A River Runs Through It... Except Here

I've been conscious of the Trinity River since I was about... oh, six months old, I guess. We had to cross it on a rickety old bridge about four times a week in a covered wagon Ford Falcon station wagon to get into town. I've watched it flood many times. I've ridden miles and miles along it's banks on my bicycle and my motorcycle. And recently I have had the opportunity to paddle extensively on it in my kayaks.

So today I found it intriguing to be able to stand on the bottom of it while doing this photo shoot. The city has decided to install a standing wave for us paddle sport types to play on (here's a finished one in a city right down the interstate). This is just the start of a huge master project to convert the entire floodplain into a recreation area. Yeah, they are 'using' us kayakers to try to bring commerce into the area and reform it into a thriving community. Cool! Smite us with that responsibility.

So I have been documenting the progress of this project over the last month or so. Completion date is estimated for December 2010. They certainly have the equipment to pull that off... and the cooperation from the weather. I think the six lakes above this section are all well below conservation level. More pics here and here.