Infiltration

In a retention pond near Skyway Elementary there is a maybe 3' RCP infall, which is partly filled with the dank smell of algae and dead fish (in the summer during our first visits) and an oily shale mud, the whole of which can be best described as 'icky.' Fortunately for the hygiene concerned UEer, there is another access point located 20 feet down the line, a rectangular room with metal grates constructed of I-beams as the ceiling serves as an excellent way in, providing you brought your small socket set, or a hammer. Being that my house is but a 2 minute walk to the drain infall, the socket set was easily retrieved. Once one of the grate sections had been removed it was time to delve into the drain. Within 50 feet of the in point there is about an 18 in. waterfall (big stuff for a first drain, no?) followed by a short 8 footish slide, absolutely vile when the algae starts to coat the whole floor. Above the slide is a manhole, with no step irons, or light shining through, we later discovered it was covered with a large mound of dirt. following the slide is a rectangular room with street access through a manhole and a rain catcher hole in the gutter. Our first few trips we were giddy to get that far, and reluctant to venture further, due to the cobwebs lining the ceiling of the next RCP section. It wouldn't be for a few months that I would man up, get a hat, and go for gold. Apart from the first couple of features the drain was rather mundane, a few small rooms, mostly 5 footish RCP tunnel and an eventual outfall by 8th street near a self storage complex. The whole drain was about 1500 feet in length, with no branches...but for a first drain it was exhilarating, and hooked me to draining permanently.

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Infiltration Forums > Journal Index > Caver in the Concrete Jungle > The Skyway Drain, Colorado Springs(Viewed 1809 times)

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