Visiting San Francisco Bay, in a warehouse

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Until 2000, the Bay Model was still used as a research facility. But starting in that year, thanks to the Corps' acquisition of supercomputers that can do the necessary simulations, researchers no longer needed the site for scientific study. Since then, it has been used strictly for education.

Indeed, one sign informs visitors with no irony intended--but much received, by me at least--"Today, the only water involved in modeling the bay is in the drinking glass of a person operating the computer."

Ah, progress.

Nevertheless, the Corps of Engineers has no intention of closing down the Bay Model, and in fact, it is humming right along on its $1.1 million of Corps of Engineers general funds.

Ultimately, it is an engineering marvel. It is built on a horizontal scale of 1,000-to-1, and a vertical scale of 100-to-1. Cope explained that its sump tank holds 185,000 gallons of Sausalito tap water, and that it takes 135,000 of those gallons to flood the entire model.

In the morning, the model's operators flip a switch, and around 20 minutes later, all 135,000 gallons have filled the model. At the end of the day, they turn off the pumps and eventually, all the water flows back into the sump tank.

The model also has some charming features like a little Golden Gate Bridge, as well as small versions of the Bay Bridge and all the other major bridges in the area. No word yet on whether they will put in a new scale model when the new eastern span of the Bay Bridge opens in 2013.

There's also a small model of San Francisco's baseball stadium which, for some reason, is enclosed in a glass case. Perhaps they were afraid someone would steal it after Barry Bonds broke the home run record?

To Cope, this is the "Bay Model Miracle," because the whole thing still works. The Corps of Engineers doesn't give the facility extra money for maintenance, and so any repairs are done with in-house funds.

And while it is still fully functional, it is showing signs of aging. All around the model, on its floor, are little rust marks that have appeared over the years because of the rebar used in its concrete construction.

And as for how long it is expected to last? Well, no one knows, Cope said.

"Our engineer thinks it could go on for years and years," he said, noting that it's just a guess.

[mikeburek]

Cool

Sounds really cool. Wish there were some pictures of it. I guess I'll check Google after this. But just another cool thing to see someday when I visit the Bay Area. I'll have to take a 2-3 month vacation just to fit is all in!