Английская Википедия:American Dam

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The American Dam, or American Diversion Dam, is a diversion dam on the Rio Grande in El Paso, Texas, that divides the river water between Mexico and the U.S. It is about Шаблон:Convert north of the point where the west bank of the river enters Mexico, Шаблон:Convert from the business center. The dam is operated by the International Boundary and Water Commission.Шаблон:Sfn It started operation in 1938.Шаблон:Sfn

Origins

The dam has its origins in the 21 May 1906 treaty between the United States and Mexico for "an equitable distribution of the waters of the Rio Grande." This guaranteed Mexico up to Шаблон:Convert annually, with the Americans taking the rest, except in time of drought when the shares would be reduced on a percentage basis. The Mexicans would withdraw their water from the Rio Grande at the Acequia Madre in Ciudad Juárez about Шаблон:Convert downstream from the point where the river starts to form the international border.Шаблон:Sfn

To ensure that they got their agreed share, in 1935 Congress authorized construction of the American Dam, which measures the Mexican portion before it reached the international border and lets it continue along the river to the Acequia Madre, while diverting the rest along the new Шаблон:Convert long American Canal to the Franklin Canal, used to irrigate the Шаблон:Convert long El Paso valley.Шаблон:Sfn

Location

Файл:American Dam and Canal at Smeltertown El Paso Texas.jpg

Aerial view, from the southeast, of the corner of Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico, with the Rio Grande, American Dam, American Canal, and abandoned Smeltertown site, and the old Asarco smelter area. The dam site is below the two railroad bridges over the river. The American Dam Headquarters building (white, center) is in the abandoned Smeltertown neighborhood. A section of border wall privately constructed in 2019 is visible extending west from the dam.

The dam is part of the Rio Grande Project. It marks the end of the Mesilla Valley section, which starts at the Leasburg Diversion Dam Шаблон:Convert upstream, and marks the beginning of the El Paso Valley section, which extends downstream for another Шаблон:Convert on the American side of the Rio Grande. Шаблон:Convert are irrigated in the El Paso Valley.Шаблон:Sfn The International Dam, about Шаблон:Convert below the American dam, diverts water for the Mexican side of the El Paso Valley, usually called the Valle de Juarez.Шаблон:Sfn Beyond the ruins at Fort Quitman the Rio Grande riverbed is often dry until the confluence of the Rio Conchos.Шаблон:Sfn

The location at the corner of Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico puts the dam in an area sensitive to border issues. In 2019, the private group We Build the Wall built a half-mile section of border wall extending west from the dam into New Mexico, with a locked gate on federal land by the dam, which blocks access to Monument One on the border, and to part of the levee. The International Boundary and Water Commission cut the lock and locked the gate open to preserve their access to the road along the riverbank by the dam.

Structure

The American Dam was built in 1937–1938 at a cost to the United States Government of $667,398. It is Шаблон:Convert long, with thirteen radial gates. Water is diverted into the American Canal over a weir, parallel to the general course of the river, with intake controlled by two radial gates.Шаблон:Sfn The dam has a normal operating depth of Шаблон:Convert, has a structural height of Шаблон:Convert, and is flanked by earthen dikes. The crest elevation is Шаблон:Convert above sea level,Шаблон:Sfn The main spillway into the Rio Grande has a capacity of Шаблон:Convert.

Downstream canals

The American Canal is about Шаблон:Convert long, and has a design capacity of Шаблон:Convert of water.Шаблон:Sfn The American Canal runs along the north bank of the Rio Grande for two miles, then delivers water into the Rio Grande American Canal Extension (RGACE). This carries water for the Rio Grande Reclamation Project about Шаблон:Convert to the Riverside Canal Heading, which is just downstream from the Ysleta–Zaragoza International Bridge.Шаблон:Sfn By the late 1990s the original American Canal was in poor condition, particularly in the open sections, and operating well below its original planned capacity.Шаблон:Sfn

The cement-lined RGACE replaced part of the earthen Franklin Canal, which delivered water through the city of El Paso to farms in El Paso’s Lower Valley.Шаблон:Sfn The RGACE, built from 1997 to 1998, was designed to carry Шаблон:Convert of water.Шаблон:Sfn During planning for the RGACE the Mexicans expressed interest in having their Шаблон:Convert allotment delivered from the end of the RGACE near Riverside Dam, rather than to the head of the Acequia Madre just below the American Dam, as at present.Шаблон:Sfn The water would be delivered via a siphon underneath the Rio Grande.Шаблон:Sfn

References

Citations Шаблон:Reflist Sources Шаблон:Refbegin

• Шаблон:Cite web
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