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Automatic Rubber Diversion Dam in the Los Angeles River
Author(s) -
Imbertson N. M.
Publication year - 1960
Publication title -
journal ‐ american water works association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.466
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1551-8833
pISSN - 0003-150X
DOI - 10.1002/j.1551-8833.1960.tb00619.x
Subject(s) - hydrology (agriculture) , silt , surface runoff , levee , channel (broadcasting) , environmental science , drainage basin , geology , geotechnical engineering , engineering , geography , paleontology , ecology , cartography , electrical engineering , biology
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has for 45 years maintained a 30‐acre spreading ground located adjacent to the south side of the Los Angeles River between the Walt Disney Studios and Forest Lawn Cemetery. Over the years the department has been diverting water from the river by means of a 5‐ft wooden dam, which raised the water sufficiently high to take it through gates and carry it over the spreading grounds. Whenever there was more than 40‐50 ppm silt in the water, the spreading grounds would silt off and would require cleaning after 6‐7 weeks of operation. If there was 400‐500 ppm turbidity, the basins would choke off even sooner. The normal method of operation during such periods was to bypass the muddy waters, because maintenance costs averaged around $6,500 per cleaning of the 30‐acre basin. Also, because the Los Angeles River is a flood control channel, the wooden dam diversion structure was designed to wash out under any major runoff down the Los Angeles River. The net result was that the percentage of water reclaimed in the spreading basin was rather small as compared to what could be saved if the dam could be operated whenever there was water available in the river. One solution was to construct a diversion dam of some material which would withstand the abrasion of waterborne rocks and sand, would collapse so flat on the concrete channel floor that roots, floating trees, and general trash would not become entangled, and yet could be easily raised into a dam after the flood. Neoprene, a synthetic rubber which weathers well, was selected. The article discusses a prototype dam that was built first, and then the construction of a full‐size dam, operation of the dam, and other applications of the dam.