BajaNomad - Mulege Diversion

Mulege Diversion

Janzie - 7-29-2014 at 09:15 PM

Is there anything new on the diversion project, has any more work been done, does anyone have thoughts about it`s effectiveness.

Kgryfon - 7-29-2014 at 09:40 PM

I would be interested, too. From your topic I first thought you were going to post about some new exciting thing to do in mulege!

chuckie - 7-30-2014 at 04:29 AM

Been discussed to death..try the search feature...

motoged - 7-30-2014 at 10:02 AM

Update: They were moving dirt around west of town, but are leaving some cactus undisturbed. Nobody really knows what the plans are despite several rumours....some folks seem skeptical, while others are hopeful....

micah202 - 7-30-2014 at 10:58 AM

.
....count me as skeptical AND hopeful........it's more accurate to call the project the Mulege 'hold-backs' rather than 'diversion'...it's a verifiable fact that there's a huge area behind Mulege that has no possibility of drainage other than through Mulege.
...the best any efforts done on that area can accomplish is to hold-back flow,,with the hope of more water being absorbed into the ground up there...........the worst effect these efforts could have is that there's more water than the diversions/holdbacks can handle---in which case there's potentially a MUCH worse situation.....ie.. if there's a breach--get your friggen surfboard and get the H out of lower Mulege

.......I hope I'm wrong...I hope the 'diversion' work is effective and lasts forever....time will tell,,,but I'd never sleep well in in lower Mulege during a major rain event.

.

.

[Edited on 7-31-2014 by micah202]

Tioloco - 7-30-2014 at 09:25 PM

No summer down pours for a dress rehearsal yet?

micah202 - 7-30-2014 at 10:11 PM

.
....question....how often is there a flooding event in lower Mulege?...every ~3rd year or so?

Russ - 7-31-2014 at 05:51 AM

The way the whole work area is torn up the ground will soak up rain very fast. Of course when it gets packed down the run off will be considerable and we'll see what the engineers have actually done for better or worse.

bajabuddha - 7-31-2014 at 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by micah202
.
....question....how often is there a flooding event in lower Mulege?...every ~3rd year or so?

My first time there was '95, and there hadn't been any major river flooding in years before, according to locals. The pics at the Laundromat were always a source of discussion, and they were pre-highway. I'm sure there were events in between, but none like Jimena.

Then came Sept. 2003 and Marty, and that was the first of I believe 5 major events in 7 years. So ya never know... it could be another seven years, or seven days. And, I concur with you Micah, the measures up-stream are to slow down the spate, no way will it be contained. Hopefully the damages will be lessened.

mtgoat666 - 7-31-2014 at 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajabuddha

Quote:

Originally posted by micah202
.
....question....how often is there a flooding event in lower Mulege?...every ~3rd year or so?

I am amused that after many, many centuries of humans building homes and subsequently losing homes to floods, people still build in river flood plains,...
Mulege gets flooded every few years, and people continue to rebuild,...
Crikey!

micah202 - 7-31-2014 at 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mtgoat666
I am amused that after many, many centuries of humans building homes and subsequently losing homes to floods, people still build in river flood plains,...
Mulege gets flooded every few years, and people continue to rebuild,...
Crikey!

.....yeh,,it's hard to say whether it's a testament to the indomitable human spirit.......or simple stupidity,,,and/or desire for 'waterfront'

...

.....but doubtless there's a gringo-joke that's been going around Mulege as long as there's been gringo's

......just be clear that if there's a breach of those 'hold-backs',,there is a possibility of a domino-effect that could create a -much- worse situation than has been seen............me's not try to doomsday here,,and me's not trying to pick-up cheap real estate,I feel like it would be irresponsible not to state this concern

[Edited on 7-31-2014 by micah202]

bajabuddha - 7-31-2014 at 07:37 AM

My plan is, next time to Mulege i'm gonna buy 3 - 4 caguamas of Pacifico, hold it as long as I can, and take a drive up to the orchard, and test it out.....
:lol:

micah202 - 7-31-2014 at 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajabuddha
My plan is, next time to Mulege i'm gonna buy 3 - 4 caguamas of Pacifico, hold it as long as I can, and take a drive up to the orchard, and test it out.....
:lol:

...could be a plan!....if you gather some friends,, regularly practice,,,yer all could hustle up there and -drink- the levels down!!.......lemme-know-how-THAT-works-out!!!

