Ultimately, they managed to agree on a document, called the Colorado River Compact. The price of Boulder Dam during the depression years provided [work] for 4,000 men, most of them heads of families, and many thousands more were enabled to earn a livelihood through manufacture of materials and machinery. They werent sure that even Reclamations engineers had enough knowledge and experience to make the dam strong and safe. The white bathtub ring around Lake Mead shows the record low water levels as drought continues to worsen in Nevada. Hoover Dam is 1,244 feet long at the top. There is a fee for parking. Unpredictable flash floods could occur in any season. Barely into summer, hundreds of people have already died from the heat along the west coast. As it dries and cools, it shrinks and thats what causes the cracks. Complete with startling statistics The maps and images appear twice: in a small version with associated questions and alone in a larger version. We know that, as an unregulated river, the Colorado added little of value to the region this dam serves. This PBS production provides materials for teachers, in addition to a history of the dam and some of the people involved in its creation. Then divide the class into small groups. Why do you think that was required? Over 75 years later, Hoover Dam continues its multiple roles in flood control, power generation, and as a major supplier of water in the Southwestern U.S. See also: New Cyber-Security Standards for N. American Power System. Private businesses may have built some of the dams, power plants, or other such facilities, but they do not fit the definition of "public works" given here. It is known that this dam is located about 50 kilometers southeast of Las Vegas, (Nevada). The diversion tunnels were among the longest in the world when they were built. By studying "The Greatest Dam in the World": Building Hoover Dam, students have learned why Hoover Dam was a triumph for the engineers of the Bureau of Reclamation, for the construction company that built it, and for the thousands of men who worked to complete it. Access control Brent Gunderson, regional security manager of the lower Colorado river region, worked at the Hoover Dam for four years and managed the police force. No one is buried in Hoover Dam. The amount of water in the lake, when full, could cover the whole state of Connecticut ten feet deep. 4. They should be able to get population data for the states and cities listed above. Look carefully at this image. Ultimate Hoover Dam Tour from Las Vegas With Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Here are some guidelines to help you on your way: Look carefully at the cut-away view. Some of the public works in the community may be historic; students might want to consider nominating them to national or state registers of historic places or including them in walking or driving tours or in on-line travel itineraries for presentation to the local chamber of commerce. Hoover Dam is an example of a "public works" project. LESSON NO. Why or why not? 5. They represent and embody the accumulated engineering knowledge and experience of centuries; and when we behold them it is fitting that we pay tribute to the genius of their designers. 1. The order is purely arbitrary. Great way to see an amazing feat of civil engineering. You couldn't build the dam without men to pour concrete. Standard C - The student describes the various forms institutions take and the interactions of people with institutions. Divide students into small groups and ask them to investigate examples of public works in their own community. Questions for Reading 3 The new law laid out four goals for the new dam: prevent floods, improve navigation on the river, store and deliver the Colorados waters, and generate electric power. Death by suicide is never a pleasant topic. "They conduct joint training with us," Gregson said. However, we stopped here to view the dam. Herbert Hoover, now president, wanted to start work on the dam earlier, probably as a way to ease high unemployment. Ickes defended his decision by stating, "The men who pioneered this project knew it by this. 4. Standard I - The student explains the relationship between policy statements and action plans used to address issues of public concern. But the wellspring of Lake Mead, created by the dams blocking of the Colorado River and with the capacity to hold enough water to cover the entire state of Connecticut 10ft deep, has now plummeted to an historic low. Hoover Dam is one of its Wonders of the World. The website also includes an educators' guide, with hands-on activities. In March 1931, Reclamation awarded the contract to build the dam to Six Companies, Inc. Six Companies was a group of some of the largest construction companies in the country. The Hoover Dam is one of the crown jewels of American infrastructure. This PBS miniseries, hosted by author David Macaulay, describes the engineering challenges encountered in building large dams, bridges, domes, skyscrapers, and tunnels in clear, easily understood, and kid-friendly terms and visuals. We inspect vehicles, whether full or empty. Copyright 2004 IDG Communications, Inc. First, a minor point. This lesson is based on the National Register of Historic Places documentation, "Hoover Dam" (with photos); on National Historic Landmark documentation, "Hoover Dam" (with photos); and on Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) publications. Hoover dam is the height of a 60-story building and is 45ft thick at the top and 660ft at the bottom. 5 in Reading 2. The gates of these great diversion tunnels were closed here at Boulder Dam last February. The river crosses the border into Mexico. Do you think the safety equipment would have kept the men from falling? You are going to have 3500 men working day and night for five years, so youve got to have some place to put em. How would you decide how much water Mexico could claim? 