Saw Mill River Daylighting - Creating a New Riverbed
Saw Mill River Daylighting
Creating a New Riverbed
The riverbed before you is a newly created path for the Saw Mill River. This area evolved from a wide bay at the mouth of the river to a congested industrial area, with the river channeled along Dock Street. Ultimately it was paved over in the 1920s, with no river in sight until November 2011.
Now the river has been uncovered and engineered to improve water quality, create a habitat for fish species and protect the park from flooding. Here are the "working parts" of this unique project:
Netting Chamber
Plastic bags and other garbage can destroy river ecosystems. A netting chamber was installed to filter this waste from the river before it enters the park. A special channel is installed to let fish pass.
Fish Ladder
A fish ladder enables fish to swim up a steep elevation through a series of steps into the waters on the other side. Small "pools" inside the ladder allow the fish to rest between jumps.
Water Quality
During large storms, the old combined sewer system spilled untreated sewage into the Saw Mill River, Separating the sewer from the stormwater ensures that when it rains, no sewage goes into the river.
Intercept Chamber
Diverting water from the flume to the new riverbed.
Sluice Gate
Allows water to flow into the newly created river path.
Weir
Diverts water from the flume into the park. Excess water from heavy rain overflows into the flume to prevent flooding.
Netting Chamber
Plastic bags and other garbage can destroy river ecosystems. A netting chamber was installed to filter this waste from the river before it enters the park. A special channel is installed to let fish pass.
Fish Ladder
A fish ladder enables fish to swim up a steep elevation through a series of steps into the waters on the other side. Small "pools" inside the ladder allow the fish to rest between jumps.
Water Quality
During large storms, the old combined sewer system spilled untreated sewage into the Saw Mill River, Separating the sewer from the stormwater ensures that when it rains, no sewage goes into the river.
Intercept Chamber
Diverting water from the flume to the new riverbed.
Sluice Gate
Allows water to flow into the newly created river path.
Weir
Diverts water from the flume into the park. Excess water from heavy rain overflows into the flume to prevent flooding.
Underground Flume
A 1/4-mile-long concrete arch, poured in place in the 1920s, covers the Saw Mill River from Warburton Avenue to the train station at the mouth of the river. The flume remains in place for flood prevention.
A 1/4-mile-long concrete arch, poured in place in the 1920s, covers the Saw Mill River from Warburton Avenue to the train station at the mouth of the river. The flume remains in place for flood prevention.
Riffles
Jumbled rocks and narrowing of the river create turbulence and cause the stream to flow at a higher velocity. This turbulence aerates the water and provides resting places for fish on their way upriver.
Jumbled rocks and narrowing of the river create turbulence and cause the stream to flow at a higher velocity. This turbulence aerates the water and provides resting places for fish on their way upriver.
Tidal Pool - Confluence Chamber
A confluence is a meeting of two or more bodies of water. Here the new river flows back into the old flume path and meets the Hudson River. Tides from the Hudson flow into the tidal pool twice a day.
Submitted by @lampbane
A confluence is a meeting of two or more bodies of water. Here the new river flows back into the old flume path and meets the Hudson River. Tides from the Hudson flow into the tidal pool twice a day.
Submitted by @lampbane