...at least you'd be up hill!

Phil S - 7-31-2014 at 04:15 PM

I guess only people who have owned homes on a waterway can actually tell you what it's like to go through a flood & rebuild time & again, and to still go back & rebuild again. HOWEVER, I've just heard about the huge increases in flood insurance premiums recently, and maybe people will not do it anymore. Here in Oregon on the North Umpqua River & Main Umpqua River that flows on west to the ocean. Beautiful pine & fir lined river banks. Some with small mountain streams flowing through your property. Been there numerous experiences & last time living on the North Umpqua River at Winchester, never went through a "flood" but got close a couple times in the 20 years we lived there. I became a "city boy" 14 years ago, and yearn for my 'river front' ties. And to satisfy it, I drive out to my brothers home that is on the river, and let him worry about it these days. I guess you can say, "it get's in your blood"

bajabuddha - 7-31-2014 at 05:24 PM

Phil, i'm totally agreeing with you. I've seen wave after wave of younger tourists buying up the newly cleaned-up homes of those who went through the slime and sorrows 3,4, and 5 times, finally to give up, because all their time is spent on vacation cleaning up the mess.

As Sly and the Family Stone sang, some (ahem)years ago. "when is mud thicker than the blood?"

Tioloco - 7-31-2014 at 10:02 PM

Flood is better than earthquake. Maybe.

Tioloco - 7-31-2014 at 10:04 PM

Definitely rather flood than have forest fire

mtgoat666 - 7-31-2014 at 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tioloco
Flood is better than earthquake. Maybe.

Quote:

Originally posted by Tioloco
Definitely rather flood than have forest fire

And flood, fire and earthquake are all preferable to global warming or Ebola epidemic, eh?

micah202 - 8-1-2014 at 07:48 AM

.
.....or perhaps none of the above,,

..................but yer slip on a banana peel :no:

.............or eat bad taco :barf:

Tioloco - 8-1-2014 at 08:03 AM

Banana peels and bad tacos are definitely bad news!

bajabuddha - 8-1-2014 at 08:24 AM

I've had bad ice cubes before too....... NASTY. :barf:

toneart - 8-1-2014 at 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajabuddha
Phil, i'm totally agreeing with you. I've seen wave after wave of younger tourists buying up the newly cleaned-up homes of those who went through the slime and sorrows 3,4, and 5 times, finally to give up, because all their time is spent on vacation cleaning up the mess.

As Sly and the Family Stone sang, some (ahem)years ago. "when is mud thicker than the blood?"

This is the best description of what we have gone through. Those who chide us for "rebuilding" are doing that just to try and make us look stupid. "Rebuilding" is NOT what we do!!! Those who lost their homes entirely did NOT rebuild. THAT would be stupid.

So, you have a home that has been ravaged by a flood but is still standing and for the most part, still intact. What they require is a thorough clean up. There are many locals who want the work, need the work and are happy to do it...at local wages. It is a win/win for everyone.

Since Hurricane John, in 2006, we either move all furniture and appliances upstairs or we have someone move them to higher ground. Boats and vehicles get moved too. Mulege has many trusted families that will do this for you. My "family" had a set of keys. They did this for me. They also did not need me to contact them (communications are down for a few days anyway). They just go in and start to work, knowing that I am good for it as soon as I can get there.

They start by emptying the mud out, one wheelbarrow at a time. Then they thoroughly wash it out and disinfect everything with bleach. This is done quickly so that mold does not set in. Most walls are brick and plaster and/or stucco. Wood has to be refinished. Depending on the force of the surge, sometimes windows and doors need to be repaired and occasionally replaced.

What you have is an investment that is well worth repairing. Again...NOT "rebuilding"!

And it is true, after four or five of these, we get damn tired of it. It consumes our "vacation" time when we could be out fishing. We also get older. Most have moved on and been replaced by new people. There are certainly some good deals to be had.

