Hydraulic structure in The Judge(Movie)

[Allen1362]

Hi,
I have a question, I appreciate that if someone can help me out.
Last night i watched a movie called The Judge. It has been filmed in a town with a river flows through it. The name of this city is Shelburne in Massachusetts.

https://www.google.com.au/maps/@42.5989469,-72.7402319,2509a,20y,32.07h,10.88t/data=!3m1!1e3

I would like to know what kind of hydraulic structures has been used in this townn? Is it a detention pond? why do these facilities locate in residential area?
cheers.
Junior Engineer.

 

[psmart]

It appears to be a reservoir, built to supply water to a hydroelectric plant located downstream. The dam is located above just above Shelburne falls, thus maximizing head at the power station by taking advantage of the additional drop in the river.

As to why it is located in a "residential area", the town would have grown up around the falls, which would have been harnessed to powered mills long before the hydroelectric plant was built. Many mill towns were built around steep gradients because they were the most effective locations for water power.

Lots of interesting details in the 1913 edition of "Power".

Peter Smart
HydroCAD Software

http://www.hydrocad.net

 

[Allen1362]

Thanks Psmart for your help.