Charles River Dam
The Charles River Dam with pump house (left) and locks (center).
The Charles River Dam is a dam for flood control in Boston, Massachusetts in the United States. It is located in the immediate vicinity of the Leonard P. Zakim downstream Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge at the former location of the Warren Bridge demolished in 1962.
History
The building is also known as the Gridley Dam, named after the military engineer Richard Gridley. The three ship locks of the 1978 built and commissioned in weirs can be crossed by both pedestrians and cyclists, as the building is part of the popular Boston Harbor Walk. The Charles River Dam replaced the Dating back to the 1912 building Charles River Dam Bridge, which stood where is now the Boston Museum of Science. Its old lock still exists today, but is constantly open so as not to obstruct the waterway. The old dam could not keep away from the river, which led to salt water accumulation at the base of the freshwater basin and consequently pollution and problems in the migration of fish of the sea water.
Technical Features
The facility has three independently be operated locks, one of which is designed particularly wide to let happen occasionally larger ships can. In the event that the level in the harbor basin increases so much that it reaches the level of the river on the other side of the weir, there is a pumping station available, the excess with six 2,700 -horsepower, turbo-charged diesel pumps water from the river with a combined capacity of 3.7 million gallons ( 14,000 m³) per minute capable of carrying into the harbor. Also available is a fish ladder available.
The main task of the weirs is upstream in the control of the water level of the river bed, which applies particularly to the Back Bay Fens and the Muddy River. In addition, prevents the building, which at high tide salt water into the fresh water of the Charles River.
Others
Paul Matisse taught at the railing of the way about the building an interactive art installation that is known as Charlestown Bells. It consists of multiple, multi-colored bell games that can be activated by passers-by.