Shoring up the foundation

OK, now that we have the forms set and a start at poring cement, the main part of the cement work begins. The river was low enough that the poring of cement didn't come close to the river with the exception of the later part of the cement.

As a side note, I am a zealot and advocate of keeping our streams clear and pristine. I am probably too careful about not letting contaminants get into the stream. I believe it is our duty to keep the streams clean and pure. Between the time when I was a kid and today, it appears that we have lost at least one spices of frog in the stream shown. The Northern Leopard frog pictured. (curtsy of Greg Lasley Nature Photography) When I was a kid, we used to wade the river down to an "S" turn where the log jams from the winter run-off used to build a small pond. In the pond there were always leopard frogs. My cousin and I would catch and release these frogs. Unfortunately probably due to urban sprawl and development along the canyon, these frogs are gone. More disturbing is the fact that each year the river which is fed by streams seems to be ever lower than the previous year. Take a look at the what the frog may have looked like in 1976 along the river. Sadly, I have not seen a leopard frog like this for at least 25 years - Maybe longer.

So due to the notion that we have lost habitat and possibly a species of frog in this river, I am dutifully careful of not getting silt, sand, cement or other contaminants into the river. Therefore, the cement forms were carefully installed, and carefully filled so as not to contaminate the stream. The west side bank was completed first. Take a look at the cement that filled the forms.

Once the forms on the West side were filled, the East side was built and filled - Notice the silt protection or barrier dam to keep debris from entering the river. Also notice the beat-up bucket used to pour cement. This bucket was my friend and work partner for a very very long time. Each bucket of cement was carefully poured with this bucket about 90 bags of cement in all; a bucket at a time.