Coolidge Dam Project
More about the Coolidge Dam
As a matter of interest the designer was Herman Neuffer. The venture is a joint task of Arizona and New Mexico. The project is next to the San Carlos Lake as well as the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation. Therefore this is right in the middle of one of the most important heritage sites in the whole of the United States of American. The historical and economic importance of the location is illustrated by the huge numbers of visitors that come to see some of the projects that are taking place and also to sample life as it could have been in the ancient American communities.
The irrigation element of the Coolidge Dam covers about one hundred thousand acres. This is roughly about four hundred square kilometres. The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) was responsible for implementing the construction of the dam. It now owns and operates the project on behalf of the local communities. It is a great example of sustainable development which lifts the lives of members within the local community.
Interesting features of the Coolidge Dam
The construction of the Coolidge Dam took about two hundred thousand cubic yards of concrete. The final structure has three domes that are supported by great buttresses which are about one hundred feet long with thirty meter centers. The sumptuous dimensions of the project are a constant wonder for tourists but they also serve a useful purpose because there is capacity to deal with the economic requirements of the local people. In that respect the Coolidge Dam is a useful addition to the local communities.
The San Carlos Lake is not permanently full. It only beams up in the wet season. However the presence of the dam has been able to change the landscape and to provide an economic outlet for the local community. The functionality of a heritage site is complemented by the practical aspects of the projects. The preservation model is all about ensuring that Native Americans are not forgotten in the midst of globalization.
The future for the Coolidge Dam
At the moment the Coolidge Dam serves practical purposes but there is nothing to say that its tourism value will not great. As the number of heritage sites dwindles, the younger generations will want to see how things were done in the old days. They will want to visit projects such as the Coolidge Dam. Meanwhile the practical elements of the project will continue to serve the needs of the modern world.