Hoist Those Gates!
Posted by: 
Volcanoguy
N 43° 51.406 W 110° 35.402
12T E 532947 N 4856046
History sign at Jackson Lake Dam in Grand Teton National Park.
Waymark Code: WME3KV
Location: Wyoming, United States
Date Posted: 03/30/2012
Views: 3
Gates Control Flow
Fifteen 2.5-ton gates at the base of Jackson Lake Dam control the reservoir level by controlling the amount of water released. This is done by raising and lowering the gates The reservoir is not filled when there is flood danger, leaving room to store water. During summer, water is discharged at t controlled rate to benefit agriculture and recreation.
Hoisting the Gates
Modernized now, this type of gate hoist was manually operated from 1911 to 1986. The dam tender moved the engine cart along rails on top of the dam to the chosen gate. The dam tender moved the engine cart along rails on top of the dam to the chosen gate. The drive shaft on the hoist engine and the drive collar on the reduction gears were engaged. This series of gears served to either raise or lower the gate.
Imagine manipulating these immense gates by pushing the cart to the gate, starting the engine with the crank, engaging the shafts, then raising the gate and watching the water shoot out the tunnels below the dam.
Marker Name: Hoist Those Gates!
Marker Type: Rural Roadside
Group Responsible for Placement: Bureau of Reclamation
Addtional Information: Not listed
Date Dedicated: Not listed
Marker Number: Not listed
Web link(s) for additional information: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
Please post a photo of you OR your GPS at the marker location. Also if you know of any additional links not already mentioned about this bit of Wyoming history please include that in your log.