Pullin' Chocks

Stone Arch Bridge, Clements Kansas

Gari found this little gem within 60 miles of us and it seemed like a fine distraction to go and visit.  The bonus was that there is also a Corp of Engineers project near Council Groves, KS on the return trip.  We thought a picnic at the lake would be a fine idea.  This was also a chance for us to run a little more fuel through the new auxilary diesel fuel tank we installed in the back of the truck.  We are happy to report that the fuel transfer worked well and the truck ran just fine; no differences detected after install.

We quickly found the bridge with GPS and Google Maps.  The creek barely showed up on the map, although it was a good sized creek, a small river I would say.  The view from the top of the bridge was quite high from the creek below, I estimate 30-35 feet.  We could see some large fish swinging their tail fins in the strong current below.  We are guessing they were 10 lb+ catfish, they were big rascals!

Arriving at the bridge.

 

 

Council Groves Lake, Corp of Engineers Project 

Council Grove Lake was built by the Tulsa District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers between 1960 and 1964 at a cost of $11.5 million.  It was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1950, and construction was prompted by the devastating flood of 1951.

The lake was built for the purposes of flood damage reduction, water storage, water quality enhancement, fish and wildlife conservation and recreation.  To date, the lake is credited with preventing an estimated $175 million in flood damages.

The lake derives its name from the nearby community of Council Grove, Kansas.  As early as the 1820s, the place where Council Grove stands was mentioned by travelers.  It is said that mountain man Kit Carson cut the name “Council Grove” on a buffalo hide and nailed it to a huge oak tree.  Under that tree in 1825, a treaty was signed with the Osage Indians to establish the Santa Fe Trail.  The huge oak became known as the Council Oak, and is now a National Register Historic Site. 

We saw the General Custer Elm Tree but not the Council Oak tree when driving through town, but didn't know what it was and didn't stop :(

Custer Elm Tree

CoE Project

 Our picnic site