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Santa is Stuck!Swept Away
The Huntington Dam built by the Army Corps of Engineers in the 1960s is a vital addition to control flooding in residential areas of Huntington. The dam controls the depth of the reservoir, which I have seen can range dramatically from well below normal, where I could walk out to the tall bouys without getting wet-- the same ones that would be well over my head if I went swimming during the summer-- to as high as the picnic area which is quite a ways up the ramp. In the latter scenario, the beach becomes engulfed. Trees and wooden picnic shelters become quite submerged. And you feel like you're in a completely different place.
To see the current released by the dam, which can be quite mesmerizing, you have to go to the side of the road opposite the beach area, where there is always ample parking and restrooms with running water. Walk up the inclined paved area towards the chain-link fence (where many people try to find their catch of the day in fishing). Look straight down and again, depending on the water level and the dam's controls, you can hear and see frothy swirls of water bubbling below, with an apparent grace that carries them downstream. At night, the water appears pitch black and the froth very white, creating a wonderful contrast of vibrant movement. A neat challenge is to try to keep your eyes focused on one specific spot without allowing your eyes to also roam downstream with the bubbly water. I often feel a false sense of myself moving with the current, when I'm actually just standing still. It's a nice way to get lost in the moment and truly swept away!