I sold mine a couple of years ago for less than half of what I had ultimately invested in it. I gave full disclosure and the new owner gives me happy feedback regularly. Since he bought it there has been no flooding. Hopefully, he can enjoy several flood free years.

The Hurricanes usually strike around the end of August or the beginning of September. This year looks like a hot and active storm year. We should know soon how well the "Diversion" works.

Good luck to all! I really enjoyed my time there in spite of the floods, and I miss my friends. Of course, no floods would have been better.

Tony

Cypress - 8-1-2014 at 10:59 AM

Living on the water is a special thing. I've relocated down south on a bayou, house located about 150' from the water, has survived every hurricane, including Katrina, and its 40+ yrs. old. Storm surge has reached the front door steps, but never the house itself. The Mexican govt. once had a sign down along the Mulege river advising people not to build there.

dorado50 - 8-1-2014 at 10:07 PM

So most here are saying that mother nature peees only on Mulege?. If that's the case I will live anywhere in the world but Mulege than.......... :wow:

bajabuddha - 8-1-2014 at 10:24 PM

I can testify along with Toneart, that living on the Estrero is exceptionally magical... until the fecal material strikes the rotary oscillator. Had friends buy the most inland waterfront house in the Oasis in the latter '90s, they stayed there for 3-4 years full-time. I was still beach camping on the Bay, but spent many an evening there in their guest room.

In 2002 their health grounded them in Washington. They had to sell, but sales were very slow at that time. Spring of 2003 they asked me and my (future 2nd x-) wife to check on their property. They were told it would be sold by management. Nothing was done, so we moved in for 2 weeks and cleaned up the place, packed their belongings, and made it look to be a turn-key place instead of 'somebody still lives here'. Even posted FOR SALE signs that nobody had bothered to do yet.

That fall I visited them at home up north, and they were in BAD shape. I offered to get all their personal belongings back home; they had 5 kids between them, but of course, their lives were more important than mom n' dad's, and I was just 'on the road again' ... again.... anyway, dead-headed down (11 years ago next week!), 2nd week in August, and spent 3 days by myself packing their stuff. Hottest, most miserable I'd ever been in my life, including southeast Asia (not to mention a battle with a wasp's nest).

I took all their personal belongings home to them, and less than a month later, Hurricane Marty hit, and filled their house with a foot of mud. Marty was the first of 5 or 6 in the next 8 years. Their home was blasted, landscaping (immaculate) destroyed, and they were forced to sell at a HUGE loss, and at a time when their health was bad, and finances as well.

Guess my point is, Caca Occurs. NEVER invest in Mexico what you cannot walk away from, especially in a floodplain. I still see that house every time I drive out either side of the Estrero. I remember the magic, the evenings on the porch with hummingbirds, the old Blue Heron that owned the upper end of the li'l island. Seen new owners buy, build, and have their front yard washed away again, and again. Beautiful now, high priced. Fixer-upper, what a deal.

alacran - 8-1-2014 at 10:52 PM

I have been coming to Mulege, every year since 1972, 3-4 weeks every year, the fishing was great.
I moved there upon retiring in 1994, and build my house on Loma Azul, overlooking the river, but pretty high up.
The problem with most people that "lost" or "rebuild" has to do that, that area was never intendet for permanent homes, they were trailer parks, that people came with they trailers, spent time, had a good time and left.
Jorges park was the early ones, right about under the bridge, the Orchard, Oasis, Villa Maria were others that people started to build solid homes.
After more than 40 years without floods nobody knew or cared.
The river got siltier and shallower.
Then we had the first of several tropical storms, and homes on the river banks got damaged and some washed away.
Jimena was the worst, and many people did not come back, and or did not re build.
In other words, we all know that location, location is the key word.

micah202 - 8-2-2014 at 06:27 AM

.
....wow,,,good to get the historical perspective.
....I know and love that oasis called Mulege,,,have certainly thought of,,dreamed of claiming a spot there myself. To realize how long things went without a major waterflow event makes one wonder what,why things have changed.
....I have always loved the people of Baja...it has always struck me that once past the bordertowns,,one rarely sees 'shifty-eyes' anywhere. To stay near and connect with a smaller waterfront community is a treat,,,but I always wondered why the folks didn't make more of their homes,,,but guessed the simplicity of their lives didn't allow for such luxuries.....then I saw one of those clapboard villiages get blown-away,,,,and how the villiagers simply,literally gathered up the pieces and rebuilt their lives........
.... A very clear lesson in the value of living close to the earth. :rolleyes:

.....'Buddha's' got it...much like going to a casino---'' NEVER invest in Mexico what you cannot walk away from '' ...or perhaps a home on wheels,,,maybe a shack,,some tarps,, a palapa.

