As promised a few days ago, here are some more pix of the work on the newest water catchment in Spring Creek Basin. 🙂
You won’t ever catch our BLM guys sitting down on the job! As I mentioned in the last post about the project, the guys started by setting up the laser level to mark the heights of the steel pipes that will hold the I-beams, which will support the purlins, which will be topped by the roof, which will catch the rain and snow to fill the tanks to water the mustangs! So here, Garth Nelson is setting the laser in a place where it will be high enough to shoot over the tops of the tanks so the pipes can all be marked. Not sitting down so much as getting the eyeball view!
While Garth set up the laser level, Daniel Chavez held the little doohickey that caught the laser at the right height at all the pipes and marked the appropriate levels.
Measure many times and many ways before the final cut, goes the saying? Garth and Mike Jensen also ran string lines to ensure the levels.
Most of the pipes required a fair bit to be cut off, but this one needed just a little sliver. … It also was the pipe that started to alert the guys that something was amiss with the blade(s) on their nifty little saw – and this pic of Daniel using it gives a little better glimpse of that tool.
For those of you interested in such things, here’s another angle of one of the guys’ favorite tools. The “blade” is a band that goes around those black wheels on the underside of the tool. Usually, it saws through heavy “stem pipe” almost like a hot knife through butter (a bit slower, but steel is, after all, steel!), but the first couple-few blades they tried – brand new out of the package – were just dulling the teeth on the blades within minutes. NOT working. That’s what led to the double-tool whammy of using the grinder tool as well as this tool – and then finding the blade that worked, which worked for all the rest of the pipes.
Using the tractor to carry the heavy I-beams to set atop the pipes.
While Daniel got started welding the first I-beam to the pipes in the middle of the catchment structure, Garth finished cutting the pipes to height/length.
The welding process fascinates me …!
The A-team!
Sparks flying – another good reason to wait till cooler weather for the completion of the project. 🙂
Garth holds the I-beam steady and level while Daniel makes the first weld to hold it in place.
Garth finished the welding on the last beam.
Working in Spring Creek Basin does have the perks of fabulous scenery. 🙂
Next up should be welding the purlins atop the I-beams!
Spring Creek Basin Mustangs 
What amazing work and documentation. It is truly a work of love for the horses! That is a cool tool cutting steel. It is a good thing they know what they are doing!
Huge thanks to all!
They figure this stuff out, and the horses benefit!
Many thanks to the great BLM guys for all their hard work!
We’re hugely grateful for all their hard work!
wow great project!!!! done so well!!!!
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Thanks. 🙂 It’s our second water catchment designed like this and will be the fourth water catchment in Spring Creek Basin.
Fascinating details!! Thanks guys for all you’re doing to help our SCB mustangs !!
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They do amazing work!
Hooray!!! Water for all!!!
We’ve been very blessed this year with rain, and all the basin’s ponds are full (still). These water-catchment projects not only provide water in the short term but also long term as the West gets ever drier. This one adds to our “bank” of water for the mustangs. 🙂
I never stop being impressed with “our” guys! Everything like clockwork, ticking right along. And yes – what a space to call your “office!” Sone of the best scenery there is and one of my favorite places in the Basin. Such a great location for a catchment!
Oops. “Some” of the best scenery.
They sure know how to “get ‘er done”! 🙂 We are so very fortunate to have them working for our mustangs and our range.
Hard workers. My husband was a heavy duty welder.
Your husband and our guys would have had a lot to talk about! It takes some skill and patience, for sure! 🙂