Rhomboids

[pelmet]

https://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/2019 ... heres-how/

7.5 million floating balls deploying to make Redlands airport safer. Here’s how
The rhomboids will cover the nearby Citrus Reservoir.

After the 130-million-gallon Citrus Reservoir was completed near the Redlands Municipal Airport two years ago, a problem showed up the radar: Birds. Big ones.

Ted Gablin, director of the Redlands Airport Association, called the threat of a birdstrike from migrating geese worrisome for pilots.

“Somebody could die from this if they hit the geese going 80, 90 miles per hour,” he said.

A helicopter hit a large bird near the airport last year, though no one could pinpoint where the bird came from. No one was hurt except the bird, but the impact tore a hole in the helicopter’s windshield.

Gablin said at first there was no problem after the facility was constructed, but when spring came pilots could hear honking coming from the reservoir.

“We’ve got into the habit now as we approach the airport, we look at the reservoir to see if there are any birds, because sometimes the airplane noise might scare them,” which would send them into the sky, Gablin said.

That problem may be solved, however, with the introduction of 7.5 million Rhombo Hexoshield floating balls, or rhomboids, in the reservoir. San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District and San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency released the first batch of 80,000 of the 5-inch balls into the water at the beginning of the year.

When deliveries are finished in about a year the surface will be completely covered.

“What this does is camouflage the reservoir so (the birds) will just continue on their pathway without flying into the reservoir,” said Wen Huang, an engineer with the water district.

He said the birds will find other water bodies to land in like they did before the reservoir was built.

The rhomboids, which cost $1.8 million dollars, are also expected to minimize algae growth by blocking sunlight, reducing the need for chemicals to treat the water.

Huang also expects the balls to reduce evaporation by 20 million gallons per year, enough to meet the yearly watering needs of 120 homes.

“That’s a lot of water that can be used for beneficial purposes,” Huang said.

This type of cover, as opposed to a solid cover, also allows firefighting helicopters to still access the water.

Huang said the down draft from the rotors will push the rhomboids out of the way before they get sucked up by a helicopter’s intake hose.

The balls, which cost 24 cents each, will require no construction, labor, parts or maintenance, except for occasional rotation.

The reservoir, located in Mentone, holds enough water to supply 800 homes for one year. It is part of the State Water Project’s East Branch Extension which carries Northern California water through Highland to the San Gorgonio Pass.

Gablin said he’s thankful the water agencies took the initiative to deploy the barrier.

“Will it work?” he asked. “I hope it does, I’d hate to see anyone get hurt.”