U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Bay Model facts for kids
View of the San Francisco Bay portion of the Bay Model.
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| Established | 1957 |
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| Location | 2100 Bridgeway, Sausalito, California |
| Key holdings | Hydraulic model of the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta |
| Owner | US Army Corps of Engineers, San Francisco District |
| Public transit access | Golden Gate Transit, bus routes 2, 4, 30, or 92; or Golden Gate Ferry from San Francisco |
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Bay Model is a huge working model of the San Francisco Bay and the rivers that flow into it. It's like a giant map that uses real water to show how the bay works! This amazing model is a hydraulic scale model, meaning it uses water to show how things move and change.
Even though the Bay Model still works, it's not used for scientific studies anymore. Instead, it's a fun place for everyone to visit. You can learn all about how water moves in the bay. The model is located at the Bay Model Visitor Center in Sausalito, California.
Contents
Building the Bay Model
In the late 1940s, a man named John Reber had an idea. He wanted to build two big dams in the San Francisco Bay. His goal was to provide more fresh water for people and farms. He also hoped to connect local towns better.
Why the Model Was Built
In 1953, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers decided to study Reber's idea very closely. Another person, Cornelius Biemond, had a similar plan. His idea was to dam the Sacramento River to send fresh water through pipes.
The Bay Model was built to test these plans. Its construction finished in 1957. The tests showed that Reber's plan wouldn't work. So, the idea was stopped.
Expanding the Model
From 1966 to 1969, more parts were added to the model. This included the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta area. This expansion helped scientists study how deeper shipping channels would affect water quality. They also looked at how changing river paths would impact the water. Once finished, the expanded model covered about 2 acres of land.
How Big is the Bay Model?
The model is truly massive! It stretches about 320 feet from north to south. It's also about 400 feet long from east to west.
What the Model is Made Of
The model is built from 286 huge concrete pieces. Each piece weighs about five tons. They fit together perfectly, just like a giant jigsaw puzzle.
What the Model Shows
The model shows everything that affects water flow in the San Francisco Bay. It includes the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. You can see many features like:
- Shipping channels
- Rivers and creeks
- Canals in the Delta
- Wharves and piers
- Dikes and bridges
- Breakwaters
The model covers a huge area. It goes 17 miles into the Pacific Ocean past the Golden Gate. It includes the San Francisco Bay, San Pablo Bay, and Suisun Bay. It also covers the entire Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. This goes north to Verona, near Sacramento. It goes south to Vernalis, near Stockton.
Understanding the Model's Scale
The Bay Model is a "scale model." This means everything is made much smaller than real life.
- Horizontal Scale: For every 1,000 feet in the real world, it's only 1 foot in the model.
- Vertical Scale: For every 100 feet in the real world, it's 1 foot in the model.
- Time Scale: The model also runs faster than real time. One day in the model is like 100 days in real life!
Why the Model is Distorted
You might notice the model is "distorted." The vertical scale is 10 times larger than the horizontal scale. This might seem strange, but it's done on purpose! This distortion helps the water flow correctly over the shallow areas. It makes the water move more efficiently.
To make sure the water flow is exactly right, copper strips are placed throughout the model. The number of these strips is carefully adjusted. This helps the model accurately show how water moves in the real bay.
