The River Was Wider Yesterday
Yesterday, I managed to get my new digital SLR camera together in time to take some photos of the rising flood waters. Despite my inexpert photography skills, the camera is amazing and a vast improvement on ye olde cheap digital camera. Though while on Pawtuckette Blvd, I thought, I’ve been here before…
Great big metal beams protect the city from its canal system at Francis Gate.
Putting the beams into place.
It was nasty, raining, and cold out.
These steps, choked with water and debris, usually go down quite a ways when the water is normal.
The Francis Gate from Broadway St.
Sheehy Park under water, near UML’s South Campus
No picnic, today.
More of Sheehy Park
Pawtucket St., with some adventurous kids.
The river was wider…
Contemplating a daring crossing…they wisely decided against it.
From Pawtucket Blvd.
The wild power of the river.
The state park underwater.
It engulfed Pawtucket Blvd.
What is normally a waterfall, almost flat with excess water.
[Filed under Environment]
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April 18th, 2007 at 3:06 pm
How did the Dunkin Donuts and Brunswick Bowling alley make out?
April 18th, 2007 at 3:08 pm
It was really dark yesterday, cloudy and really cold…many photos came out darkish and someday, I’ll understand the Nikon well enough to compensate for that.
What a cold, gloomey, wet, rainy day.
April 18th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
Haven’t heard. Last I heard they sandbagged Brunswick’s entrances, but I don’t know if that worked.
They really got hit hard last year. Much of the city which was under water in 06, however, was protected by the measures the city took since, and during this crisis. The residents have a lot to thank the administration for learning from the last experience. It’s not one they care to repeat, but they’re ready as best they can be.
April 18th, 2007 at 7:04 pm
Great pictures, thanks for sharing them.
April 19th, 2007 at 2:13 am
Excellent pix. Makes us humble all over again.
April 19th, 2007 at 7:43 am
Lynne,
Great photos. What kind of SLR did you get? Does it take brief video as well? I’m thinking of getting one but it will be a ‘08 or ‘09 purchase.
When we were up in Lowell for the NENF at the Mill we( the gang from BelowBoston) started talking about the flood from last year. That Mill, really the whole city, is lovely and we hope didn’t sustain too much damage from the most recent storm.
April 19th, 2007 at 8:16 am
I know people with IE will have trouble with seeing the photos…I never did have time to fiddle with the CSS to make it work there. *sigh* Sorry!
It is a Nikon D70 Susan, a friend of mine upgraded and sold me the body of his D70…which meant I had to get a lens, but I do now.
I had been pining for one like 2 years now, so I figured this was my chance.
Now, if only I knew how to take advantage of all its features!
April 19th, 2007 at 10:29 am
For those who can’t see the pictures… here are some direct links to them:
http://leftinlowell.com/wp-content/photos/flood07/flood_apr07_01.jpg
http://leftinlowell.com/wp-content/photos/flood07/flood_apr07_02.jpg
http://leftinlowell.com/wp-content/photos/flood07/flood_apr07_03.jpg
http://leftinlowell.com/wp-content/photos/flood07/flood_apr07_04.jpg
http://leftinlowell.com/wp-content/photos/flood07/flood_apr07_05.jpg
http://leftinlowell.com/wp-content/photos/flood07/flood_apr07_06.jpg
http://leftinlowell.com/wp-content/photos/flood07/flood_apr07_07.jpg
http://leftinlowell.com/wp-content/photos/flood07/flood_apr07_08.jpg
http://leftinlowell.com/wp-content/photos/flood07/flood_apr07_09.jpg
http://leftinlowell.com/wp-content/photos/flood07/flood_apr07_10.jpg
http://leftinlowell.com/wp-content/photos/flood07/flood_apr07_11.jpg
http://leftinlowell.com/wp-content/photos/flood07/flood_apr07_12.jpg
http://leftinlowell.com/wp-content/photos/flood07/flood_apr07_13.jpg
http://leftinlowell.com/wp-content/photos/flood07/flood_apr07_14.jpg
http://leftinlowell.com/wp-content/photos/flood07/flood_apr07_15.jpg
http://leftinlowell.com/wp-content/photos/flood07/flood_apr07_16.jpg
http://leftinlowell.com/wp-content/photos/flood07/flood_apr07_17.jpg
http://leftinlowell.com/wp-content/photos/flood07/flood_apr07_18.jpg
http://leftinlowell.com/wp-content/photos/flood07/flood_apr07_19.jpg
http://leftinlowell.com/wp-content/photos/flood07/flood_apr07_20.jpg
http://leftinlowell.com/wp-content/photos/flood07/flood_apr07_21.jpg
http://leftinlowell.com/wp-content/photos/flood07/flood_apr07_22.jpg
April 21st, 2007 at 3:41 pm
Don’t you think it’s about time to look at what can be done to prevent all this flooding (enhanced measures to what the city already has)? 2 years in a row and it seems like it’ll only continue with bad rains!
April 21st, 2007 at 5:37 pm
One of the things that’s “being done” is the Combined Sewage Overflow Project that the federal government has mandated that Lowell complete. I spoke to Mayor Bill Martin this morning and told him that I noted that Pawtucket Blvd acted like a natural berm preventing the Merrimack from flowing as far as it might but that the storm drains reversed this allowing the water to collect on the opposite side of the road. He told me that last year a gate was placed in a storm drain in the Rosemont neighborhood and that it was instrumental in helping prevent the type of damage we saw there last year. He also said that these gates would be placed everywhere as part of the Project. I know it’s a major expense to the city which means the work will be slow being completed but as these gates are placed the backup of water through the storm drains will be prevented.
April 22nd, 2007 at 10:48 am
One caution with these “gates” is that they effectively block the drain in both directions. So, whereas they have the intended effect of preventing the river from backing up through the drainage system, they also limit the ability of the drainage system to handle runoff. There may have to be pumps placed in strategic locations to provide another path for the water to be removed, or portable pumps brought to areas with localized flooding.