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StuckSucks
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The history and purpose of this causeway?
Does anyone know the history and purpose of this causeway? It extends east from Highway 5, just north of La Ventana, into the Rio Colorado floodplain.
We only went as far as the first breach at 1.28 miles. Google Maps shows the overall length at around 11.65 miles.
I'll bet a month's pay that David K knows.
[Edited on 3-17-2014 by StuckSucks]
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Ateo
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This ought to get interesting. Can't wait to hear the history, if it's known.
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DavidE
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Mood: 'At home we demand facts and get them. In Mexico one subsists on rumor and never demands anything.' Charles Flandrau,
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WW II ??
Army Corps of Engineers moved a lot of dirt back then?
A Lot To See And A Lot To Do
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woody with a view
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it seperates salt mining claims.
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StuckSucks
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Here's a view of the breach from Google Maps.
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Kgryfon
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Woody, is that a guess?
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Udo
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I could be mistaken, but I seem to recall that the north side of the causeway was full of water as part of the runoff catch basin for the Colorado
river before it was damed up in the US side.
There was actually a small community that was living off the fishing in the lake created. I do not remember when the breach occurred, but at times,
the water was all the way to the hills at the south end of the lake (there are some large sand dunes in that area). And at that time both sides were
also full. That's how much water was coming down the Colorado river!
I believe the water lasted until about the mid 80's.
As I said earlier...I'll stand corrected, if someone knows more details than I have provided.
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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woody with a view
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yes.
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vgabndo
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The only similarity with the roads around the Sierra Santa Clara is that these here are also straight as a string for about 15-20 miles. They go from
a road to a no-where place and stop. Jaime Morales, the Bioshphere guy here, says they were put in my the oil companies drilling test wells. He says
he knows personally of 4-5 abandoned well heads confirming the story.
Undoubtedly, there are people who cannot afford to give the anchor of sanity even the slightest tug. Sam Harris
"The situation is far too dire for pessimism."
Bill Kauth
Carl Sagan said, "We are a way for the cosmos to know itself."
PEACE, LOVE AND FISH TACOS
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MrBillM
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The Road to .............
The Shrimp Farm.
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LaTijereta
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| Quote: | Originally posted by MrBillM
The Shrimp Farm. |
Is that code for the "Bunny Ranch"?
Democracy is like two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.
Ben Franklin (1759)
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David K
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That road is fairly new... and by new, I mean not over 20 years old. Now, a road that went to La Bomba was 17 miles north of La Ventana...
Flat-bottomed riverboats used to travel up the Colorado to bring supplies to Yuma, previous to the railroad arriving in 1877. La Bomba was a port
facility from the 1930's.
Plenty more riverboat history... Port Isabel has some history, too... It was closer to El Golfo de Santa Clara...
[Edited on 3-18-2014 by David K]
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villafontana
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So who lost the bet StuckSucks?? Lol
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David K
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The photos Stucks posted are great... Every road in Baja goes somewhere interesting!
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MrBillM
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How OLD ?
It "seems" that I remember it being built in the late '80s, but it could have been early '90s.
I've got photos somewhere from its first days.
At THAT time, there was a large government sign giving the particulars on the (later failed) Shrimp Farm for which it was built. It was
being lauded at the time as a tremendous boon to the economy.
Like so many things which have failed over the years.
I had heard that it was a victim of the "White Spot Syndrome", but I've never seen any confirmation. The time period is right, though.
There is a poor quality short video which "appears" to be THAT Shrimp farm from the background, but Quien Sabe.
The farm was quite aways out as the road would indicate. I once drove out that way and, of course, met a truck heading the other way. After he
passed, I turned around.
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Barry A.
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My 2 cents (which is more than they are worth on this subject):
The USA released a "pulse" of Colorado River Water into Mexico in the '80's which was big enough to overflow from the Delta into the Laguna Salada and
partially fill it. This "filling" was caused because a huge flat natural "dam" had built up on the Colorado Delta due to the river previously for
years never reaching the SOC coupled with high tides from the SOC. In addition there were several man-made causeways running E and W that served as
an additional dams. Until that natural dam was slowly breeched (which it was), as well as the causeways, the water backed up and overflowed into the
Laguna Salada, gaining access under the N/S San Felipe highway thru huge culverts. I used to know what the "causewas" were used for, but I can't now
remember. Whatever it was, it was not that successful, I don't think.
There is another "pulse" to be released this Spring, and in fact may already be happening. This pulse promises to be a big one despite the drought.
I have friends that plan to run the "surge" from just below Moreles Dam down to the SOC in inflatable canoes this time. We had tried to do that back
in the '80's but were stopped by jungle-like vegatation blocking our progress above Yuri-Muri. Even so we had a great canoe trip for 2 full days
before we were stopped. The delta is virgin country, and a wildlife bonanza. We made numerous outboard trips out on the '80's 'surge' from
Yuri-Muri, both up and down the river. Great adventures. My son and a friend actually saw the famous TIDAL BORE on one of those boat trips where
they spent the night far out on the Delta along side the main channel of the river.
This does not explain the "causeways" but gives you some background on the Delta, I hope.
Barry
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StuckSucks
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Barry A.
There is another "pulse" to be released this Spring, and in fact may already be happening. This pulse promises to be a big one despite the drought.
I have friends that plan to run the "surge" from just below Moreles Dam down to the SOC in inflatable canoes this time. |
Coincidentally, I bumped into this surge info this morning. They'll let water out of the Morelos Dam on March 23.
U.S. and Mexico Unleash a Flood to Restore Colorado River Delta
[Edited on 3-19-2014 by StuckSucks]
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David K
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Mexicans tried to make a Salton Sea-like lake out of Laguna Salada in the 1980's with a huge canal to channel Colorado water into the upper Laguna
Salada. When their levee failed, the lower Laguna Salada (that Hwy. 5 crosses) became flooded... it had water on it for many years.
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MrBillM
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The Laguna Salada Flooding
Occurred (1981) as a result of a HUGE "safety" release on the Colorado River after an extraordinary rain season (and poor management) had resulted in
a possibly dangerous storage level.
Unaware of how dramatic the effect had been, I traveled Hwy 5 to San Felipe in February during that time as they were raising the highway across
Laguna Salada.
Each direction over that stretch took around 45 minutes over incredibly BAD terrain clogged with traffic and construction
equipment.
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N2Baja
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http://world.time.com/timelapse/
This is a cool site from National Geographic where you can see an aerial timelapse of the area from the early 1980's to current. Click on "Explore
the World" (bottom right on the grid) and navigate to the area you'd like to see.
Its interesting to see the water drain from Laguna Salada over the years. I didn't look too closely, but maybe you can find the causeway.
Forget about the danger and think of the fun.
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