Pre-Deer Hunt Walk

27 Sunday Nov 2016

Posted by Ronald Parks in nature, Photography

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bridges, Hiking, hunting, nature, photography

Our last walk in the woods prior to all the hunters showing up.

Deer stand or condo?

Tee-pee hunting lodge? It is in direct sight of the one above. Wonder if they ever shoot at each other?

Deer trap ahead – corn laying on the ground.

Someone shot a Mustang by mistake and left it there

Path next to the farm property. I personally do not hunt but I do understand why the land owners allow hunters on their property. The deer will totally destroy the crops and everything else that is edible.

The old barn.

Pond and woodshed

Wind powered pump.

A couple of these photos I used a filter called sunscreen. Gives a softness to the pics that I like.

Herring Run Walking (or running) Tour

21 Monday Nov 2016

Posted by Ronald Parks in Baltimore, HISTORY

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Baltimore, bridges, engineering, Floods, HISTORY, Lake Montebello, Montebello, Public Works, water history

I was not the only one asked for information concerning Herring Run. All this info is for a walking tour on Black Friday. This instead of Mall Madness. Another submission of info:
The design for the Pedestrian Bridge at Sinclair Lane began in 2010 with final greenway plans dated on January 31, 2014. The bridge was designed by Wheeler in Bloomington, Minnesota and fabricated by Big R Bridge in Gresley, Colorado. A new pedestrian bridge was built in close proximity to Sinclair Road since the new ten foot wide greenway trail could not be accommodated using the existing Sinclair Road bridge. Also, the new pedestrian bridge location was selected to span the narrowest portion of the Herring Run Stream and the bridge length was determined to not encroach the Herring Run Stream’s 100 year flood elevation and cross over the existing DPW utility sanitary and 84” water pipes.
This info got me thinking about various reports I had read recently. Not concerning a 100 year flood, but about what would happen if the dam gave way at Montebello Lake??
August 2000 – Danger Reach Study for Lake Montebello MD Dam #107. Prepared for DPW, Bureau of Water and Wastewater. Has a lot of graphs, charts and data. ‘What if’ scenario of a dam failure at Lake Montebello, between Harford Rd and the Park. The consultants do not believe the water would go over the Harford Rd bridge, but under. They do believe it would overflow four feet above the Belair Rd bridge at Herring Run. It would overflow Manasota by two feet and Brehms lane by four feet. Sinclair Lane would be two feet under water. It would follow a path all the way to Moore’s Run. The dam is 600 feet long, 60 feet wide at top and 31 feet tall.
From the Emergency Action Plan 2016: Lake Montebello is an earthen dam built in 1880 as a water supply reservoir for the city of Baltimore. It contains approximately 410 million gallons of water, with a maximum storage of 606 million gallons. If the dam fails, this is what will be read by Emergency Management:
“Lake Montebello Dam, MD Dam No. 107, located northeast Baltimore City is failing. Repeat. Lake Montebello Dam, Dam No. 107, located northeast Baltimore City is failing. If you are in or near this area, proceed immediately to high ground away from Herring Run Park. Do not travel on the following roadways: Parkside Dr., Shannon Dr., Pulaski Hwy, North Point Rd, Bowleys Ln, Harford Rd, Mannasota Ave, Belair Rd and Sinclair Ln, in the vicinity of Herring Run Park. Avoid all residential roadways near the Park located in northeastern Baltimore City. Travel away from Herring Run Park. Avoid all residential roadways near the park. Do not return to your home to recover your possessions. You cannot outrun or drive away from the flood wave. Proceed immediately to high ground away from the area.”

The dam in question is to the right of the lake. Shows the Harford Road bridge to the far right.

This is how a rain induced flood looked many years ago, Harford rd. bridge to the right.

Belair road bridge would be flooded 4′ above roadway.

Brehms Lane bridge – would also be 4′ under. (Note: Bridge no longer looks like this and there are no longer any horse rides in the park)

Oxford Pa. and Stafford Md.

28 Friday Oct 2016

Posted by Ronald Parks in Hiking, Photography

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books, bridges, Conowingo, engineering, HISTORY, nature, photography, trains, Travel

The other day Kathy, Molly and I decided to take a ride to Oxford, to an old used bookstore just south of town. It has been a couple years since I was there. I met the author, Mark Bowden (Black Hawk Down) the last time I visited. The place has changed since then, but still nice. (Anywhere that sells old books is nice!) We left there and roamed around town some. Being a Sunday, most shops were closed.

The old train station now converted into Borough Hall?

Molly smells food and is wondering where the gravy train is (Sorry Molly, Purina does not make Gravy Train!)

Historic Marker

Niblock Alley train over-pass.

We left Oxford and decided to head to Stafford on the Susquehanna Trail. This was a nice 4-1/2 mile hike. Unfortunately – no Fall Foliage.

Uncertain of which way to go…back into the woods then.

Not sure the purpose of this fence, but I like it.

