"To: LenS
"Of course, the WTC was heavy damage in a limited area within our biggest metropolitan area -- equipment and trained people to operate was everywhere. "
There are photos of small craft under power within a few hundred feet of the breech. These 40hp boats are very capable of towing vessels up to 75 ft to the breech area - espcially as the current is going that
way.
The depth of the lake drops to a few feet after the breech and anything towed from the lake will snag there - do this 100 times and you have an effective structure that will become more water tight as weeds,
lumber, etc fills up nooks and crannies.
"
Ok...look.
A long time ago I owned a small marine construction company.
I do not believe I could dam a 20 foot wide creek, of a three foot depth and a walking pace flow rate, even with unlimited funds and preparation, without unwatering the site.
I know what you are feeling.
I'd like to airdrop an aircraft carrier in that hole and stop it cold, but it isn't going to happen.
It just isn't.
New Orleans is going to flood to the specified depth and no amount of hindsite will change it.
There are, however, several other critical variables still in flux.
I want that hole plugged too, but it isn't going to happen, not tonight, and by tomorrow it won't matter.
Current efforts are geared towards getting as many people out of New Orleans as we can, and maybe saving some of the survivors still stranded or trapped elsewhere.
There are a lot of these.
IMO, it is time to consider allocating your priorities to issues that we have the ability to change for the better.
Well-stated reality bump
If we could only drop Micheal Moore and Ted Kennedy in the levee breech we could save the city. Maybe those two could finally be of some use.
"I do not believe I could dam a 20 foot wide creek, of a three foot depth and a walking pace flow rate, even with unlimited funds and preparation, without unwatering the site. "
I guess you do alot of govt work. :-)
Seriously, we have a creek that is exactly 30 ' wide and 2-3' deep. It feeds a raceway that supplies a pond.
There is 3' of water to feed the raceway there only because of a dam made of bank run stone that we have to repile after every major storm. Its amazing what 3 men and a boy can do in one hour and as this is a trout production stream - it runs fast and cold.