Dam terminology-what do you call it?

[rosietheriviter]

There is also a cement tower in the lake. There is a pipe at the bottom of it that passes through the dam and feeds the creek behind the dam. The water flows over a cement lip on each side of the tower.

Before I tell you what I call these towers...what do you call them. Other terms I've heard (which are probably more accurate) include 'riser' and 'intake'.

'Round here, they are called it the "glory hole"

Rosie

 

[hudr]

I'm sorry, but the only I could think of when I saw this post was Randy Quaid in "Vacation"

Tour Guide: "I am your Dam guide,.... blah blah blah...Any Dam questions?"
Randy Quaid:"Where's the Dam bathroom!"

 

[JB4310]

We have a 30 billion gallon reservoir here serving 400,000 people, we just call it the gate house or control room. The spillway is just that, to allow overflow to spill around dam and not over the top which would compromise it's integrity. The spillway is huge and is quite the engineering marvel in it's self. Our spillway feeds into a 450 acre lake just below the dam and is open to public recreation, when you are down on the lake swimming or canoeing and look up at that dam, it's really something as it must be at least 150 feet higher than the lake, kinda scary thinking what would happen if that dam ever let loose.

 

[Bird]

I think for smaller dams the term 'spillway' is usually applied to the low part that the end of a dam that allows water to escape if it gets high enough.

For smaller dams? I thought that was true of all dams.

gated portions integral to the dam that can be opened or closed to release water.

We call those "flood gates".

I grew up near Lake Murray, SC

And I grew up near Lake Murray, OK. The dam for Lake Murray, 5,728 acres, was built using teams of horses and mules before the days of tractors. I spent quite a few nights with my dad in a little boat fishing below Tuckers Tower from the time I was about 10 years old until I was 16.

 

[RobS]

I used to hang out at the local dam in high school. Interesting place. In our area, a spillway is just about anything downstream of the actual dam and gates. The gates are opened and the water flows down the spillway. Could also be the low spot where the water can wash over the dam, but only that portion of it below the high spot of the dam. I know what you are talking about with the tower but I don't have a name for it. The water that flows out of it probably exits on a spillway of some sort.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I call the 1st line water level control a standpipe. The backup for when the level cant be controled by the pipe is the spillway. The spillway is designed to go into use at somewhat above the nominal water level and to tolerate very heavy flow channeling water around the dam in order to avert a catastrophy. They are particularly important on an earthen dam due to the erosion sensitivity of the disturbed soil in the constructed dam.
larry

 

[N80]

For smaller dams? I thought that was true of all dams.

I just said 'smaller dams' because that's all i know anything about....and apparently that 'anything' aint much!

 

[N80]

Spillway - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Bird]

I just said 'smaller dams' because that's all i know anything about....and apparently that 'anything' aint much!

You're bound to know as much as I do. Speaking of terminology, when I bought the place in the country, right away I heard people talking about putting "horns" at the end of driveways. I had never heard a "culvert" called a "horn" until 1995, but quickly learned that was common terminology in Navarro County.

 

[TBDonnelly]

You're bound to know as much as I do. Speaking of terminology, when I bought the place in the country, right away I heard people talking about putting "horns" at the end of driveways. I had never heard a "culvert" called a "horn" until 1995, but quickly learned that was common terminology in Navarro County.

Now Bird, are you sure they weren't talking about Texas 'longhorns' over a gated driveway entry.

Don