The huge 'Glory Gat' in Lake Berryessa from Napa County is visible for the first time since 2019.
When the water level of the lake rises above 440 feet, this 72-foot-wide circular drain prevents flooding by allowing excess water to flow down straight down in Putah Creek.
That is what happens now if heavy rainfall has increased the water level of the lake this winter, which was already at a peak in February.
This process, called 'Walkover', shows the lake as if it has a gigantic hole. Water that rushes into the mouth of this huge pipe, makes it look like a morning glorie flower, where it gets its official name: leaves the morning glory.
But the locals mentioned the 'Glory Gat' in the sixties.
Seeing the glory -gater experience is a rare treat. Usually the water level of Lake Berryessa remains below 440 feet, and this colossal concrete tube pours out over the surface of the lakes.
Built between 1953 and 1957, this drain was used only 25 times in its nearly 70 -year history, according to the Solano County Water Agency.
When high water levels ensure that the glory hole comes into action, tourists come to a turn on Highway 128 where they can safely view the landing.
'Landing' makes the mouth of the drain on a morning gloring. That is where it gets its official name – the morning glory – overlap – but the locals have given it the nickname 'Glory Gat'
When high water levels ensure that the glory hole comes into action, tourists come to a turn on Highway 128 where they can safely view the landing
“It is certainly worth seeing,” Chris Lee, general manager of the Solano County Water Agency, told the La Times.
“I was lucky to see it a few times … It's just not that usual,” he added.
During the first two days of February, an atmospheric river threw crop over California, which caused widespread landslides, send 'biblical' floods and the water level of Lake Berryessa above 440 feet.
The glory hole experienced overflow by 4 February. That same day, another 'life -threatening' storm moved to the state, which increases the water level of the more even higher.
This overflow event has now lasted more than 40 days. From Tuesday, the water level of Lake Berryessa was still six centimeters above the level.
But Lee told the San Francisco Chronicle that it would probably fall under this figure and put it in the drain the following week.
However, there is a small chance of more precipitation on Lake Berryessa in the coming days, which means that the water level could rise again, depending on how much rain dives in the country before it runs in the lake, Lee said.
“If we get an important drain, we could see it next week,” he said.
This overflow event has now lasted more than 40 days. From Tuesday, the water level of Lake Berryessa was still six centimeters above the level of the level
The glorie hole is designed to create a laminar stream, that is when water travels in a hole in smooth layers. This prevents it from creating a hot tub
The majority of the water that flows from Lake Berryessa is used to irrigate farms, but this also offers drinking water to around 500,000 people, according to Lee.
Overflow events can sometimes take months. In 2017, for example, Water started to flow into the Glory Gat in February and continued to exist until May.
The construction of this drainage pipe and the Monticello -Dam, which Putah Creek seized to create Lake Berryessa, was completed in 1957.
The glorie hole is approximately 200 feet from Dam Square and is designed to create a laminar current, that is when water travels in a hole in smooth layers.
This prevents it from creating a whirlpool that could suck boats or swimmers below.
But that does not mean that this never happened. In 1997 a 41-year-old woman from Davis, California, was sucked and killed along the leap.
Authorities said witnesses reported that they saw the woman swimming for the leap. She then fell out of sight and deposited until her death after grabbing the edge of the hole for about 20 minutes, they said.
This is the only well -known death that took place in the morning glory. A row of buoys surround the gap to keep water sports enthusiasts and swimmers at a safe distance.
