Hydro Update from Tyler: Project needs a new direction

Email from Tyler:
 
In bayonnais, there was severe flash flooding when we arrived saturday.  The high waterlevel was completely OVER THE TOP OF THE BRIDGE!  The bridge approaches where washed out buteverything else (platform, side walls) was structurally sound and intact.  When we arrivedthey had already rebuilt the approaches enough to allow travel soon after we got there.One structural issue we see when we looked at it again today is that the slab on thedownriver side of the bridge is erroding.  It looks like a section broke off during theflood.  we have pictures.
 
Also, the flooding damaged the water pipeline, so there is no running water this week.  Thepipe broke where it crosses a river branch east of the clinic...by the big tree and thesmall wooden pedestrian bridge (which was also completely destroyed).As far as the river that we intended to build the picohydro on, there is also lots offlooding there.  Scouting out more on sunday revealed a few unforeseen issues.  We would beunable to run the penstock over the mountain.  That would require running a pipe way up avery steep hill, much much higher than the height of the catchbasin.  Also, building thecatchbasin in the river was deemed extremely unwise by actionnel and we agree with thatassesment.  Assessing the site on sunday revealed more problems and that catchbasinconstruction would be more difficult and complex than initially planned to control the waterduring the rainy season.  In addition, after talking to actionnel, merrilouse, and kenold,we found out that when severe flooding actually occurs, the water level rises violentlyanother 6 to 8 feet.  Giant boulders flow down the river that can be heard loudly duringfloods and the entire river gets very raging and out of control.  Apparently, even at thelevel we were seeing it at, which gave some concerns, that level was still considered "verylow water level, nothing compared to floods".
 
There are many other factors and considerations that went into the decision to not gothrough with the picohydro.  Most importantly is actionnel's strong advice against it. He isafraid of building it and having it break, and if we were to go through with it and that isthe outcome, we would look very foolish for trying to attempt such a bad idea.We all feel confident that this is the best decision and the only correct decision given the circumstances and the information we now know.  There's much more we can elaborate on oncewe get back to wisconsin, but be assured that this is what is best in the long run.Also, please update the travel blog or send an email to contact people to let them know wehave arrived safely and all is well.
 
Hopefully, we can continue to get some more internet again sometime in the week.Some things
 
-survey new clinic plot (we'll do this wednesday with actionnel)
-survey a new plot of land purchased by OFCB up in the mountains.  This is the location of a possible future satelite school/church (thurs/fri)
-Assess section of broken water pipe.  A reinforced structure where it crosses the river will likely be desired.