The path is over old train tracks. These tracks were put here when the Conowingo Dam was built. Carried supplies and men to and from town.

The Stafford Flint Furnace. This structure is a couple hundred years old. It took a beating during the great quake of 2011.

As can be seen in this photo. They put seismic measuring devices on it. That won’t save it.

Triple headed shrooms and our hike is done! Nice day!

Conowingo During Agnes 1972

21 Friday Oct 2016

Posted by Ronald Parks in 1972, Dams, engineering, Floods

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Baltimore, bridges, Conowingo, Dams, engineering, HISTORY

Came across this Sun Paper photograph showing, what it says on the back, that all 53 gates of the dam were opened during the storm. It doesn’t look like all 53 are opened. In a 2008 interview, a former Conowingo Employee, Elder Silvercloud tells us that many of the flood gates wouldn’t open. They were stuck. Another article I read said they were going to dynamite a portion of the dam to relieve pressure? In 2011 another storm caused them to open 43 gates. For more info, Google Search Conowingo Dam Agnes.

Notice there are no watermarks saying ebay or sun paper – that is because I do not steal these photos off the internet. They are in my personal collection.

Fullerton from the Susquehanna

12 Wednesday Oct 2016

Posted by Ronald Parks in Baltimore, engineering, water history

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bridges, engineering, Gunpowder Falls, HISTORY, Public Works, susquehanna, tunnel, water history

In my previous post I talked about the Fullerton Filtration Plant and the problems with it becoming a reality. Below are some photographs from the pre-planning stages of the Fullerton Plant. 1964 – when engineers were still able to look ahead and plan for the future.

Contractors moving the Fullerton connection into place.

Connecting the ‘Y’ branch to the Susquehanna pipe line. The Susquehanna pipe line was known as the “Big Inch” being 108 inches in diameter. This connection dropped it down to 96 inches. The metal mesh is for pouring concrete around the pipe line to hold it in place.

Capping off the end for future contractors to be able to connect the Fullerton Plant, if and when…

Just up the road is the Big Gunpowder Falls (Loch Raven and Prettyboy dams are on this river, way upstream). The Big Inch went under the Falls at this point. To the left is Interstate 95, back then known as the North-East Expressway.

Conowingo Dam

04 Tuesday Oct 2016

Posted by Ronald Parks in Baltimore, Dams, engineering, Photography

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Baltimore, bridges, Conowingo, Dams, engineering, fishing, photography, Public Works, water history

My visit into the Conowingo Hydroelectric Plant. Built in about two years time with close to 4,500 men. 1926-1928. Built by the Arundel Corporation. It generates over 13, 000 volts and then steps it up to 220,000. We were not allowed to take photos in the control room but one thing interesting about that was a board that gives real time prices for electricity. The other thing in the control room was – I was asked, very sternly, Do Not Go Back There Or Touch Anything!! Sheesh!

Got there early and looked around. Carved eagle in front. They have a photo contest every year for eagle photos. I didn’t bring a telephoto lens.

Fishermen. How the heck do they not get their lines tangled?? Three turbines on. Roughest water up to the right was a large unit. Two smaller units are on, to the left of guys fishing.

Time to go in and start the tour. Our tour guide is wearing the black hat. A continuous run movie on the building of the dam is playing. There is a nice one on Youtube called Conowingo: Then and Now.

The real tour guide. The photos on the wall are all winners and submissions for the eagle photo contest last year.

One of two fish lifts. This one was used to collect fish and then transport them by truck to hatcheries and fish farms to be released above all the dams (There are a few and about five years ago they all installed real fish lifts so the shad can just go up river to where they are supposed to)

I believe our tour guide said these two generated power to run the plant. It was loud in there.

Where they make electricity. Yellow light on the right wall means – put in your earplugs.

Aerator. It sucks air into the water. The dissolved oxygen drops about 60% from the dam pool to the discharge side, so they add some air to the water.

This little probe, just barely touching the turbine shaft measures for any distortion in the shaft. If it senses some, it will shut down the unit.

Some old gauges.

Spiders! They just cleaned these windows a couple months ago.

Next level above the turbines – generators.

Outside above the catwalk. Years ago, pre 9/11 you were allowed to fish off the catwalk. This is looking down towards Port Deposit.

The tour group. I didn’t know a single one of these people.

Need some lights changed on this sign.

Lonely lamp right before the second fish lift. Do fish need to see to be lifted?

In the very early 1960s I use to fish on that little rise at the bottom of the dam.

Second fish lift. They swim into that lift and are free to swim out at the top. Supposedly there is someone who looks thru a plexiglass window and counts them? Since the other dams have installed lifts, no reason to truck them anywhere.

Starting to get dark out.

Back inside, on the way to the control room. Pit.

Dark outside now, after control room. Guys are still fishing!