4. Today marks the official completion and dedication of Boulder Dam. #5 - Washington DC - there's so much to experience in our nation's Capital - discover history, art, nightlife and so many more treasures that make America great. Can you trace the course the water follows from the reservoir through the power plants and outlet works and then back into the river? "Glen Canyon Dam was built in the 1950s, at the tail end of this building spree," Lustgarten explains. This website, provided by the National Archives and Records Administration, features a 1981 film that combines three short films dating from earlier periods. The Art Deco concrete structure, located about an hour outside Las Vegas in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, straddling the Nevada-Arizona border, was the largest hydroelectric generating station, and the world's largest concrete structure when completed in 1936. The discussion took a turn when we reminded ourselves that these wonders belonged to the ancient world. Huge aqueducts carry water from the Colorado to Los Angeles and other cities in Southern California. The project will flood the three gorges that give the dam its name: the Qutang, Wu Xia, and Xiling. The permit allows them to show up. Reading 2 is abridged from Reg Manning's Cartoon Guide of the Boulder Dam Country (Locust Valley, NY: J.J. Augustin, 1938), pages 10-17. The short answer: no, yes, further than you think, a half-day, yes. These businesses can request a permit to cross the dam during daylight hours. In 1930, President Hoover's secretary of the interior named it "Hoover Dam." At the gate are several agents and they can wave you by or pull you over. This morning I came, I saw and I was conquered, as everyone would be who sees for the first time this great feat of mankind. Do you agree, based on what you know so far? He spends two days each week at the Hoover in meetings to discuss how to improve security functions. Based on the size of the people in the image, how big do you think these shovels were? We came back up from Laughlin so we could stop at the dam. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Before you can safely anchor a dam on em, it will be necessary to scale off this unstable face. The compact also committed the U.S. government to providing some of the water to Mexico. Many of the men seeking work brought their families with them. Is the image or the reading more useful in helping you understand Hoover Dam? Theme V: Individuals, Groups, and Institutions. All of the water conservation efforts that have kept shortages at bay until now risk being surpassed by the rising heat. 3. 2. It stabilizes the flow of water in the river, improving boat navigation. 4. But the dam also had an entirely unexpected result, one that began while it was still under construction. The dams, particularly the Hoover Dam, were also intended to control the torrential floods that would come downstream in big water years. Housing for workers in the new town of Boulder City wasn't ready when these photos were taken. Stuff the holes with dynamite, and blast it away. Nearly 40 million people, including dozens of tribes, depend on the rivers water. 3. 6) To identify public works in their own local community. Why or why not? Download the official NPS app before your next visit. In addition to the 10,000 people who braved 102o heat to hear the speech in person, it was broadcast to a radio audience of millions of people. Roosevelt defeated Hoover in the presidential election of 1932. Oversized vehicles, recreational vehicles, and vehicles with trailers must use the parking lots on the Arizona side of the dam. The contract divided the work between Six Companies and Reclamation. The amount of water now available across the US west is well below that of any time in modern civilization, said Park Williams, a hydroclimatologist at Columbia University. No go. What were they? Most of the water is used in the Lower Colorado Basin. 1. "Cars are searched on a random basis or if there is a reasonable suspicion," he said. Make this cofferdam about a hundred feet high, two blocks thick at the base and 70 feet thick on top. The heat has been otherworldly, with Phoenix recently enduring a record six straight days above 115F (46.1C). The Colorado River rises in the lofty Rocky Mountains, before tumbling through 1,450 miles of mountains, canyons and deserts until it reaches the Sea of Cortez in Mexico. The association added that such a scenario could even force people to move east, in what it called a reverse Dust Bowl exodus. From your ice plant, run ice cold brine through the pipes. How many of the features mentioned in Reading 2 can you find in this image? The total capacity at Hoover is now 1,617 megawattsa 20 percent decrease from its designed capacity of 2,080 megawatts. Had the formidable white arc of the Hoover dam never held back the Colorado River, the US west would probably have no Los Angeles or Las Vegas as we know them today. A dam's electrical output is partly a function of the height of its reservoir. It was a hot day and the ice cream is really yummy from the kiosk although a little pricey but so worth it. 1. That is why I have the right once more to congratulate you who have built Boulder Dam and on behalf of the Nation to say to you, "Well done." This guide contains many large numbers. Bernardo said a similar shutdown of the Hoover dam would require more than 100ft in further water level retreat, which is not anticipated, although he finds himself constantly hoping for the rains that would ease the tightening shortages. Why do you think visitors would drive so far to watch the dam under construction? 5. Which job would have been the most dangerous? 1 It provides water to irrigate farm fields. And then, a background check is done. If the work was consistent with the plans, they approved it for payment. Families created a temporary community called "Ragtown." Located in Pyramid Canyon about 70 miles downstream from Hoover Dam, this zoned earth-fill dam consists of concrete . Work actually began during the summer and continued around the clock until the dam was completed in 1935, two years ahead of schedule. Hoover Dam, a concrete-arch gravity dam, captures water from the Colorado River and fills Lake Mead. Information security has matured a great deal in only 10 years, seeing new focus on areas like identity management, risk management and governance. Questions for Reading 2 15 Minute Course in Engineering Rising 726.4 feet, Hoover Dam was the world's tallest . 