The First Dam on the Colorado River - Visiting the Laguna Dam
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- Опубликовано: 5 сен 2024
- In 1902 the U.S. Congress passed the Reclamation Act and within a year it was decided to build a dam on the Colorado River to help agriculture in the Yuma area and southeastern California. Up until this point, no dams existed on the Colorado, and steamboats would use the river to travel from the Gulf of California to Nevada.
Construction of the Laguna Dam began in 1905, and with it's completion in 1909, the age of steamboats on the Colorado River was at an end. In the century plus since the Laguna Dam was built, 14 more dams have joined it on the river.
In this video we travel to the Laguna Dam, explore the dam, see it's infamous swastika bridge, and talk about it's place in the river's history.
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This channel is the spiritual successor to California’s Gold. So well done, cheers!
I agree and was thinking that and then read your post.
Thanks. That's tough to live up to though.
Loved California’s Gold
Nobody could ever replace Hule but I
Enjoy this very much .
@@dr.zacharysmith1207Hule howser was such a nice guy. Loved his shows.
Glad you pointed out the symbol commonly referred to as a swastica. History it’s been used as a sun and peace symbol. Thanks for that footnote because way too many people assume the worst
I was going to comment similar. People forget history beyond what they are told or care about.
I love how you always focus on the little things that people would otherwise overlook. Great information and footage. Appreciate the effort put into these every week.
Absolutely !
Thank you!
You can see pictures of this dam in it's Hey Day (well, towards the end) in the Gene Autry film, "Red River Valley" from 1936, probably during the time Imperial dam was being constructed. (It also features the infamous Yuma Territorial prison.) However, it still gives you a good picture of what it looked like when the river was running full tilt over it, usually during the early spring runoff from melting snows. You may not think it, but filming the scenes on the dam as the water flowed over it posed great physical risk to the actors and at least one member of the cast had to be saved from getting washed away.
Most of the flood waters probably that now would affect the dam come from the Gila river which collects the Salt river in west Phoenix, which collects the water from the Salt and Verde watersheds in Eastern Arizona. Every few years, the flood control reservoirs over flow and force water to be released downstream of the Granite Reef diversion dam east of Mesa (built at the same time and by the same project manager, who also oversaw the construction of Roosevelt dam.) Such was the case this year but I can't say whether it resulted in a flow over Laguna.
A note about the steam boats... These could only run during high water periods or they would get beached or catch on snags. This happened more than once. During the Spanish years, the outflow from the Colorado was swift enough that the water flowing past the delta (yes, the river has--had--a delta, and a very large one) that ships could not enter the river itself because of the current. The river would also turn that portion of the Gulf of California red with silt. Oh, and those shellfish? Those are fresh water, not salt water. They are native to the river and actually under threat because of the lack of outflow now.
Dam good show.
Just a little bit more information. At 6:09 behind your right shoulder are the head gates, now abandoned for the Yuma Main Canal. This is the other reason the weir dam was made. When the Imperial Dam was made the Yuma Main Canal got it's water from the All American Canal. These gates were blocked and the canal was filled in for the road heading west. At 6:40: The trailers and other buildings are in what is left of the Yuma main Canal. You can follow this canal if you know what to look for on Google Earth that made its way to the old Siphon Drop Power Plant. The Yuma Main Canals purpose was to get water for the Yuma Valley which is interestingly enough on the other side of the river. How did they get the Yuma Main Canal from the California side of the river to the Arizona side where the Yuma Valley is? The Colorado River Siphon. That would be another great video for you to do. That and the old Siphon Drop Power Plant. If you want information on that, I can help you. Leave a comment here.
Never knew about this! Excellent stuff!
I worked for a water well driller who as a young man had worked on constructing the All American Canal. He had some great tales about that area. Nice video.
I'll give the old timers a lot of props - what takes us today years and years and years to complete, they did in record time and they still stand today.
I lived in Havasu for five years and never heard of that place.
Thank you
Get off the couch!
A couple features you didn't cover were the hills that supplied the rocks. One was near the dam on the az side and the other was on the 8 coming into Yuma from CA. Also there was a small rail road that went across it to haul the boulders. You can see the pathway toward the end of the video. It's dead center and runs the length of it. It looks like a concrete road...
Just wanted to say that you do a great job with your videos with editing, music and subject matter. Always interesting.
Thank you, I appreciate it!
An idea for another video might be to go north on the Colorado river through Winterhaven . Take Picacho road about 25 miles to California State recreation area Picacho. It's an old gold mining town that went bust around 1914. The state of California now manages it as a campground. The road is a little ruff but it is a very beautiful area with a lot of history.
