The Embudo Stream Gauging Station is a
stream gauge established in 1888 as the
United States Geologic Survey's first training center for
hydrographers. The station, near the town of
Embudo along the
Rio Grande
The Rio Grande ( and ), known in Mexico as the Río Bravo del Norte or simply the Río Bravo, is one of the principal rivers (along with the Colorado River) in the southwestern United States and in northern Mexico.
The length of the Rio G ...
in northern
New Mexico
)
, population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano)
, seat = Santa Fe
, LargestCity = Albuquerque
, LargestMetro = Tiguex
, OfficialLang = None
, Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ker ...
, was used to develop tools and techniques for measuring stream flow in the arid, western United States.
History
The Embudo Stream Gauging Station was established as part of the United States Geologic Survey Irrigation Survey, a project to map water basins and collect streamflow data in an effort to make informed irrigation infrastructure decisions, directed by
Clarence Dutton
Clarence Edward Dutton (May 15, 1841 – January 4, 1912) was an American geologist and US Army officer. Dutton was born in Wallingford, Connecticut on May 15, 1841. He graduated from Yale College in 1860 and took postgraduate courses there until ...
.
While Dutton was able to locate topographers and irrigation engineers for the survey, he was not able to locate hydrographers, so a training camp was established at Embudo, New Mexico. Engineers, including camp director
Frederick H.Newell, first arrived in December 1888.
While canvas tents and cots were purchased, the unanticipated cold of the higher elevation site led to the use of shallow trenches with blankets rather than cots and small cave dug in a nearby hillside for sleeping.
By early March 1889, the camp hosted 21 residents, including 15 students. The training period ended in April 1889 with ten of the students taking on hydrographer positions in the Irrigation Survey. Stream measurements were continued by the local railroad agent until 1904 and were then discontinued. Measurements resumed in 1912 by a new railroad agent, and in 1915 the station operation was taken on by the State of New Mexico. The USGS resumed operation of the stream gauging station in July 1931.
Recognition
The site was designated a
Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the
American Society of Civil Engineers
American(s) may refer to:
* American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America"
** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America
** American ancestry, pe ...
in 1973 and listed on the
New Mexico State Register of Cultural Properties The New Mexico State Register of Cultural Properties is a register of historic and prehistoric properties located in the state of New Mexico. It is maintained by the New Mexico Historic Preservation Division of the New Mexico Department of Cultura ...
in 1974.
See also
*
Willow Beach Gauging Station
References
{{Reflist
New Mexico State Register of Cultural Properties
Historic Civil Engineering Landmarks