Flash Flood

Under Contract with the New Mexico Environment Department, Stream Dynamics, Inc. built a Rosgen Cross Vane to protect the sewer line in Silver City. This project included water harvesting diversions to constructed wetlands that were planted with a total of 175 native plants of 32 species, and seeded with 26 native species of native grasses, wildflowers and shrubs.  It had rained hard in Silver City at about 5:00 pm on Friday, August 1.  Van Clothier went down to the creek at 6:00, arriving moments before a flash flood came down the dry channel.  Watch as the leading edge of a flash flood begins flowing down the creek and also into two big water harvesting diversions.

Below this video is a gallery of pre-construction, post-construction, and action photos during the 2014 monsoon.

Water is guided in three ways: down the creek over the grade control, and into right and left diversion basins. This is a Rosgen cross-vane with an "A" arm and a Zuni bowl. It defines a riffle-run-pool-glide sequence in the creek.

We have replicated a pattern found in nature that dissipates energy with a plunge pool. Added to this are diversions to water harvesting basins on both banks.

On Friday, August 1 it rained very hard in Silver City at 5:00 pm. At 6:00 pm, Van Clothier went down to the creek, arriving just two minutes before this flash flood!

Arroyo San Vicente project works beautifully... watch a flash flood come down the main channel, hit the cross-vane and flow into the water harvesting basins!