[Edited on 8-2-2014 by micah202]

bajabuddha - 8-2-2014 at 06:52 AM

Micah, since Jimena, the river 're-building' areas, especially the Orchard, has been leaning from the Tropical Dream Home to a palapa-roofed pad for trailers. Friends bought in there a few years back, and that's their set-up. They were pooh-poohed by their rich-biatch neighbors, kind of like putting a mobile home in a site-built neighborhood... but now, folks are wising up to it. Toneart had said his 'family' down there would come and move the downstairs stuff up a level if a storm threatened; one could have the same thing with a trailer, or just put it in storage on high ground for the summer. I also understand the riverfront lots of the Orchard that were totally scoured by Jimena are all 'pad-only' permits to build (just rumor mill, may be mistaken).

You can still have your cake and eat it too, but just use the 6 - 'P's... Prior Planning Prevents P*ss Poor Performance. The pictures in the Laundromat are 50 years old of Mulege under water. A lot of people have washed their clothes there.

mulegemichael - 8-2-2014 at 07:02 AM

we still live in the oasis park in mulege, right on the river, and love it!...we have experienced 4 floodings in 8 years, i think....just cleaned up the mess and went on enjoying....we now have a couple of families that have keys to our house, shop, vehicles etc and they move everything to high ground when threatened with a flood....that's just the way it is.....it's a small price to pay for living in paradise.....and my bride says it weeds out the weak.

micah202 - 8-2-2014 at 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mulegemichael
we still live in the oasis park in mulege, right on the river, and love it!...we have experienced 4 floodings in 8 years, i think....just cleaned up the mess and went on enjoying....we now have a couple of families that have keys to our house, shop, vehicles etc and they move everything to high ground when threatened with a flood....that's just the way it is.....it's a small price to pay for living in paradise.....and my bride says it weeds out the weak.

.....yep---many ways to peel an onion!

...haven't seen the laundro-pics,,,but that would certainly be smart warning,,,,,,,and missed appropriately by those who don't visit-before-buying!

mulegemichael - 8-2-2014 at 09:42 PM

YUP!....take heed!....not for the weak of knee, to say the least...ummmmmm.

micah202 - 8-2-2014 at 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mulegemichael
YUP!....take heed!....not for the weak of knee, to say the least...ummmmmm.

....definitely the -last- place to buy or build your dream

.......shouldn't take much more and I should be able to grab something CHEAP!

chuckie - 8-3-2014 at 04:49 AM

Lots of CHEAP houses in Detroit, if cheap is whats most important to you. Mulege people, the ones that have chosen to clean up after the floods and stay, do it because they love their town. It gets tougher as we get older, and some of us have moved to higher ground. The ones on the river, as has been pointed out here have got it figured out....

willyAirstream - 8-3-2014 at 07:29 AM

It is called a ``wash and wear`` casa.

chuckie - 8-3-2014 at 07:52 AM

:biggrin:

norte - 8-3-2014 at 08:01 AM

Win-Win? more like lose - win.

Quote:

Originally posted by toneart

Quote:

mulegemichael - 8-3-2014 at 08:22 PM

Tony; we love ya man!....we'll try to "weather on" without you but it would be much sweeter with that jazzy horn of yours...consider sitting in at purple haze someday; we have world class bands...m.

toneart - 8-4-2014 at 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mulegemichael
Tony; we love ya man!....we'll try to "weather on" without you but it would be much sweeter with that jazzy horn of yours...consider sitting in at purple haze someday; we have world class bands...m.

Good to hear from you, Michael! I will come there someday to blow a few tunes. Say "hello" to everyone including Purple Haze Roz. By the way, I have been growing a patch of Lavender here in Grass Vally, CA.

See?... I can toot my own purple horn. :cool:

Tony