Dams

02 Sunday Oct 2016

Posted by Ronald Parks in Baltimore, Photography, Reservoir

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Baltimore, bridges, Conowingo, engineering, fishing, Gunpowder Falls, Hiking, HISTORY, photography, Reservoir, Star Wars

Back in the beginning of September, I posted some photographs of my visit into Liberty Dam. The watershed manager, Clark, took me down to the bottom. It was quite an experience for me. Before leaving I made the comment that the Conowingo Dam will be my next adventure, to go inside. A couple weeks later, Clark sends me an email telling me that a group he belongs to, the Upper Western Shore Tributary Team, are going into Conowingo. That I should contact them and ask if I can go. A couple days later they sent me a yes answer. Very nice. So, here are some of the dams I’ve gone into. Not listed yet is Loch Raven. Not much to go into there but Clark said when they do the next inspection, I can go.

My first interior dam I visited was Hoover Dam in 2005. It was nice but a disappointment in that 3-1/2 years after 9/11, the lower portion was closed off. I only got to see the turbines from an observation deck.

This was a quick looksy – “Alright people, back on the elevators.”

Up on top.

One side of the dam…

to the other.

Intake structures – actually more impressive than the one at Liberty!

Reservoir getting low…and yet they are still building new homes in the area.

In 2013 I was able to go into Prettyboy Dam.

Looking down from the top.

What I like about this view are the memories of my father taking me down to the bottom – concrete slab – to go fishing.

We had to go down the steps, then climb over a fence and trek down the hillside to get to the fishing spot.

Time to head to the bottom of the dam. More steps.

I was able to go out onto the deck, where the valve was spewing forth water to my right. This is one of two fountains that don’t work. Contractor said it would cost over $100k to fix. Director says no.

The 45 degree pipe is what feeds the fountains. It goes under this floor into a chamber and then into more concrete. It is collapsed there and this is why it would cost so much to fix.

Tomorrow, if the dam Gods permit, I will be going into this dam – Conowingo! This is from 2011 when most of the flood gates were opened. I just bought a new telephoto lense for my camera and wanted to see how it works…

A little too well. I hope this guy shows up again for the tour!

Dundee Creek

30 Friday Sep 2016

Posted by Ronald Parks in kayaking, Photography

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boats, bridges, Gunpowder Falls, kayaking, nature, Parks, photography

After our vacation to the Eastern Shore, we returned to one of our favorite kayaking spots – Dundee Creek. My first time there was to paddleboard. I did not like that at all. Just couldn’t find my center of balance and I kept falling off. The following week, Kathy showed me about kayaking. I had never done that before. I enjoy it immensely! So peaceful and relaxing. Dundee Creek merges with Saltpeter Creek and then into the Gunpowder River and then onto the Chesapeake Bay.

Before heading out to open water, we always like to head into the cove. Calm waters that dead-end at a stream and bulkhead.

As many times that we have been here, neither one of us noticed this little opening.

Nice and quiet. Looks like some logs up to the right.

I went up and moved them out of the way.

Kathy was then able to pass under the trees, along the shoreline.

Once through, I let Kathy go first – you know, in case there were alligators, wild boars or Adrienne Barbeau.

We found our own little cove. Not very big but nice.

After a while there, we headed out towards Marshy Point. This is the Marshy Point Osprey Cam. It is shut down now – the osprey have all headed south. This is fun to watch when they come back. So is the Osprey Cam on the Chesapeake Bay.

Favorite little foot bridge at Marshy Point Nature Center.

Under the bridge we go.

After the bridge and spending time watching life in the marsh, we headed back to the marina. Water was getting a little choppy. Duck blind.

Vac Pics #4

26 Monday Sep 2016

Posted by Ronald Parks in fishing, Travel, vacation

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boats, bridges, Chesapeake, Crabs, fishing, photography

Next day it was off to Deal Island for some fishing.

Leaving the boat ramp. Small landing but big phone tower and a big pile of oyster shells on the side.

Kathy taking the helm. I guess that is what it is called – at least it is on Star Trek – “Spock, take the helm. Scotty, you come with me.”

Deal Island bridge.

Kathy caught the first fish of the day…

…not as big as mine! Oh what a whopper! The weight almost snapped the rod!

Kathy’s catch. Crab.

Then mine…alien looking thing. Where is Ripley? Everything that was caught was thrown back in.

Abandoned except for the birds.

Karen Noonan Center, Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Classroom.

Fish nets off of Bloodsworth Island. On the navigational chart this area is off limits. Kathy’s dad told me the naval base drops bombs (Practice) on the island. If you do a close up Google Earth view, it looks like the moon in some spots – craters.

Watermen heading back after a days work.

Skipjack, Ida May.

Somedays…

02 Friday Sep 2016

Posted by Ronald Parks in Photography, Reservoir, water history, Work

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Baltimore, bridges, Dams, engineering, FILTRATION, Hiking, HISTORY, kayaking, photography, water history

…I just love my job. I love that I get to see and do the things I do – research! Headed up to Liberty Dam to look for some shaft openings, to do a possible tunnel inspection sometime in the future. While waiting for my tour guides, I roamed around a bit and took some photographs of the property.