The fishing is really good below that bridge where the water runs down.
Your videos are outstanding. Keep up the great work.
'My winter stomping grounds. The Laguna Dam did create Mittry Lake which is used for camping, fishing and local RC pilots flying float planes every Tues morning during the winter months.
Awesome video! We have a family river house a few miles from there and we have experienced that area over the years there is tons of history in that area. I have pictures of the bridge before they put a fence around it and we could still walk on it. Go check out some of the mines in the area or the graveyard and all the old graves.
There's so much to see on both sides of the river. Definitely going to head back. I didn't realize there was an old cemetery near the dam until after I got home!
Thank you very much for this interesting bit of history and that steam boat's use to run supplies on the Colorado River is one thing I never knew. I currently live in Western Colorado and cross the Colorado almost daily plus a water canal right inside My mobile home park that I must cross to come and go from it. Look forward to more interesting and historical places from your videos.
Red cloud mine is also really cool
Never knew about this type of dam, good job explaining the function and Thanks for the video Steve. 😉
Thanks for watching!
best channel on RUclips
I'm not sure about that but thanks!
@@SidetrackAdventures well, top 10 at least for me. I actually do a double take when I see you post a new video and immediately queue it up to watch it when I won't be interrupted! I live in PA. While we have many cool things to see here, there are so many interesting things out west and this channel lets me explore vicariously!
Im a San Diego native and i appreciate learning about places ive never been
I should have something in San Diego area up in the next few weeks too. Been waiting for it to cool down a bit.
Thanks for a well edited informative, and interesting video. Great work.
Glad you enjoyed it!
My parents were born close to there in a town/camp that no longer exists called La Laguna,Az
I like your videos and thought I’d throw out there that If you like this region you should check out the Hanlon heading and the rockwood headgate. These dams are near the breach in the Colorado river that formed the salton sea in the early 1900s.
Thanks for giving us some of the history of these locations and structures that you visit. Another great video.
Cool video. The Sea shells look like fresh water clams. We have them in Utah in Utah Lake the Jordan River and it's Canals. They don't get more than one and three quarters accross. I'm 55 and noticed them at about 10 . I don't know if they are a Lake Bonneville left over . They don't cause trouble like the Zebra Muscle.
That was the best place for catching monster catfish and frog gigging back in the late 70s.
Castle dome ghost town is a good visit also
I want to check it out but they weren't open for the season yet when we were in the area. Hoping to go this winter.
Wow, good story.
Thanks for taking us ! 🇺🇲
Our pleasure!
Congrats on 30k! Your growing fast don't change
Thanks!
Cool I like these!
VERY COOL,,THANK YOU
I would like you to explore/ talk about the river crossing that Wyat Erp ran near Parker Az a long time ago
I used to go fishing there as a kid with my uncle back in the 1980s
I have seen pictures of tall ships in the Port of Yuma Ariz.
That was wonderful. Thanks Steve!
Glad you enjoyed it.
I’m here for the damn dam tour
Thanks! I had to resist making that joke when I was out there.
😂
That's a damn shame
Thank you, Steve, for another interesting and informative video.
Thank you, i appreciate it.
Wow, wow, wow! Love it!!!
Lol mittry area! I pass by that bridge on the way when I go kayaking! Awesome video
Dam!
I’ve never been aware of a diversion dam before. Thanks for the information.
There's one north of Blythe also
'I am your damn tour guide. If you have any damn questions'. Couldn't resist.
i really enjoy your trips!
Cool, thanks.
I read that pre dams in the late 19th century the river would be up to a mile wide near Yuma. That was a bit of water.
There are some pictures of Yuma during floods and it is crazy how much water there is.
@@SidetrackAdventures I enjoy your videos and seems to be a fine way of having time w your family.
Like the addition of the drone.
you tend to film in areas that when I see footage of ...., feels like home still.
Even as a kid the desert always felt kinda mysterious and ancient.
Kinda trippy for me as my father took us to many of same places in 60s 70s.
Glad the algorithm led me to click on ya. Blah blah.
Be cool.
Very nice series.
AHA,,,, there's that bridge with the swastikas! Thanks, I remembered that I've heard about it somewhere around here, but didn't know where at?
Dam good story! feels like i am right there with you.
Wow. Good video
Another great video. I've lived in Yuma since 1972. I knew about the good luck symbols on that bridge, but never knew quite where it was. I've only seen the gate area of the dam.
