two completely different things. While I believe that preserving it should be done, I personally have no idea how that would be accomplished. The liability issue as well as the stream rehabilitation issue would both have to be addressed I think primarily. Building some sort of fish ladder around the dam might be needed, but that of course would cost money. And while the structure might no longer be able to support water, it probably is in no immediate danger of collapse. Still fencing would have to be placed around it to keep people out that would cost more money. There's probably people out there with a little more experience in these matters that would have a better idea of what would be needed. My point with the article was to get people thinking more about the issue, and hopefully raise some awareness about the dam's historical significance. I don't want people to be taken off guard whenever the dam becomes in danger of being destroyed - like the case of the crib dam. At that point it might be too late to get people on board fast enough to make a difference. Geoff - Of course saying it should be preserved and getting it done is two completely different things. While I believe that preserving it should be done, I personally have no idea how that would be accomplished. The liability issue as well as the stream rehabilitation issue would both have to be addressed I think primarily. Building some sort of fish ladder around the dam might be needed, but that of course would cost money. And while the structure might no longer be able to support water, it probably is in no immediate danger of collapse. Still fencing would have to be placed around it to keep people out that would cost more money.

There’s probably people out there with a little more experience in these matters that would have a better idea of what would be needed. My point with the article was to get people thinking more about the issue, and hopefully raise some awareness about the dam’s historical significance. I don’t want people to be taken off guard whenever the dam becomes in danger of being destroyed - like the case of the crib dam. At that point it might be too late to get people on board fast enough to make a difference.

]]> By: geoff http://coppercountryexplorer.com/2007/04/09/postscript/#comment-545 geoff Mon, 09 Apr 2007 18:12:03 +0000 http://coppercountryexplorer.com/2007/04/09/postscript/#comment-545 I agree With the preservation idea, if you were to look into starting a fund. I would donate. I agree With the preservation idea, if you were to look into starting a fund. I would donate.

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