We visited the Saylorville Dam area yesterday to see and hear the water overflowing out of the lake. Years ago the Des Moines River was dammed up to create a recreational area for Iowa and to help with flood control. I guess the flood control thing was the practical side of the reason but too much water coming from heavy rains and the water from northern Iowa really is never ever really controlled. This water is coming through the spillway and entering into the Des Moines River. The roar is unbelievable as the water flows down a larger concrete tunnel into the river.
As it is dumping into the river the result looks like this. Can you see how small the people look along the riverbank on the left. It is a larger amount of water being put back into the river. This water ends up meeting up with the Raccoon river that is south of Des Moines where flooding can take place to old Valley Johnston. It usually floods everywhere near and in the cities around Des Moines. The last major disaster was in 1993.
As the water comes down the concrete spillway it collides with the body of water of the river and there are many reactions to the great force. It forces water into large waves of water getting the visitors wet on the other side.
It actually reacts to both sides of the river and here we are getting wet on our side from the mixing of the great force of water coming down the spillway. The dam is said to be holding fine all of the high water but another foot higher in the water level and the emergency spillway will be going into action allowing the water to overflow down into another channel. When it does overflow that will cover the road in which we had travelled to get to this spillway. We received rain continually last night through the morning. Our town is actually a few miles from the Des Moines River where it now is full from bluff to bluff from having the water being held back. I am sure the emergency spillway will be running in another day or two. We also live close to the tributaries that go into the Raccoon River that meets up everything down there.
4 comments:
John and I both enjoyed these photos and the info.
An interesting insight into the problems you face with water. You must get really tired of all the rain you get.
All that rain! We are finally getting some here. Our summer monsoons have started. Such a relief! Awesome pictures of the dam...powerful-looking water!
Wow! Great force on its course following terrific splash out of spillway… sure it must be greatly exciting to stay close to the spillway
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