I couldn't see too well behind you on the California side. Did they remove most of those derelict mobile homes from the abandoned trailer park across S24? I haven't been that way since the lockdowns. Thought that was a neat little park in the 1990s when it was in use, but was kind of creepy a few years ago. Wonder what the story was on that.
Below Laguna, downriver on the California side, the Bureau of Land Management built a small campground in the 1980s. After it was built, the tribe seized it as it was on their land. It was there for several years until the Colorado actually had too much water and dams were opened upstream, washing the campground away. I'm not sure what year that happened.
I would like to see more of your videos done about this area.
I didn't see any mobile homes, but I pretty much turned back around and walked back in the Arizona.
The dam is putting lots of air into the water and the fish below will appreciate the extra breathable water.
Those are not sea shells, they are fresh water clams, an invasive species commonly know as the Asian fresh water clam.
Water used to run on the AZ side of the sluice way most of the time. I collected water samples for the pond water experiments way back when I was a microbiology lab tech at that spot. Pretty sure that was the pumphouse, don't know whatt else it could be. Have not been out there in years, now that I have a new knee that almost works normal I need to head out there again.
Yeah, I figured it has to be the pumphouse but couldn't find any info on it so I didn't want to say it was then find out it was something else.
I've found sea shells on my Mojave Desert property - more proof that it used to be a sea bed.
I have heard of it being a prehistoric lake. That's cool, do you know what kind they are?
@@billofrightsamend4 No idea they're real small no more than an inch long. But they look like miniature horn shells. Found some also on Ft Irwin, CA which is just south of Death Valley and the ancient Lake Manley you speak of.
I remember seeing this looking for a ghost town that was buried under water
Off-topic of this video, I now know why hotels are expensive in your city on Oct 28th. It is a good thing that we are staying at MRCD 26th and 27th. but need a hotel off base on the 28th. when our grandson leaves the base on his graduation day. we have to leave also. never mind that I am a Marine veteran who also went to Bootcamp there. They will not let us stay on base if he is not there I sure wish that San Diego was not in the world Series. LOL! I imagine that traffic will also be busy that week end. my question is the traffic going to be bad around Old town. and the base? also, how is interstate 8, Thank you. ( I am a senior driver. my reflects are not as good as they were when I was young.) LOL!
If the Padres are in the World Series, Old Town will probably get pretty busy. There is a lot to see and do there though, and a lot of restaurants. I-8 can be really bad at rush hour but the rest of the time it isn't too bad, at least in my experience with it.
@@SidetrackAdventures I want to say thank you for responding to my question, I value your input. it is also why I like your videos. you give good advice, about what to do or not do. which helps us who may want to go to places where you are taking us. You would make a good tourist guide. Have a blessed day.
Call Uber
So the Laguna damn is only 5 miles away from a larger damn. Not sure what the purpose of a sluice damn so close to a regular damn is but I’m not a Civil Engineer. They could have kept the steam traffic on the river if they had installed locks at intervals.
BTW how far away is that from the place you profiled as the beginning of the Colorado River? Another interesting profile. Thanks. 👍☮️🌞❤️
The Imperial Dam was meant to pretty much replace this one. We are about 1350 miles from the start of the river.
The Imperial dam was built to divert water into the All American canal the largest irrigation canal in the world.
Go Padres!
👍👍🌺🏵🌸👍👍
Having both grown up along the Mississippi and Missouri, steamboats feel like something you wouldn't see out on the Colorado. Would be quite a sight to go back in time and see that. 😅
Congrats on your channel's recent success, by the way!ruclips.net/user/sgaming/emoji/7ff574f2/emoji_u1f605.png
Alright, and just like the universe does... I'm editing a video Glenn filmed last month and lo and behold - steamboat. One SMALL remnant from a steamboat on the Colorado. 🤣😂
I heard you can find sunken ones in the river in places still. Wild they are still there after all these years.
Those aren't sea shells, english.
First!
I am here in Yuma. You might go in the evening down 14th to the edge of the Cocopah Reservation if you want an EYEFULL of the illegals problem.
Who cares?
Obviously not Kamila, the border Czar.
Interesting the swastika has such a bum rap, just like the Charlie Chaplin mustache.
The shells are from the invasive quagga mussels, first noticed in Lake Meade in 2007. Efforts to aradicate them have failed despite extra the registration fees for boaters using the river.
I've never ever seen or heard of a dam like this, super cool.
Also, it sucks no one knows what swastikas originally meant in a lot of cultures, my Indian Neighbors get harassed all the time about it and we just tell them it's like that's not a Nazi swastika it's a Hindu swastika