Thursday, June 11, 2009

More Dam Pics



The top 2 pics are of the dam with Phelps Ck forcefully going over the dam. The creek is almost 2' higher than what it normally runs when it isn't melting out due to the very warm temps we have been having. The water is clearing up daily and lots of oxygen in the water. just being up there and listening to and seeing the power of the creek when it is flowing like this, seeing all of the gravel in spillway and hearing the rocks which sould like bowling balls underwater is a powerful reminder of what it can do. Below the main spill is nothing but large boulders and bedrock that have been cut and carved over the years by this creek but at this time you can't see it because of the quantity of water flowing over and down the creek right now.
This pic is of the inside of the spillway/aquaduct the bright side is the spillway which supplies the water through steel screens with only 3/32" holes to keep the fry from entering the aquaduct and making it to the powerplant, this past winer it had 3-4' of ice on top of what you see here and why the powerplant froze up this past winter during the -10 nights, it froze faster than I could clear the screens so no power for 7 days. the spillway was 80% full of gravel and rocks when we got up there so had to pull the boards to lower the water level and get the rocks moving then assisted using a shovel to keep the gravel moving back into the creek, there was very little sediment it in, the screens are running down the middle. the darker side is still water that feeds the aquaduct which runs 9900' to the settling tank to get the debris out of the water and let rocks and gravel settle to the bottom of the tanks then send it on down to the powerplant to make power for the houses.

The lower photo is looking up at the dam from the road, below the dam is bedrock and boulders that have been carved by the poser of the running creek, this creek is not glacier fed. Above the dam and around a bend is a very beautiful tropical looking waterfall and several pools which are nice holes for cut throat trout to hang out in. This upper section of the the creek only cut throat trout are found and about 1.5 miles downstream below a 30' waterfall you will only find Bull trout because they eat everything else. Just above the upper waterfall is Spider Meadow but very few have ever experienced this area, once they have they always want to return.
We found our Paradise, hope you find your's too. Peace
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9 comments:

hottoddy said...

You have found an amazing piece of paradise indeed my friend.My friends and I have camped and hiked extensively in your part of the world.We mostly use Rainy Creek as base camp.We would love to meet with you sometime and possibly tour Paradise. Hottoddy

Gregg said...

Thank you and yes I have to agree with you not many places like this, I love this area and find it hard to go other places for very long. next time you are up this direction come visit I'll show you around. Have a great day. Peace

Becca Dean said...

Thanks for the tour! I never imagined I would have such an adventure. It was so incredibly breathtaking! I'll share the pics Eric and Michelle took when they send them:)

Pleasure meeting you!!

Gregg said...

Becca glad you enjoyed it I like sharing it with folks, it's unusual to find something so far from everything yet has everything to be in contact, Anytime. Got photos from Eric today. Habre a great time.

hottoddy said...

Hey Gregg-we are going to be in the area on Saturday July 18th and would love to come visit.Will you be there around noon. Thanks Hottoddy.

Gregg said...

I'll be here so stop by, I'll show you around...

Anonymous said...

Anything new this summer? Bypass dug yet?

ted

Anonymous said...

we will be visiting the area on August 8/15 & would also appreciate a tour if you are there

Gregg said...

I'll be here until noon the 15th going to BBQ cook-off down @ LWRC, free food sorry too good a deal to pass and depending on how it goes might not be back until Sun around noon, need some things from town and like to make as few trips as necessary. Peace