5. This website, maintained by the Bureau of Reclamations Lower Colorado Region, includes a wealth of information. The jumbos backed up to the working faces in the tunnels so that men using all the drills could work at the same time and higher on the wall without the need for scaffolds. Where does it end? In the early 20th century, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation devised plans for a massive dam on the Arizona-Nevada border to tame the Colorado River and provide water and hydroelectric . LESSON NO. Why or why not? Ask them to look up the construction dates for the other Colorado River dams shown on Map 1, as well as the purpose/benefits for which they were built. Activity 2: "Seven Wonders of the United States" Actually, once we got thru the checkpoint, we drove to the visitor center, where we parked in a garage ($10, cash only), and then we walked across the actual dam my kids were excited about walking from Nevada to Arizona and back again. then, once we returned to our car, we stopped at the bridge. The pace of change has been jarring to the millions of people who regularly boat, fish and swim on the lake, with the National Park Service recently laying down new steel platforms to extend launch ramps that no longer reach the water. What other hazards do you think the men working on the jumbos might have faced? It supplies water and power to Los Angeles and other rapidly growing cities in the Southwest. Theme III: People, Places, and Environments. Is there a security background check? Standard J - observes and speculates about social and economic effects of environmental changes and crises resulting from phenomena such as floods, storms, and drought. During the 1920s, the big dam on the Colorado was usually called the "Boulder Canyon Project" or sometimes "Boulder Dam." During a dark time, Hoover Dam seemed to transcend Americans fears about the future. It was the highest dam in the world when it was completed in 1935. To hurry it up, string two or three miles of water pipe around through each five-foot layer of concrete as you pour it. No sprawling food bowl of wheat, alfalfa and corn. All vehicles entering the dam site are subject to inspection by officers at the security checkpoint located in Nevada approximately one mile from the dam. Could you build it without men to drive trucks or feed the workers? What benefits would a new dam provide? The power plants provide electricity to Los Angeles, Phoenix, Las Vegas, and San Diego. How long would it take for the concrete in the dam to cool by itself? The shelter seems to be located next to the river. Security training and exercises for the police and security officers is conducted frequently often with other federal and local law enforcement agencies to provide them with familiarity of the facility. Right off we decided to prepare a list of seven wonders of the United States. If cracks were to appear in your dam it might cause severe criticism from people living below the damor from their heirs. To people who have not taken our engineering course, it seems pretty tough to dry out a river, but actually its a cinch. Activity 4: Public Works in the Local Community Theme VI: Power, Authority, and Governance. Standard C - The student analyzes and explains ideas and governmental mechanisms to meet needs and wants of citizens, regulate territory, manage conflict, and establish order and security. Reading 1 is adapted from Joan Middleton, Hoover Dam" (Mohave County, Arizona, and Clark County, Nevada) National Register of Historic Places Registration Form (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, 1981); Joan Middleton and Laura Feller, Hoover Dam" (Mohave County, Arizona, and Clark County, Nevada) National Historic Landmark documentation (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, 1985); William D. Rowley, The Bureau of Reclamation: Origins and Growth to 1945, Vol. Some states were not happy about the compact; Arizona did not ratify it until 1944. This year is the second driest on record, with the flow into Lake Mead just a quarter of what would be considered normal. Standard G - The student applies knowledge of how groups and institutions work to meet individual needs and promote the common good. In addition to drilling holes for dynamite, the scalers also knocked unstable rock loose by hand. By this time, Franklin D. Roosevelt, a Democrat, had been elected president. Measure your classroom and figure out how many cubic yards it could hold. How much money has been allotted to secure the dam? Basically, the permit allows passage over the dam during daylight hours, when the permit is presented along with the driver's license. It held back what was then, and still is, the largest man-made lake in the United States. Assorted steam shovels, etc.you'll have to move about 6 million cubic yards of rock and dirt, digging tunnels and whittling out the canyon walls to make room for the dam. Ask each group to select a job and do some research on it. Copyright 2023 IDG Communications, Inc. CSO provides news, analysis and research on security and risk management, Sponsored item title goes here as designed. An acre-foot is the volume of water that would cover one acre one foot deep. The dam, the bridge, and Lake Mead are worthy tourist sites. Standard F - The student describes physical system changes such as seasons, climate and weather, and the water cycle and identifies geographic patterns associated with them. Thats 16,667 freight cars full. #4 - Las Vegas, NV - stay in the heart of it all for the casinos, shows and nightlife, then, take a tour of the Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon for memories that last a . You have to climb 70 steps to get to it so be ready. If the states did not agree with what you recommended, who do you think should have the right to make a final decision? Summer temperatures in the canyon can easily reach 125 degrees. The compact estimated that the rivers annual flow would be 16.5 million acre-feet, allocated 7.5 million acre-feet each to the Upper Basin and the Lower Basin, and set the amount of water each of the states in the Lower Basin would receive.