Niagara Falls, at least its American side, could soon run dry.
But it won't happen out of a strange phenomenon or some sick joke on nature. The New York State Office of Parks proposed the temporary dewatering of the famed natural sight to replace a number of old bridges connecting different sections of Niagara Falls State Park.
The planned dewatering will affect American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls, two out of three adjacent falls.
The concrete arch bridges, offering visitors access to Goat Island, are believed to have deteriorated significantly since their construction in the 1900s. They were last closed back in 2004, when park officials provided temporary bridges situated above the aging concrete ones.
According to an environmental assessment report, the 115-year-old bridges must be replaced.
“Analysis of the superstructures of the bridges concluded that rehabilitation of the bridges is not a viable alternative, given the extensive deterioration of the existing arches, and the type of construction that was originally used for these bridges,” says the report (PDF).
Park officials said that the replacement bridges need to be constructed “in the dry,” which will ensure that the new foundations are tightly anchored to bedrock and that the original bridge will be completely removed once demolished.
While the entire plan is projected to take two years, Niagara Falls could be dewatered for either five or nine months.
It is still uncertain, however, when the American Falls will be shut off, but it is certain that it will not happen anytime soon.
“It’ll be three years at the soonest before work begins, but more likely five, six, or seven,” estimated parks spokesperson Angela Berti in an interview.
Niagara Falls is located on the western side of New York, on the Canadian border. The Niagara River links Lake Erie to Lake Ontario, and drops over 100 feet about halfway between the two bodies of water. On the Canadian side lies one of the three distinct falls: Horseshoe Falls, the towering 165-foot marvel that accounts for around 85 percent of the river flow.
The American side of the renowned falls last ran dry in 1969, when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers implemented a geological survey to probe erosion of the popular landmark. Tourists, though, continued to pour in and reached a reported 89,790 in one weekend.
The dewatering aspect is expected to take up a mere $3 million of the projected $27 million project.
Photo: Joe deSousa | Flickr
